David Leon Parsons

Funeral services for David Leon Parsons, 82, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 13, 2012 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Eudora Cemetery in Eudora, KS. He died on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
David was born on April 13, 1930 in Vandalia, MO the third son of Ray and Lela Boulden Parsons.
He served in the United States Air Force as a signal man from 1951 to 1953, with most of that service in London, England. Upon returning to the states, he married Merrill Knapp on December 25, 1955 in Warrenton, MO. She preceded him in death on December 6, 1984. They shared 29 years of marriage and raised four children, Maureen (Clete) Wiederholt, Baldwin City, KS, William Parsons, Salt Lake City, UT, Kathleen (Neil) Wright, Lawrence, KS, and Christine (Chris) Hamman, Wichita, KS.
David married Virginia Kauffman on February 15, 1987 and he became the loving stepfather to four daughters, Cindy (Steve) Hovik, Gold Canyon, AZ, Nancy (Dick) Powell, Casa Grande, AZ, Danette (Richard) Hayes, Buffalo Grove, IL, Carmela (John) Shepard, Higley, AZ. Dave and Virginia shared 25 years of marriage and she survives of the home. He was also survived by 15 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; one great- great grandchild; two sisters, Helen (Gordon)
Polston, Warrenton, MO and Edna Carver, Independence, MO. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Kenneth Parsons and Eugene Parsons; and a sister, Mary Ellen Parsons.
He was employed by Montgomery Ward as a salesperson for over 30 years.
He was an avid gardener and apprenticed as a watchmaker in 1966 with his best friend, Paul Squires. He enjoyed golfing and swimming. He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and with his wife, Virginia, started Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry in 1995.
The family will greet friends on Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Warren- McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials in his name to the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.