Pastor Ken W. Parsons

Pastor Kenneth W. (Ken) Parsons, 72, of Bluffton, died Sunday, September 14, 2014 at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation. He was born January 26, 1942 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Marshall B. and Virginia (Green) Parsons. His mother survives. He married Irene (Burch) Parsons on August 19, 1961. She survives. Ken was a graduate of Lincoln Consolidated High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He graduated cum laude from Malone University in Canton, Ohio. He also attended Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Ken was a pastor for 39 years, pastoring churches in Ohio and Virginia under the Evangelical Friends Church, Eastern Region, and in Ohio and Indiana under Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends, and in Urbana, Indiana under the United Methodist Church. Ken retired in 2004 and he and his wife, Irene, moved to Bluffton. They attended the First Church of the Nazarene where Ken was involved in the choir, the Men's Breakfast Prayer Group, Children's Prayer Partners, and in various other ways. In recent years, he and his wife have attended the First Church of Christ. Ken always loved music and played the violin and sang in quartets, choirs, as a soloist, and in duets with his wife. He was a dedicated pastor and served faithfully in that role. In his spare time, Ken also enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening, watching sports, and reading. Other survivors include two sons, Tim Parsons of Muncie, Keith (Carrie) Parsons of Nashville, Tennessee, and two daughters, Carol (Duane) Miller of Fort Wayne, and Connie Parsons of Bluffton. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Nick Hunter, Katie Parsons, Hadley Miller, and Tad Miller, four great-grandsons, and one step great-granddaughter, one brother, Douglas Parsons, and two sisters, Dr. Wanda Reygaert and Diane Bugg. He was preceded in death by his father, a brother, Marshall Parsons Jr., a sister, Jinnie Parsons, and a son-in-law, Pete Hunter. A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 19, 2014 at the First Church of Christ, with Rev. Larry Sheets and Pastor Larry Sprinkle officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 and from 6 to 8 on Thursday at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s International or Evangelical Friends Missions. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the Parsons family at www.thomarich.com.

Pastor Ken W. Parsons

January 26, 1942 - September 14, 2014