Gail Parker, 97, of Hutchinson, died March 26, 2017, at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. She was born Galina Souchkin in Vladivostok, Russia, on Feb. 16, 1920, the only child of Konstantin Souchkin and Eugenia Feldger.

Fleeing the Russian Revolution, Galina relocated with her mother and maternal uncle to Shanghai, China. There she attended Catholic schools and converted to Catholicism from her native Russian Orthodox. She became fluent in six languages – Russian, English, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese – and graduated from the French University of Shanghai. She adopted her mother's maiden name and was called Gail by her British friends, a name that would stick.

Surviving the Japanese occupation and World War II, Gail was employed in post-war Shanghai as a supervisor in the United States Navy Post Office. There she met naval officer Richard "Dick" Parker. Their romance led to Gail's becoming a war bride on Jan. 24, 1947, and spending the rest of her life in Hutchinson.

Gail was preceded in death by her husband and her older son, Robert. She is survived by her younger son, Ronald of Los Angeles.

She was a member of Church of the Holy Cross, Hutchinson.

Memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2017, at Wesley Towers Evans Chapel, 3709 Asbury Drive, Hutchinson, with Father Roger S. Lumbre officiating. Private burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Elliott Mortuary. The casket will remain closed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cause for Paws or donor's choice, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.