Johnny Alter Parker, 65, BMC. USN (ret.) of Fort Worth, Texas and formerly of Troy died August 21, 1999 at his home after a lengthy illness.

Survivors include wife Marjorie Freeman Parker; sons, Randy Parker, Ronald Parker, Ricky Parker; daughters, Rita Parker Bielefeld, Reba Parker Adkins; granson, Michael Parker; granddaughter, Lindsey Bielefeld all of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers, James Parker, Ruben Parker, Alvie Parker; and sister, Annie Clyde Grubbs all of Alabama.

He had been married for 39 years. He was born in Brundidge in 1934 to John Henry and Ruby Parker. He served 20 years in the US Navy and retired Chief Boatswain’s Mate in 1972. He and his wife worked in property management until his illness.

Lt. Col. Rush R. Spradley

Lt. Col. Rush R. Spradley, 83, of Dayton died Sunday, March 19, 2000 at the Dayton V. A. Hospice Center.

His funeral will be graveside at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 22 at the Dayton National Cemetery.

Survivors include wife Stina, daughter, Marianne Wolfe and husband David Goddman of Yellow Springs; sister, Mary Terry of Lake Mary, Fla.; brother, Joseph P. Spradley of Chicago; grandchildren, Owen and Clayton Wolfe.

He had been married for 55 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Rush Spradley and Mary Wilson Spradley; sisters Phyllis Grier and Rebecca Furlow. He was a test pilot, having graduated from Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. He flew sixty missions in the European and North African theaters in World War Two as a B-17 command pilot and was the first American pilot to fly a mission out of Russia. He was awarded two silver stars and two oak leaf clusters in addition to a presidential unit citation and the air medal. Upon his retirement from the Air Force in 1962 he was employed as a civilian Aeronautical Space Engineer until 1970.

March 20, 2000 9 PM