John H. “Pete” Parkerson (Amory Funeral Home)

Born in 1937, in Bridgetown on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Pete was the youngest of five children born to George Linwood and Mary Elizabeth Parkerson. Raised on a farm, he developed a strong work ethic early in life – a trait that would define him throughout his years.

Pete graduated from Northampton High School and was accepted to Virginia Tech. However, he chose a different path and enrolled in the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School in February 1957. He completed the program in 1961 and graduated the following February as a machinist. During his time there, he not only excelled academically but also stood out as the star pitcher on the school’s baseball team.

In 1962, Pete was drafted into the U.S. Army and served at Fort Ritchie in

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