Parker Harvey Strong Sr., 67, of Burton, Ohio passed away at UH Geauga Hospital on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Parker was born on June 3, 1956, to the late Samuel and Thelma (Ritchey) Strong in Ravenna, Ohio.
He was raised in Garrettsville, Ohio and was part of the James A. Garfield G-Men PCL Championship team in 1972 and graduated from James A. Garfield High School in Garrettsville in 1974.
Immediately after graduating high school, Parker worked at various factories in Portage County, most notably The Eaton Corporation in Mantua, Ohio before retiring at Swagelok in Solon, Ohio.
Parker was a single father to both Aaron and Rachel and enjoyed being their baseball and softball umpire as well as a vocal cheerleader for their Hot Stove Leagues. He also enjoyed chaperoning for Rachel’s Girl Scout troop for many years and watching Aaron play basketball. Parker worked the night shift so he could attend all of their school and sport events during the day.
In 1993 he married the love of his life, Rebecca (McCullough). Together they had their son Parker Strong Jr., (PJ) and lived in Middlefield before moving to Burton.
Cooking was his passion. Parker graduated from the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in Chesterland, Ohio in 1999 as a certified chef. Parker was proud of his chef skills and for 20 plus years personally catered the McCullough Family Reunion held each year during Labor Day Weekend.
Parker was a proud member of The Great Geauga County Fair Auxiliary where he served and volunteered on and off for 30 years. His duties included working in baked goods, the flower hall and, most recently, working in the maple department with his “fair wife” Vicki Koller.
He was an Assistant Boy Scout Leader for Troop 197 in Burton, Ohio for his son PJ and enjoyed summer camps and also cooked wings for their wing night fundraisers.
Parker was a huge Big 10 football fan and attended many Ohio State football games. He was fortunate enough to travel to two “once in a lifetime” Ohio State football games. He watched them win the 1997 Rose Bowl game and attended the 2003 National Championship game with his son Aaron and brother-in-laws, in which Ohio State was victorious.
Locally, Parker attended every Cardinal Husky football game to support Rachel who played in the marching band and every Berkshire Badgers football game to support PJ who also played in the marching band. Being a G-Men himself, Parker supported the James A. Garfield G-Men and enjoyed watching their games.
Parker and Becky enjoyed traveling, walking with their dog, Blue, and quilting together. He had a quilt exhibited at The Lake Farmpark Quilt Show. Finally, Parker was a tissue donor for Lifebanc.
Parker will be greatly missed by his wife Rebecca, children Parker (Breonna) Strong Jr., Aaron Strong, Rachel (Gabe) Arnold, his dog Blue, sisters Evelyn Strong and Marion (Ed) Burns along with many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Geauga County Fairgrounds School Exhibit Building at 14373 N Cheshire St. Burton, Ohio from 11:00-4:00 PM. His final resting place will be at Welton Cemetery in Burton, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Great Geauga County Fair Foundation at geaugafair.com/fair-foundation or Rescue Village rescuevillage.org
