Glenwood N. "Mickey" Parrish

Mickey N. Parrish STAUNTON

Retired Colonel Glenwood N. "Mickey" Parrish, 77, husband of fifty-seven years to Anna Snider Parrish of Woodmont Drive died in his sleep on Sunday, October 10, 2010, at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

He was born on November 24, 1932, in Staunton, a son of the late Newton Miner and Francis Brown Parrish.

He graduated from Wilson Memorial High School Class of 1951, for which he was Class President.

Colonel Parrish was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant upon graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Virginia in 1955 with a BS degree in education. He also was awarded the Marshall Award in 1955 as the outstanding ROTC student at University of Virginia.

Colonel Parrish served 30 years in a variety of command, staff and aviation positions throughout the United States, Korea, Germany and two tours in Vietnam. He was a Transportation Corps Senior Army aviator. Colonel Parrish was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army. He was honored to be included in the book "We Were Soldiers Onceand Young" written by Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore and Joseph Galloway, depicting the la Drang battle of which he participated.

He retired from the Army at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in 1985, and relocated to Staunton in 1986. He was an avid sports fan, loved to play golf, travel and loved to visit his children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. He volunteered his time transporting those in need and assisting the elderly in their time of need, was a volunteer member of the Fort Lee Retiree Council for many years and was a dedicated member of Christ United Methodist Church, where he served the church in many capacities.

He was also a loving father, grandfather and friend who was always there when in need. On May 9, 1953, he married the former Anna Lorene Snider who survives.

Also surviving are four children, Tony of the home, Tim and Rhonda (Parrish) Harrison of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Bill and Sherrie (Parrish) Mills of Jacksonville, Florida and Steven and Kelly (May) Parrish of Warrenton, Virginia; eight grandchildren, Gerard and Vicky (Bartley) Harrison, Stephen and Crystal (Harrison) Ford, Michael Harrison, Michelle Mills, Allison Mills, Shannan, Christopher and Michael Parrish; two great- grandchildren, Hannah Harrison and Jackson Ford; and many nieces, nephews and loving friends.

A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, October 15, 2010, at Christ United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Thornrose Cemetery with full military honors.

Active pallbearers will be a detachment from Fort Lee followed by his grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Christ United Methodist Men and members of the Wilson Memorial High School Class of 1951.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday, October 14, 2010, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 363, Staunton, VA 24402 or to a charity of choice.

Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.henryfuneralhome.net.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.