CharlesParker was born in Collierstown, Virginia, and completed his high school education at Davidson High School in 1934. He then attended Davidson College, graduating in 1938.

Although he did not wrestle during high school, Parker competed in wrestling for four years while at Davidson College, and in his senior year was selected team captain. In 1938, Parker was the Carolina AAU champion.

After graduation, Parker was named head coach at Davidson College, where he served for almost four decades.

He briefly interrupted his coaching career for five years to study at the University of North Carolina and serve with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. During his military service from 1942 to 1944, Parker held the rank of Lieutenant.

While at Davidson College, Parker developed a strong connection with the athletes. He served as an assistant athletic trainer for various sports for more than 35 years in addition to being a Physical Education instructor.

In 1963, he had the opportunity to coach the U.S. wrestling team in the Pan American Games in Brazil, where the team won eight gold medals.

Parker also made significant contributions to wrestling by serving on various national amateur committees, including the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Committee (1959-60) and the National AAU Committee.

He held the position of editor of the NCAA Wrestling Guide and Rules Book for many years.

In 1961, he officiated at the NCAA National Championships and served as an International Official (FILA) in the same year. Parker's dedication to officiating extended to both the high school and college levels. He served as the secretary-treasurer of the Carolinas Wrestling Officials Association, which provided officials for high school matches. Notably, he was one of the few booking agents who worked with both high school and college meets.

Parker became a charter member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, was inducted into the Helms Hall of Fame in 1962, the Davidson College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992, and posthumously received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009.

Several areas on the Davidson College campus are testimony to the impact Charlie Parker had on wrestling at Davidson. 

The Charles W. Parker wrestling room and the Wildcats' dressing room were both given in his honor by former Davidson wrestlers.