Barbara Rich Parker

Barbara Rich Parker, 92, died peacefully in her home overlooking the Appomattox River in Hopewell Virginia on Saturday, June 30, 2018.
Born in West Acton, Massachusetts on May 14, 1926, Barbara graduated from the University of North Carolina, moved to Virginia in 1948, and began a career in radio and advertising, helping to start WHAP in Hopewell. She started a family with the late Melville Dannehl Aldridge, Jr. (Dann), then launched a twenty-year career with the U.S. Bureau of the Census. She was happily wed to the late Joseph Richard Parker after her marriage with Dann ended. Always active in the community, Barbara served as Executive Director of the Historic Hopewell Foundation (Weston Manor) and President of the Hopewell Women’s Club, and for fifty years she lent her beautiful soprano voice to the church choir.
Barbara is survived by her son, Nehl (Melville Dannehl Aldridge, III) and his wife, Leslie of Germantown, Tennessee and daughter, CiCi (Carolyn Chandler Aldridge) of Richmond. She has three granddaughters: Dr. Erin Bissell, Denny Aldridge and Kate Aldridge, and a great-granddaughter. Her brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Priscilla Rich, also survive her, as do numerous nieces, nephews and their children.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, July 6, 2018 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hopewell. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Historic Hopewell Foundation, Inc.
Our mother wanted you to know a few things about her long and rich life. We want you to know she was the best mom - ever!