Bartle Kent Parker

B. Kent Parker, 85, passed away in Morgantown on June 24, after a brief illness. Kent was born November 12, 1937 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to J. Bartle and Tirza B. Parker, and had, all told, a pleasant childhood in a kind and supportive family. The summer of 1967 was life changing—he graduated from the University of Utah with a Ph.D. in experimental psychology and married Judith Anderson, a fun-loving redhead. He and Judy moved the same summer to Oregon, where he began his academic career at the University of Portland. They spent three years in Portland, then moved to Morgantown, where he was a professor at WVU until his retirement in 2008. He and Judy had many grand adventures in Morgantown, raising two bright, charming boys and generally enjoying themselves, handling life’s ups and downs with grace and grit. Tragically, Judy passed away in 2001. But Fortune has her cookies to give out, and year or two after Judy died, Kent met Lynne Ryan, who became his beloved partner and companion for the remainder of his life.

Kent was a man who acquired passions and stuck with them. As an undergraduate, he took up tennis and, for his entire life, played it almost religiously, playing so well that he won scores of amateur tournaments. He was also an avid bicyclist, kayaker, and cross-country skier. Although he lived in West Virginia for over fifty years, he never lost his love for Utah and the West. He and Judy, and later, he and Lynne, returned to Utah to ski in the Wasatch mountains, where Judy’s family had a cabin, and to hike and kayak in southern Utah’s red rock country.

He loved teaching and mentoring students, particularly graduate students, and stayed in touch with many of them after they graduated. He had an insatiable curiosity, particularly about science and the natural world. He was a life-long learner and an incessant and devoted reader. He developed an interest in archeology and made several trips west to visit Native American archeological sites. Late in life he finally discovered the joy of reading fiction, which probably came as something of a surprise to him.

He is survived by his two sons, Bryce Kent Parker and Jeffrey Stephen Parker, his partner Lynne Ryan, and his brother, Howard Parker.

He lived long and prospered—particularly when prosperity is measured by knowledge and friendship and rich experience. He learned much, taught much, contributed much, and enjoyed life fully. Well done, Kent, well done!

Friends and family are invited to gather for a celebration of Kent’s life on October 14, 2023 at 3PM at 901 Grandview Ave Morgantown, WV 26501.