Charles Elburn Parker, age 77, of Manhattan, passed away Thursday January 8, 2026.

He was born October 24, 1948, in Manhattan, KS, the son of Charles O. and Adria Gay (Werning) Parker, and lived in the Manhattan area all his life.

Mr. Parker attended Green Valley Grade School and Manhattan High School. In 1967 he went to work for Kansas State and Extension Forestry. For 13 years he planted trees at federal reservoirs across the state and worked with Kansas Rural Fire Departments. In 1981 he went to USDA-ARS working with wheat research. He retired from this in 2010. Elburn also from 1989 till 1997 ran his own auction real estate company.

Elburn was a past worthy president of the Manhattan Eagles Lodge. He was a life member of the Kaw Valley Rodeo Association.

On February 26, 1967, Elburn married his high school sweetheart Bonnie Lynn Sculley, in Manhattan. They had two children, Jeff Parker and wife Julie of Manhattan, and Angela Parker and wife Chirl of Independence, MO. He has three granddaughters, Elizabeth, and twins Jacqui and Brook. Elburn has also been blessed with eleven great-grandchildren.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming – WOW- WHAT A RIDE!

May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face

And the rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again, may God hold you

In the palm of his hand.

Elburn’s wishes were to be cremated and a celebration of life gathering will be held on Saturday January 17, 2026 at 1:00p.m. the Eagles Lodge in Manhattan.

Private inurnment will be held at the Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.

It is foolish and wrong to mourn a man who has died. Rather we should thank God such a man lived.

The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, is assisting the family with arrangements. ymlfuneralhome.com