William Van "Turtle" Parker

William Van “Turtle” Parker, of Mexia, passed away at Skilled Care Nursing Home in Mexia on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at age 72.

Family and friends will hold a Memorial Service on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at Christ Gospel Fellowship, 205 S. McKinney, Mexia (located across from fire station and the annex building.)

Van was born September 1, 1950, in Georgetown to Jack Parker and June (McFall) Parker.   He grew up in Georgetown where he graduated from high school in 1968, and then attended Southwest Texas University in San Marcos, with the goal of becoming a journalist.

Van had a high IQ and had many talents.   He was skilled in writing, (preferring Western stories) and had a story published in an issue of Reader’s Digest.   He also played the guitar and wrote Country songs, and he was a great dancer.   

Van’s talents also included drawing, and he especially liked drawing airplanes, with all the details, even down to the screws.  He was also a very good storyteller, and gave out his one-liners, such as “be generous but cautious.”   He could dazzle you with his brilliance.  He was a Patriotic American 100%-plus.  

Van lived in Mexia all his life.  He loved his work driving a truck since the seventies was known by most by his CB handle, “Turtle.”  He had driven rigs locally from Mexia to Austin, and also driven long-hauls coast to coast.   Turtle went to work for Bubba Walpole in 1991 and they were best friends ever since.  They team-drove, hauling cattle all over the country, and Turtle was later hauling over-sized loads before he retired in 2013.   

In 1981, Van married Lorie Anderson, and they were married fifteen years and they had two girls together.    She describes him as a hard-working man and a wonderful father, which is also confirmed by his children. 

Van loved his God with all his heart, and he knew the Bible very well.  Bubba said they had many sermons in the cab of the truck on those long-hauls.  After retirement, he enjoyed not having to listen for the alarm and having to be somewhere, so that he could fish and enjoy time with his family.

Van enjoyed spending time with Glynda Stone, the step-mom of his girls, and they enjoyed music and pool. He was a deep-thinker and very wise and profound, and yet he was a simple man and very humble.   His love for his kids and grandkids was his greatest accomplishment.

Van was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jeannie Parker.

He is survived by his daughter and her partner, Tiffany Laminack and Richard Sypert of Wortham; daughter and son-in-law, Tara and Kevin Jones of Mexia; son, Mike Laminack of Fairfield; grandchildren: Travis Laminack and his partner Ashlyn Cartwright of Wortham, and Lily Jones, Cody Jones, Lance Jones and Logan Jones-all of Mexia.   He is also survived by the love of his life, Glynda Stone of Buffalo; his life-long friend, Lorie Anderson of Wortham; his best friend, Bubba Walpole of Mexia; and niece, Shannon Miracle and nephew, Cody Hawes.