Obituary of Kenneth Leon Parker

It was time for Kenneth to move on from this life. Cancer has taken him from here. We will miss him dearly. Kenneth Leon Parker was born unto Austin Parker and Dorothy Freeman in Bloomington, Indiana. As a young adult he supported his mother, grandmother, and sisters - Marilyn and Joyce, while educating himself in one of the passions of his life - astronomy/astrophysics. After his mother passed away, he left his hometown for a new frontier - California. He had a long, fulfilling career at IBM in San Jose, and later at Western Digital. As a materials scientist, he moved from contemplating the stars through a telescope to studying the micro-realm of computers with the resolution of a transmission electron microscope. His greatest passions were endless learning, exploring the depths of consciousness, studying extra-terrestrials, tracking worldly affairs, inspiring positive change, capturing life's unique moments through photography, creating poetic writings. His thoughts left no stone unturned. He kept diligent notes on both deep and fleeting thoughts. He had plans to write a book, but Time no longer allowed. Here's a thought that he left on a notepad: When we're spirits we know where we're going. When we're here in flesh where we can do something to get there, We forget why we're here. Kenneth leaves behind three wonderful children: Alex, Magdalena, and Peter. He is also survived by his sister Joyce, niece Cynthia, and ex-wife Magdalena. Papa, we love you and are forever grateful for the wisdom and unconditional love you have given us. You taught us to have open minds and open hearts. You believed without a doubt that one person could change the world and make a difference. You taught us to always ask questions and learn everything about the world around us. You taught us to be generous and selfless: to give back to others and to give back to the Earth. We will always have you with us in our hearts and minds Kenneth, be well in your travels beyond the stars, for now you have access to all the knowledge in the Universe.