William W. Parmenter

William Warren Parmenter

88, Indianapolis, died August 12, 2012. He was born in Lima, Ohio, March 10, 1922 to Warren Crippen Parmenter and Frances Defnet Parmenter. He grew up in Lima and attended Lima Central High School where he was a member of the Young Republican's and lettered in the Debating Society. He graduated in June 1940 and then attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to study pre-law.

He was active in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Army ROTC and also met his future wife, Mary Anne Mentzer during his studies at U of M. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in early 1944 and while in Aviation Cadet Training married Mary Anne in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 28, 1944. After their marriage he and his bride lived in Florida and Georgia while he continued his advanced training and was rated for both the B-17 and A-26. In 1946 he was assigned overseas for occupation duty, U.S. Air Force (Germany). Mary Anne, and their son, Bill, joined him in Wiesbaden, Germany where their daughter, Mary Susan, was born. During the winter of 1948-1949 he flew numerous missions to help supply the people of Berlin during the airlift. Later in 1949 he and the family were rotated back to Chanute Field, Urbana, Illinois before his separation from service.

After leaving the service he worked for a short time for the John Hancock Insurance Company before beginning a career in the aeronautical industry with Aeroproducts, Inc. in Vandalia, Ohio in 1951. He and his wife's third child, Jim was born in Vandalia. Aeroproducts was purchased by General Motors (Allison) and he was transferred to Indianapolis in 1961. He continued to work at Allison as a purchasing agent (aviation components) until his retirement in 1976.

He and his wife enjoyed living in Southport, Indiana from 1961-present. He enjoyed gardening (a hobby he had inherited from his mother), bridge and other games, and traveling all over the world.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne; their son, Bill Parmenter and his wife, Penny Eiler of Madison, WI; daughter, Susan Parmenter Nelson of Trenton, NJ; son, James Robert Parmenter of Bellingham, WA; grandchildren, Christopher Cook Nelson and wife, Laura Youngberg, Eric William Nelson and wife, Wendy, Anton Martin Nelson and wife, Andreea, and Joseph David Parmenter; great-grandchildren, Ian, Rosie, Will, Anton and Alex.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., with funeral service following at G.H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home , 5141 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be shared with the family at: http://www.ghherrmann.com