Obituary of C. (Carl) Robert Parsons

C. Robert "Bob" Parsons, 83, formerly of 51 Roland Road, died peacefully at 3:43 p.m. Tuesday (August 11, 2009) in his home at 132 Aldren Avenue. He was the husband of Evelyn Steele Parsons, whom he married June 26, 1954. Bob was born in Jamestown on December 16, 1925, a son of the late Harry L. and Hulda Johnson Parsons and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1944. He served in the US Army Calvary in the China - Burma - India Theater during World War II. A 36 year employee of the Marlin Rockwell Corporation, he retired as print shop manager in 1987. In earlier years, he had been employed by the New York Life Insurance Company. Bob was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and its Senior Men. He had been past president of the MRC-TRW Credit Union, former member of Thule Lodge and Ingjald Lodge IOV, and belonged to the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, War Vets Recreation and the Ira Lou Spring Post #149 American Legion where he was a 65 year member of the Firing Squad. In addition to his wife, Evelyn, surviving are two daughters, Debra (Abe Pagan) Steele of Menifee, CA and Jan (Timothy) Mara of Lakewood, NY; a son, Greg (Polly) Parsons of Springfield, IL; seven grandchildren: Arika Steele of Missoula, MT, Andrew and Matthew Choy of Honolulu, HI, Jack and Jenny Parsons of Springfield, IL, Dr. Joshua (Mandi) Sawlaw of Peoria, IL and Betsy Sawlaw of Monticello, IL; and a sister, Phyllis Koebley of Warren, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Jeanette Magnuson and Betty Rundquist; and two brothers, Roger "Bud" Parsons and N. Gordon Parsons. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. John P. Saraka will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 E. Second St., Jamestown, NY 14701; or to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.