Thomas A. Parker, DDS, 89, passed away peacefully with his adoring family by his side at his home of 40 years in Hollywood, Florida, on Friday, September 30, 2022.

Thomas Parker—widely known by his family, friends, and community as Tom, Dr. Tom, Uncle Tom, and Daddy Tom—was born at home at the Carter Oil Camp in Seminole, Oklahoma, on May 9, 1933, to Alton and Frida Parker. The third of five children, he is survived by his two brothers, Ace and Clay.

Tom’s admirable work ethic started at age five when his mother gave him his first job— sweeping. He credits his mother with developing his strong work ethic as his mother always applauded his good work or offered gentle guidance. This work ethic carried on for the entirety of his life. He delivered papers in Kansas City, worked in the oil fields with his father at the age of 14 (ultimately saving enough money to put himself through college), managed 60 apartments, typed mailing labels for Farms Catalog, and continued to work in the oil fields as a young man on the weekends and in the summer to put himself through dental school at University of Missouri-Kansas City.

With work comes income, and Tom never failed to share with those in need. This lifelong value started with a $5 annual donation (pooled with his brothers) to Bov’s Town Orphanage. He grew up a bird hunter, earned the nickname the Blonde Bomber for his boxing skills in the Golden Gloves, and was always the youngest in his class after skipping the third grade.

Tom and his high school sweetheart, Vernece Thompson, eloped in Arkansas to get around the twenty-one-year-old marriage requirement in Oklahoma without their parents knowing using a forged permission letter. The Thompsons and the Parkers gave their blessing after receiving a payphone call from across the street from the courthouse in Arkansas. Deborah and Stephen were soon after born. After Tom finished dental school, the family moved to Hollywood in 1957. Dr. Tom practiced dentistry for 58 years after opening his own practice. He only retired after his grandson Blake joined the practice so that Parker Dentistry could be a three-generation dental practice.

And while he was a hardworking man, he also knew the importance of time off. Tom and Vernece always took a month off during the summer to travel around the country with their children and later grandchildren, Brian, Kyle, Jonathan, Jennifer, Christopher, and Blake, where so many memories were made. It was also his dream to build a log cabin, which he did with the help of family and friends at Indian Hammock near Lake Okeechobee in 1977. Tom was a dreamer and a doer, and through hard work, he made his dreams a reality.

Tom loved his friends, family, and community. He was the PTA president at Hollywood Hills Elementary, member of the Hollywood Lion’s Club and Hollywood Kiwanis Club, founder of the Sheridan Hills Baptist Church, and member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Tom was elected Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and led his Kiwanis Club to number one in the state.

Golf replaced his love of hunting, and he was a member of Orangebrook Golf Club of Hollywood for SO years. He twice won the Goodtimers Club Championship and played golf all around the world.

After the passing away of his first wife Vernece in 2002, Tom found love again in 2004 when his daughter-in-law Honi introduced him to Shari Vaughn. They were married later that year and have shared so much love and created a beautiful assemblage of memories in the last 18 years.

Tom lived life to the fullest, and along his extraordinary journey, he touched the lives of so many people. There will only ever be one Thomas Parker, and he will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all who had the blessing of having him in their lives.

The public visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 7, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM and the funeral service on Saturday, October 8^th, 2022, at 1:00 PM held at Boyd-Panciera University Drive Chapel located at 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke, Pines, FL 33024.  A private entombment will follow the service.

For those unable to attend the service, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the service on Saturday, October 8^th, 2022 beginning at 1:00 PM. The link to attend LIVE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE

In Lieu of Flowers, the family suggests donations to the Kiwanian Scholarship Fund, 5837  Rodman Street Hollywood, FL 33023 or to Sheridan House Family Ministries, 1700 S. Flamingo Rd, Davie, FL 33325, (954-583-1552) https://sheridanhouse.kindful.com

Funeral Arrangements Entrusted to Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, University Drive Chapel.