Franklin and Betty June Parker met at Berea College in 1946 and were married in 1950.  Betty’s maiden name was also Parker.

Betty June Parker earned her B.A. from Berea in 1950, and a M.A. from George Peabody College for Teachers in 1956. She has taught high school and college English, reading, and social studies; was secretary to two college presidents; and served on regional and local executive boards of the American Friends Service Committee, League of Women Voters, and United Methodist Women.

Franklin Parker graduated from Berea with a B.A in 1949.  At Berea, Franklin’s labor assignments included working in the “old library.” He went on to earn his M.S. in L.S. from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1950, and his ED.D. from the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1956.  Parker taught college education courses including History and Philosophy of Education, Comparative and International Education, and Multicultural Education at a number of universities including the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Oklahoma, Norman.  From 1968-1986, Franklin was the Claude Worthington Benedum Professor of Education at West Virginia University, Morgantown (Emeritus since 1986). Franklin is a prolific researcher and writer including the writer of a number of major pieces on George Peabody (1795-1869).

The Parkers have done overseas research on and written about education in Africa, China, England, Eastern Europe (including the USSR), and Western Europe. They have published over twenty books and articles. The Parkers now live in Tennessee and frequently give joint dialog lectures.