Former Aldine ISD Trustee Otice Parker passes away

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Former Aldine ISD Trustee Otice Parker passed away on May 14. Mr. Parker was 85 years old.

Mr. Parker served as an Aldine ISD Trustee for 15 years (1979-1994) and during his tenure he held all four Board offices and chaired numerous committees.

In 1995, his fellow Trustees honored his long-time service to the district by naming Parker Intermediate in his honor. The school was later renamed Parker Elementary School and today it is known as the Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Parker.

In the fall of 2021, Mr. Parker was a guest of honor at the YWLA’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

“We are saddened by the passing of former Aldine ISD Board Member and namesake Otice Parker,” said Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “Earlier this school year, we were able to honor Mr. Parker at the Aldine Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Parker ribbon cutting ceremony. We are thankful for his dedication and service to the Aldine ISD community over the years. His legacy will live on at the Aldine Young Women’s Leadership Academy.”

Former Trustee Rick Ogden served on the Board with Mr. Parker for a short time, but he said that time was invaluable to him as a young Trustee.

“Otice Parker was an honorable, Godly man,” Mr. Ogden said. “From my perspective, he was honest, loving, caring, compassionate and true to his word. While we served briefly on the Aldine School Board, his and my tenure overlapped. He was winding down as I began. During the time we served together, his wise counsel helped to control my eager spirit. My earliest recollection of Otice was when, at 16, he financed my first car which I thought was on a handshake, but Otice and my father arranged for it to be under contract between he and my Dad. Otice was trusting, but always took care of details!”

Mr. Ogden and Mr. Parker attended Memorial Baptist Church for 40 years, where he again served as a mentor to Mr. Ogden.

“Otice was a ‘hero-figure’ for me,” Mr. Ogden said. “We served as Deacons, and with him as a mentor, I learned how to manage the responsibility of a Deacon along with compassion for others and service to my Lord and His church. Otice never met a stranger. His winning personality served him well in his personal and professional life. For me, a dear, dear friend has gone to Heaven, where he is no longer in pain and is with his only child, Steven, whom he missed every day. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary. The Aldine community has lost a true champion. His life was well-lived.”

Mr. Parker was born in Shelby County in Texas on Sept. 22, 1936. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he moved to Houston and began a long and successful banking career in the North Houston/Aldine area.

In addition to his service as an Aldine ISD Trustee, Mr. Parker served as President of the Houston area Lions Club. He also served on numerous boards and was a Deacon at Memorial Baptist Church.

Mr. Parker is survived by his wife of 61 years Mary B. Parker, brother Kenneth Parker and sisters Thelma Hendrick and Lucille Cooper, brother-in-law Roan Scraper and a number of relatives and friends.

Donations in Mr. Parker’s memory may be made to the Memorial Baptist Church-Building Fund (22333 Kuykendahl, Spring, TX 77379) or to the Aldine Scholarship Foundation (c/o 2520 W.W. Thorne Blvd., Houston, Tx. 77073.