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Philip Parsons Obituary

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Philip Parsons

Milton, FL

November 22, 1936 - April 4, 2013

Philip Parsons Obituary

Philip Craig Parsons: November 22, 1936 – April 4, 2013 Philip C. Parsons, 76, of Navarre, Florida passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at Covenant Hospice in Pensacola. Phil, born on November 22, 1936 in Hartford, Connecticut, was the son of late James A. and Laura (Knowlton) Parsons. Following graduation from Watkinson High in 1957, Phil joined the U.S. Army and drove an armored personnel carrier for the 3rd Division in Bavaria. After serving two years, he began college at the University of New York in Delhi and met his future wife, Linda Elisabeth Staub. Phil graduated from the University of Georgia in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in Food Technology. Most of his professional career was spent at Curtice-Burns, Inc., a food processor in Western New York and he was a Facility Manager when he retired in 1994. Phil was an active member in the Perry, NY community before retiring to Florida. A Rotarian since 1974, he served with Perry Rotary Club as a member and President, and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2001. Those who knew Phil will recall his keen sense of humor, kind heart, dedication to community service and uncanny ability to recite historical facts without blinking an eye. He was an exceptional listener and fervently welcomed conversations about weather, sports, politics, history or really just about any subject you were interested in. Phil loved to care for his dogs, go fishing, hunt for arrowheads, collect antique insulators and bottles, and cheer for his favorite area teams. He was a prolific reader, particularly of history books, and masterful at creating beautiful works of art. Throughout his life he painted oils, built furniture and play structures, constructed houses and barns, and crafted complex model ships and planes. In retirement, Phil was passionate about building models from scratch, not from kits. He meticulously constructed replicas of mighty ships such as the USS Constitution, the Robert E. Lee steamship and the Charles W. Morgan whaler, to name a few. To Phil, building the models was not only a challenging hobby, but also his way of sharing his knowledge of the ship’s service and its importance in history. Phil will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He leaves, to cherish his memory: his wife of 51 years, Linda (Staub) Parsons; his daughter, Kathie (Parsons) Bambach and her husband Alberto, of Dallas, TX; his son, James Michael Parsons and his wife Mary, of Salt Lake City, UT; his son, James Philip Parsons and his wife Cathy, of Mobile, AL; his sister, Nancy (Parsons) Ferguson and her husband Robert, of Holden, MA. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Lois (Parsons) Carlson and brother Kenneth J. Parsons. Phil’s beloved grandchildren, whom he was so proud of their accomplishments, also survive him: Alberto, Caroline and Christina Bambach and Sabrina Parsons. A memorial service celebrating Phil’s life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 4:00 p.m. at the Navarre United Methodist Church. A reception will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The Salvation Army, a charitable organization that Phil vehemently supported throughout his life. Memorial donations may be made online at donate.salvationarmyusa.org or mailed to the local chapter in Florida (PO Box 18569, Pensacola, FL 32523) or the chapter in your area.

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