Herschell Parent

Herschell E. Parent, age 82, of Little Rock, AR passed away April 26, 2007. He was born on February 6, 1925 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Oklahoma and received a master's degree from Oklahoma State. He was a (Ret.) Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force with 41 years of active and reserve duty service. He was a decorated World War II pilot who flew B-17's and P-51's in Europe and Africa. He also was called to active duty for the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam where he flew C-123 and C-124 aircraft. In 1949 he married Josephine Darnell in Bristow, Oklahoma. In 1953 they moved to McGehee, Arkansas where he became the program director and the "voice of southeast Arkansas" at KVSA radio station. In 1964 he joined the Arkansas Petroleum Council in Little Rock, Arkansas. He served as the Executive Director until his retirement in 1986. He is survived by his two sons, Herschell E. Parent II of Paradise Valley, Arizona; Christopher B. Parent of Maumelle, Arkansas, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler, Little Rock, Arkansas. He will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Odyssey Hospice Foundation, 333 Executive Court, Suite 205, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. Funeral arrangements are with Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock, AR (501) 835-3515.