Richard Parsons Obituary, Death – Richard Arthur Parsons, who resided in Rock Island, Illinois, lost his fight with lung cancer on Saturday, October 7th, following a brief and difficult struggle against the disease. While he was taking his last breath in the privacy of his own house, his wife and children around him and prayed for the eternal rest, peace, and comfort that he had justly deserved. On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at ten o’clock in the morning, the Mass will be held in St. Pius X Church in Rock Island. At the Rafferty Funeral Home, located at 2111-1st Street A in Moline, there will be a rosary at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. At the National Cemetery at Rock Island, with full military honors, the burial will take place. You are welcome to make memorial contributions to St. Pius X Church, Jordan Schools, or Alleman High School in place of sending flowers. Richard C. Parsons and Thelma Moore Parsons welcomed their son Rich into the world on January 1st, 1946 in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
In the end, his family relocated to Moline, Illinois, where he started attending Alleman High School and eventually graduated from there. Rich participated in a variety of sports while attending Alleman, including basketball, baseball, and football. He was eventually inducted into the Alleman Hall of Fame for his contributions to the boys’ basketball team that competed from 1963 to 1964.
After completing his high school education, Rich went on to complete his education at Blackhawk College for a period of two years before joining the United States Air Force. Ipswich, England was his home base during his service in the military, and he held the rank of sergeant there for a period of four years.
He went back to his hometown after receiving an honorable discharge, and it was there that he eventually met his future wife, Gail Diane Ziegler, who is from Rock Island, Illinois. Rich and Gail were united in holy matrimony on July 14, 1972, at St. Pius Catholic Church in Rock Island, Illinois.
The religious ceremony took place. Then, over the course of the subsequent 18 years, their family expanded with the births of their children: Heather Kathleen, Amy Melissa, Daniel Joseph, Abigayle Marie, Bridgette Marie, and Samuel Robert completed the Parsons clan in its entirety by the year 1990. Rich began his career by accepting a full-time position with Missman Stanley & Associates in Rock Island, where he remained until his retirement.
In his spare time, he participated in sport activities. His favorite sports included basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, pickleball, and racquetball. He also enjoyed playing golf. In order to maintain his physical fitness, he spent years working out in gyms, coaching, observing, cheering, officiating, playing, and working out.
