Obituary of Richard T. Parrish, Sr.

Richard T. Parrish, Sr., 92, of Hightstown, NJ passed away on Friday, April 27, 2018, at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro, NJ.

Born on September 18, 1925 in Riverhead, NY, Mr. Parrish was an honorably discharged U.S. Naval Veteran, having served during WWII. Mr. Parrish received the American Theatre Medal, the Victory Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Medals during his time served. He worked for the Hightstown Borough Public Works in the maintenance department, retiring 30 years ago. Prior he worked at the Hightstown Feed Mill and provided a cleaning service having maintained several buildings in town, including the Hightstown library. Mr. Parrish received many awards for his work ethics, including the Borough of Hightstown Citizenship Award in recognition of his dedicated service to the Borough for 10 years as the Commissioner of the Hightstown Housing Authority.

Mr. Parrish was a founding member of Club 8, Inc. located in Hightstown. Mr. Parrish was also a recipient of an award for over 50 years of dedicated service to the club and the community.

Known as “Big Rich” by many, Mr. Parrish enjoyed watching baseball and during his youth was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan ultimately becoming an avid Atlanta Braves fan. He enjoyed his time spent with his beloved wife, known by many as “Lizzy” in Bermuda, the Bahamas and Canada. They spent many beach days together with their family in Long Branch and Seaside Heights.

He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Edmonia Parrish; his wife, Elizabeth (Owens) Parrish; and his two brothers and five sisters; he is survived by his children and their spouses, Patricia Parrish, Pamela and Dr. Nicholas Arrindell, Richard Parrish, Jr. and Dorothy Parrish, Deborah Parrish-Hill, Christine and David Lacey, Robin and Philippe Renaud, Sr.; his 12 grandchildren; his 19 great-grandchildren; and his many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. at the Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Ave., Hightstown, NJ. 

Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hightstown, NJ. 

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Parrish’s memory to the VFW located in Hightstown by visiting In Memory Of at www.inmemoryof-memorial.org.