Donald F. "Don" Parsons

Donald F. Parsons of West Chester Founder of Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI) Donald F. "Don" Parsons, loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather and founder of Communications Test Design, Inc., passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife and family on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Don, 87, a resident of West Chester since 1960, is survived by Bette, his loving wife of 65 years and their eight children, twenty grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Don and Bette's children are the Honorable Donald F. Parsons, Jr. (Ethel), Dr. Robert L. Parsons (Marilyn), Richard M. Parsons (Claudia), Gerald J. (Jerry) Parsons (Eleanor), Elizabeth A. (Beth) Forsythe (Jeff), Sister M. Judith Kathryn I.H.M., Leo D. Parsons (Maryanne) and Christine P. Bendinelli (G. Joseph). Don and Bette's grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Anne (Bastian); Elliot (Melissa) and children Owen and Lila; Amy; Kevin (Lisa) and children Alexis, Haiden and Eve; Jessica (Justin) and children Kaelyn and Tanner; Sean; Andrew (Kathleen) and children Joshua, Drew, Samantha and Jamie; Lisa; Brian (Brigid) and children Nola and Johnny; Kathryn (Keith) and son Sammy; Michael (Christine); Rachel; Meredith; Matthew (Megan) and daughter Reagan; Mark; Leo; Megan; Elise; Catherine and Joseph. Don was preceded in death by his brothers, Bill, Steve and Joe and great- grandson Liam Robert. Don was born in Halethorpe, Md. on January 31, 1925 and grew up in West Philadelphia. Don served our country in the United States Navy during WW II and then worked for 28 years with the AT&T Western Electric Company. Don was known for his technical troubleshooting ability and was flown around the United States to work with AT&T Bell Labs and the Bell Telephone Companies to troubleshoot their most difficult technical problems. In 1975, at the age of 50, with the courageous support of Bette, Don pursued his dream of starting his own business in the repair of electronic telecommunications equipment. That year, with his sons Jerry and Richard, Don founded Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI) in the two car, two story garage that the family built that summer on the side of his home in West Chester. With Don's ("Mr. P's") vision, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, CTDI has grown from its humble beginnings with three employees in the garage to an industry leading, world-class global telecommunications, engineering, repair and logistics services company servicing the world's leading telephone companies, cable companies, wireless carriers and OEM's. Don's proudest accomplishments with CTDI are the opportunities and jobs that his vision and wisdom have created. CTDI employs over 5,000 employees in 50 operations world-wide. CTDI employs over 3,500 employees in the United States and is one of the ten largest employers in Chester County with over 1,200 employees. CTDI is Don's extended family. Don's favorite pastimes included walking on the boardwalk and fishing in the bays of Margate, N.J. He invited everyone to watch the beautiful sunset and would routinely be heard saying, "Isn't that beautiful? Aren't we blessed?" Don's outlook on life was always positive; he was always thankful for the blessings bestowed on him, especially his faith. Don and Bette have been parishioners of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Goshen since its inception in 1967. They have instilled a spirit of "How can we help?" in their family, their business and those they meet by their example of giving and helping wherever they have been able. Don and Bette have been tireless supporters of Catholic education especially supporting the parochial Catholic grade schools in Chester County, Bishop Shanahan High School, the Office of Catholic Education, and the Stewards of St. John Neumann. Family and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 1327 Boot Rd., West Chester, PA 19380. The viewing for family and friends will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at the church. A separate viewing will be held at the church on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, for CTDI employees from 2 until 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Don's memory may be made to the Camilla Hall Renovation Project at Villa Maria House of Studies, 1140 King Rd., Immaculata, PA 19345-0200; or to CTDI CARES (Care, Assistance & Resources for Employee Support) at CTDI, Attention: CTDI CARES, 1373 Enterprise Drive, West Chester, PA 19380. Arrangements are being handled by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.