Kenneth  Parker

Virginia Parker at Kenneth Parker's Grave Site

Parents of Kenneth Parker - Mary Ella Dyer Stephenson & James Solomon Parker

Note: 

• Kenneth's parents, James Solomon Parker (b. 9-7-1871 and d. 3-3-1956) and Ella (Stephenson) Parker (4-4-1874 and d. 3-26-1964), are buried at Oakwood Cemetery at Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX
• Kenneth's grand parents, John Forsythe Parker (5-5-1847 and d. 5-1-1919) & Sarah Jane (Ruffin) Parker (b. 10-30-1849 and d. 5-27-1918) are buried at the Oakwood Cemetery at Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX
• Information submitted by Marilyn "Annette" Keen

Notes: Mary Ella was born 4-4-1874 and died 3-26-1964. *Virginia Keen was actually her granddaughter but she raised her since she was about 2 years old. Virginia's last name is spelled Keen.

William Kenneth Parker
May 24, 1908 - Oct 22, 1931
Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX

PLANE CRASH VICTIM IS BURIED THIS AFTERNOON; WESTBROOK TO RECOVER

Funeral services for Kenneth Parker, 23, whose charred body was pulled from a flaming airplane late Thursday afternoon near his home after the plane had crashed, were held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Oakwood Cemetery where interment was made. The services were conducted by Rev. J. U. McAfee, pastor of the Kerens Methodist church. Pall bearers were Charles Medley, William Stewart, Frank Lemon, Jack McNutt, and Ed Richenbacher* and Gus Neale. Singers were Mrs. Harry Williams, Mrs. Harry Balding, Edgar Metcalfe and Lloyd Kerr.

Parker and T. H. Westbrook, local insurance man, were in the biplane and had been flying for some time before the crash occurred, according to eye witnesses who were near where the crash happened. Westbrook received a broken nose, a broken ankle, and many abrasions, severe bruises, and lacerations. It was feared for a time Thursday night that Westbrook was in a critical condition with internal injuries, but attending physicians stated Friday afternoon no internal injuries had been sustained. Mr. Westbrook was still unable Friday to talk to reporters relative to the details leading up to the fatal crash. It was reported that Parker was piloting the ship. The ship was a Travel-Air two-place biplane powered with a 90 horsepower Curtis Ox-5 motor. It is thought the safety belt of Westbrook broke, allowing him to be hurled to safety from the plane. Parker is thought to have been stunned by the impact. The plane was destroyed.

Vivid Account of Accident

A vivid account of the fatal accident was given Friday by W. H. (Bill) Stewart, manager of the Corsicana Municipal airport, and Mickey McGuire, former instructor in the S. A. T. flying school and veteran pilot. Both asserted that the ship, a Travel-Air two place biplane, was in good condition. It was equipped with dual controls.

Neither Stewart nor McGuire would say which of the men, Parker or Westbrook, took the ship off the field, but both asserted that Parker was handling the controls when the crash occurred, basing their statements on the maneuvers which the ship executed before its fall.

According to the joint description of the accident, the ship was flying along at about 600 feet, after several practice landings had been made, and seemed to go into a stall and began losing altitude, falling off into a left spin after a flat turn in the air, with the motor at about idling speed.

The plane was pulled out of the spin about 100 feet from the ground, but the pilots were so shaken by the spin that their senses of equilibrium were distorted and the ship seemed to them to be on an even keel even though the left wing canted sharply toward the ground, finally sliding off into a power slip.

In Front Cockpit

Parker was riding in the front cockpit and was forced into the space beneath the gasoline tank by the force of the impact with the ground, which also snapped the safety belt which held Westbrook into the rear cockpit and allowed him to be flung to safety.

Both Stewart and McGuire declared that Westbrook could not have been handling the controls when the ship came out of its spin, because he had only about eight hours and 40 minutes flying time, and had not had sufficient training to handle the ship under such circumstances.

McGuire, veteran instructor, stated that the distorted sense of balance was the usual result of an unexpected and unattempted spin.

The offices of the department of commerce at Dallas were notified of the crash Thursday night and an inspector was expected in Corsicana Friday to investigate the tragedy.

W. E. DuBose who resides near the municipal airport and on a farm adjoining the Parker home, said he was feeding his hogs when he saw the plane flying north, about 200 feet high. He said the plane banked and popped, turning toward the ground. He was of the opinion the motor was "cutting out".

Landing on Wing

Mr. DuBose stated to a Sun representative the ship landed on one wing, skidding about

50 feet, and then diving on its nose. "As soon as the plane stopped, it burst into flames," continued Mr. DuBose. Mr. DuBose rushed to the site and when he arrived, Mr. Westbrook was out of the plane, limping about and trying to rescue Parker from the blazing mass of wreckage. Westbrook received a number of burns in his attempts to aid his companion, Mr. DuBose said he (DuBose) was one of the first persons to reach the wrecked and burning plane. He was about 500 to 600 feet away at the time.

The youth's parents, Mr. And Mrs. J. S. Parker, who also reside near the airport, were reported watching the plane as their son and Westbrook flew over the family home. It was stated the youth waved at his parents as he passed over, and they were watching him when he crashed. Mr. DuBose reported the parents of Parker arrived a short time later.

Considerable difficulty was reported to have been experienced by ambulance drivers and others in getting Parker's body from the blazing inferno.

Coroner's Verdict

Judge W. W. Clopton, justice of the peace, precinct one, place 2, viewed the body and returned a coroner's verdict as follows:

"Burned to death in airplane crash."

Surviving are a daughter, Virginia Ann Parker, aged two years, Corsicana; parents, Mr. And Mrs. J. S. Parker, Corsicana; three brothers, J. L. Parker and Doyle Parker both of Dallas, and L. L. Parker, Corsicana; and one sister, Mrs. Gus Neale, Corsicana.

The funeral was directed by the Sutherland funeral home.

*Ed Richenbacher was spelled incorrectly in the original article. I corrected it when I re-typed for the web site. Mr. Richenbacher was a WWI Flying Ace-War hero.

Parker Was Wing Walker One Time

Kenneth Parker, killed in the airplane crash late yesterday, played the role of Santa Claus several years ago for the Daily Sun.

With Charles Pedley at the controls, Parker dressed to represent the patron saint of the children rode the wings of the plane throwing candy to the hundreds of youngsters that crowded the streets and shouted their joy as the plane swooped low over the business section. 

Pedley, now a pilot with the American Airways, flying from Dallas to Atlanta, was  pall bearer at the funeral of his former wing walker this afternoon

Submitted by Annette Keen