Charles Allan Parker, Sr., also known as “Tuffy”, “Charlie”, “Dad”, “Paw Paw”, & “Tootsie Roll Paw Paw”, passed away at his home on February 7th after a long, two-year battle with cancer. He fought long and hard, and was a very strong willed person, as we all know.

Charlie was born on 12/19/1931 to Lena & Charles L Parker in Merrilltown, TX, and grew up in the Schwertner/Bartlett area. He graduated from Granger High School, where he met his high school sweetheart Gladys Gorubec; they married September 6, 1954. Charlie served 4 years in the US Navy aboard the USS Windham Bay during the Korean Conflict. Coming back to Central Texas, he and Gladys settled in Austin where they began their family and opened the first of several restaurants. The original was Charex on North Lamar and then later, “Charlie’s Steak House” in Pflugerville. Charlie’s served the Pflugerville & surrounding areas for 40 years, where Charlie could be seen standing at the end of the bar observing employees and visiting with customers. He believed the longevity of a business depended on serving a good consistent product and giving a person what they paid for.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys, of 58 years, daughter Vickie Thornton & husband Rick; Son Charlie, Jr. “Frog” & wife Carolyn, daughter Sabrina Schmidt & husband Robert. Eight grandchildren & spouses, Christie Schmidt, Eric Smith & wife Laura, Chris Parker & wife Janna, Lance Thornton & wife Rachael, Ross Thornton & wife Jacey, Stephanie Shaw & husband Gene, Chase Parker & wife Kayde, and Jenna Thornton. Eleven great-grandchildren, Jaida, Kilee, Tye, Paeton, Chloe, Cooper, Colton, Brooklyn, Hanna, Hayden, and Corbin (due any day), along with sisters, Alice Durant of Bartlett, Hazel Drane of San Diego, Peanut Martinets & husband Doug of Temple, Linda Dunaway & husband Ron from Splendora, Carol Vaca & husband Carlos of Florence, Sister-in-law Shirley Davidson of Waco, Father-in-law Buck Spinn of Granger as well as numerous nieces & nephews; and two very special family friends that Charlie took under his wing at a very young age, Bob & Mike Cocke who are very special to him and the rest of us.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Les Parker & wife Dorothy, father-in-law Hubert Gorubec, mother-in-law Elsie Spinn, brother-in-law’s Dick Drane, Jack Durant and Harley Davidson. Pallbearers will be Charlie’s grandsons along with Bob & Mike Cocke as honorary pallbearers.

A Rosary will be recited on 4:00 p.m., Sunday, February 10, 2013, at the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, followed by a visitation. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 1520 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville. Please visit Charlie’s memorial page at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com when you can share memories and leave condolences for his family.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 10, 2013