John Henry Parker, Jr.

John Henry Parker, Jr., passed away in his sleep on the morning of October 19, 2025. John was born April 19, 1941, to John Henry Parker and Nancy LeNore Johnson. He was the oldest of four children, sister, Nancy Gay Parker, and brothers, Steven (Mary) Parker and Dennis (Anne) Parker.

John was a brilliant and gifted man. He graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. After high school, he attended and graduated with an associate’s degree from Weber State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics and math from the University of Utah, where he also pursued and was awarded a doctorate in physics. Upon graduation, he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. He left the CIA in 1978 and spent most of his remaining career working in the private sector testing missile guidance and other advanced weapon systems.

John met his wife, Jane Rogers Wirthlin, when she was teaching school and he was pursuing his doctorate. They married on March 17, 1967, in the Salt Lake Temple. Upon receiving his Ph.D., John moved with Jane to Vienna, Virginia. They lived there until 1978, when they moved to Mesa, Arizona. In 1982, they moved to Centerville, Utah, where they lived in the same house until John and Jane moved to Creekside Senior Living Center located in Bountiful, Utah, in August of this year. With Jane, John made friends wherever they lived.

John was a devout and deeply committed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John loved the scriptures. He immersed himself in gospel study, reading widely on topics that others found challenging. Despite his deep understanding of the scriptures, he excelled most at doing the simple things well—he served people silently without fanfare. Until his health prevented him from doing so, John went to the temple every week.

John had a beautiful, resonating, bass voice. He was a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square from 1983 to 2002. In this calling, he traveled the world, most of the time with Jane, who was also a choir member, singing at presidential inaugurations, the 2002 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, and such places as Japan, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia, and Israel.

John was a quiet man who was deeply devoted to his faith and family. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved his siblings and their children. He loved his wife’s family. When you looked for John, you found him on the floor playing and teaching his grandchildren, in seats at his friends’ and families’ concerts and sporting events, in a car running errands for his wife, in church pews mourning with others, or at celebrations for his friends. More often, though, he worked silently in the background, blessing the lives of those around him without anyone noticing. John was a giant.

John is survived by his three children, Laura Jane Parker (Scott) Crook of Centerville, UT, Daniel John (Carrie) Parker, of Logan, UT, and Elisa Renee Parker Quinones, of Centerville, UT; ten grandchildren, James (Amy) Crook, Joseph Crook, Caitlyn Parker (Jacob) Henry, Julianne Parker (Justin) Bayles, Emily Parker (Michael) Robison, Libby Parker, Tori Parker, Elle Quinones, Anaya Quinones, and Alexandra Quinones; seven great-grandchildren; and his brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jane Rogers Wirthlin Parker; and his sister, Nancy Gay Parker.

The family would like to thank the doctors and other providers and staff who so thoughtfully and kindly helped care for him these past weeks and months.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Centerville Rolling Hills Chapel, located at 210 East 1825 North, Centerville, Utah. Friends and family may call from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery privately with family on a later date.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.