RICHARD DOWELL PARKER, 73, passed from this life, September 16, 2022. He was born in Detroit, Mich., on April 26, 1949, to Doris and Leger Parker. After graduating from the University of Texas, Rick came home to Little Rock. “We know that Rick has found peace”, for Rick the automobile business was his life. He was trained by a great automobile dealer, his father, Leger D. Parker.
Through the years, Rick earned many accomplishments, he worked 35 years as a Cadillac dealer;30 years as a Lexus dealer; and 21 years as an Audi dealer; earning more number one customer satisfaction awards than any other Cadillac or Lexus dealer. He was named Dealer of the Year by Arkansas’s Time Magazine, elected to Cadillac’s Regional and National Dealers Councils, was a finalist in the 1998 Southwest Region of Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas and featured in the high-profile edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Rick was a philanthropist with a heart of gold. He received the Humanitarian Award for the Resource Center of Aging. Rick was a supporter of many organizations, Easter Seals, Union Rescue Mission, Food Pantry, Boys Town, Humane Society, United Way of Pulaski County, and is a continuing donor of Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He loved giving back and making dreams come true by granting a wish through the “Make a Wish Foundation”. Rick served his community on the Pinnace Bank Board, Metropolitan National Bank Board,
March of Dimes, and Arkansas Automobile Dealer Association.
He also found time for things he loved doing with his family. He grew up skiing in Michigan, this gave him the opportunity to teach his kids how to snow ski all over the country and internationally, including Dubai “believe it or not?”. This also enabled him to travel with his family all over the world. Rick visited 80 countries with a goal of 100 countries.
Rick also loved landscaping and gardening. He had his yard published in two magazines. He has a great love of animals which led to his support to the Humane Society.
Rick was a selfless father and a loving husband. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Nancy; his two sons: Robert (wife Tammy), Brad (wife Sejal); as well as four grandchildren: Robbie, Matthew, Ava, Aden; his brother, Dave (wife Holly); their three children: Jessica, Rachel (husband Buddy), and David. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Doris and Leger Parker.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in Rick’s name to the March of Dimes, the Humane Society, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.Org.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2022, at Roller Chenal Funeral Home. A private graveside service will follow.
Please share your memories of Rick at: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.
Published September 18, 2022
OBITUARY SUBMITTED BY:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR
Phone: 501-224-8300
http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal
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