C. Parker Ferguson

C. Parker Ferguson, 92, of Cockeysville, MD, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2026

surrounded by his loving family. Born in 1934 in Old Hickory, TN, to Clyde "Red" and Dorothy

Ferguson, Parker was from an early age a gifted scholar, athlete, and musician.

Forgoing a prestigious appointment to West Point and a football scholarship to the University of

Georgia, Parker chose a more academic path. He earned a BS in chemistry from Tennessee

Technological University, where his beloved father was a professor, followed by graduate

studies in chemistry at Emory University. After a short stint in the U.S. Army, Parker began a

fascinating and distinguished forty-year civilian career with the military at Aberdeen Proving

Ground. There he earned many accolades and worldwide recognition as one of the foremost

experts in mitigating chemical and biological threats and in developing humane methods of riot

control. After retiring from government service, Parker continued to share his unique expertise as

a senior scientist for BioMetrics and as a consultant and trainer in non-lethal technologies for

governmental agencies around the world. One of his favorite roles during this time was training

first-response agencies to handle chemical threats.

Parker had many and varied passions. He loved stimulating intellectual discourse, classical

music, reading, travel, a good meal, and the Ravens. His greatest passion and source of joy,

though, was his family: his wife, 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. In his

golden years, nothing brought him more pleasure than being surrounded by his progeny. In the

words of one of his favorite Nat King Cole songs, he knew that “the greatest thing you’ll ever

learn is just to love and be loved in return”.

Parker is survived by his wife of 53 years, Johanna; his children Suzanne (Mark), Scott (Susan),

Laura (Eric), Paige (Mark), and Meghan (Michael); his sister, Dottie (Kees); and his best friend

of 88 years, Jim Pedigo.

Parker will be missed by the many people who loved and admired him, and he will forever be

remembered by his children as their "Honorable Father."

There will be a private family gathering to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:

St. Judes

Nature Conservancy in Maryland

Gilchrist Hospice