Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and grandmother-great, Judith Wirthlin Parker quietly passed from us in the early hours of Memorial Day, May 29, 2000. We will miss her love and leadership.
As a member of a prominent pioneer family dedicated to building the Kingdom of God on earth, she championed refinement, education, music, understanding and achievement throughout her life.She was born on June 8, 1919 in Salt Lake City to Joseph L. Wirthlin and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin.
She married her eternal companion, Thomas Oliver Parker in the Salt Lake Temple on May 23, 1941 and they were blessed with six children.
Judith received a B.S. and M.S. in Elementary Education. She was an elementary school teacher and also taught hundreds of private piano students.
Judith served 16 years on the Primary General Board and was assigned as Chairman of the Music Committee that compiled the Primary song book, "Sing With Me." She composed five children's songs and authored two books.
In 1978, she received a doctorate in Cultural Foundations of Education Administration from the Univ. of Utah and became an adjunct professor at BYU in Ancient Studies, a project administrator and faculty member at the American University of Cairo.
She served with her husband on three missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Temple View Stake Lamanite Ward, Special Representatives of the Church in Egypt, as the Organist and Director of Concerts for the BYU Jerusalem Center and together served in Church Hosting for 11 years hosting government officials and visitors from the Middle East.
A world traveler, adventurer, and Egyptologist, she was a member of the Board of Directors of CHOICE and the Salt Lake Repertory Theatre. She was Project Director for Friends of Rural Egypt and founded the Egyptian Children-to-Children Book Project.
With all of her many accomplishments, her real treasure was her eternal family. She loved to bring together family, friends and colleagues at her home, the cabin or in Bloomington.
She is survived by her husband, her sons and daughter: Thomas W. (Joanne), G. Preston (Marilee), Judy Eileen Jones (Allan), Kent W. (Patricia), Jonathan W. (Kathy), David W. (Roxane), 31 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren with five more to be born this year. Also survived by her brothers and sister:
Elder Joseph B. (Elisa) Wirthlin, Gwendolyn Cannon, Elder Richard B. (Jeralie) Wirthlin and David B. (Anne) Wirthlin.
Preceded in death by two grandsons: Thomas Paul Parker and Bryant Jeffrey Parker.
Services will be held at Monument Park Stake Center at 1320 South Wasatch Drive (2450 East) on Friday, June 2nd, 2000 at 12:00 noon.
Family and friends may call Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary at 2350 East 1300 South and from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. prior to the services at the Stake Center on Friday.