Annie Lee Pion-Parker-Aug 1924— Jan 2021 Annie was born in Colina, Alabama and grew up there with her two sisters & three brothers. She was married to Howard Little, later to Norman Pion, who was with the Merchant Marines and who was awarded the Purple Heart in Korea. After the passing of Norm, she was married to Sgt-Major Jay Parker USMC, WW-II & Korea, who was awarded 2 Purple Hearts.
During her 96 years, Annie lived in Alabama, Key West, Bermuda, Philadelphia, and San Diego during WW-II where she was a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ with Consolidated Aviation manufacturing B-24 Liberators. Following the war, she settled in Vista, CA. for 40+ years.
In Vista, she was a supervisor with Boroughs for 25 years. After retiring from Boroughs, she initiated and remained in charge of the Vista Sheriffs Senior Volunteer Patrol Program (SVP), which has grown and remains a main element of Vista’s law enforcement programs. The SVP program has continued to grow in volunteers and in responsibilities providing 100’s of hours of support with patrol and law enforcement assistance to the City of Vista. As a Vista Senior Patrol volunteer, she drove the streets for 16 years with the retired Sgt-Major Parker. After the passing of each of their spouses, they married at the young age of 84 & 89.
The marriage was a new life for each as they traveled, made an Alaska Cruise, Zip-lined, took senior bus trips, and many visits to the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. All the while they continued to support the Vista Sheriff’s Department. Annie & Jay initiated a number of patriotic events and memorials for Vista including US Flags down Main Street on holidays and memorial occasions. Upon the Sgt-Major passing at 101 years old, Annie moved to San Diego to be close to her families.
Annie kept her loyalty to Alabama and the South and was a great mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Mother-in-Law and Vista citizen who will be missed by all. She was a lady’s lady who maintained a prim & proper dress and a Southern-Friendly attitude.
She leaves daughters Sherry Yarham (Larry) in San Diego & Patricia Compton (Roy) in El Cajon, Son Randy Little (Jackie) in Oceanside, grandson John Yarham (Jessica) in Oceanside and grand-daughters Ashley Little of San Marcos and Kelly Little Fain (Ben) of Temecula and four great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life for Annie’s friends and associates will be at the Eternal Hills Mortuary Gazebo, 1999 El Camino Real, in Oceanside on Thursday February 25 at 12:00 noon. Join us if you can.
Interment into the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery will be a private ceremony to be scheduled at a later date.
Those wishing to donate in her name, Hospice or the Vista Sheriff SVP Program will be honored.
