Culver Icon Frank Russell Parker Passes at 79

Frank Russell Parker, a longtime Culver City resident whose heartfelt version of the National Anthem stirred the hearts of thousands of attendees at Culver's Fourth of July fireworks show over the years, has passed away from complications of Parkinson's Disease and dementia in Vacaville.

He was 79.

Though an accomplished singer, Mr. Parker was even better-known as a fine actor. His most famous role was that of "Grandpa Shawn Brady" in the daily soap opera Days of Our Lives, on which he appeared from 1983 to 2008.

Mr. Parker was born July 1, 1939, in Darby, Pa. He earned his bachelor's degree in acting from Carnegie Tech in 1962 and moved to Culver City.

He married Nola Donnell Rajcok in 1981 and had three daughters: Candace Donnell and fraternal twins Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle.

In 2005, he married Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo and resided in Vacaville, about 400 miles north of Culver City, until his death.

"Above all, he was the most supportive, generous, kind man and father," a family spokesperson said.

Mr. Parker was preceded in death by his daughter Candance. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Danielle (Matthew) Buckles, Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank) and their mother, Nola.

Services were set for Saturday Oct. 13, 2018 at St. Monica Catholic Church, 701 California Ave, Santa Monica.

There will be a mass at noon and a Celebration of Life reception at 1:30 p.m.