Harold Cheney “Hal” Parish, 76 of Richwood, died peacefully Saturday evening, June 11, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born July 8, 1939 in Marion to the late Wilbur and Cleo (Cheney) Parish. He was also predeceased by one brother, Eugene “Gene” Parish and one sister, Elizabeth Ann Neumann.
On September 24, 1959 at the Essex United Methodist Church he married his high school sweetheart, Elma Tanner and she survives.
Hal was raised in Richwood and in his early years worked on the family farm. After graduating from Richwood High School in 1957 he attended The Ohio State University, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and specializing in Cryogenics.
After working with NASA in Cleveland, he earned his Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University. He raised his family in Upper Arlington and then Dublin, where he remained until he retired in 1995 from C. V. I. and moved back to Richwood. Even during his ‘retirement’ years, he worked as an engineering consultant designing cryogenic heat exchangers.
Hal truly enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He attended many, many graduations, baptisms, birthdays, and school events. He had a passion for church and Bible study and served in various capacities at the First Baptist Church in Richwood, where he and Elma were former members, as well as Marion Grace where they are currently members. He enjoyed visiting with the residents of DeWolfe Place in Marion.
He is survived by his wife, Elma Parish, Richwood; daughter, Cheryl Launer, Columbus and her children, Natalie and Nathan Launer; sons, James C. (Estela) Parish, Delaware and their children, Dahkota, Ileana, Luke, Isabela and Catherine Parish; Brent E. (Brenda) Parish, Brookfield, Massachusetts and their children, Emily and Alec Parish, Justine (Matt) Isakson, Caity, Amanda and Julia McElroy; grandchildren, Leigh Anne and Joel Diener, children of Amy Diener; his “adopted” children, Jerry and Cathey Bentley, Hoosick Falls, New York; former son-in-law, Jack Launer, Columbus; sister-in-law, Harriet “Dinnie” Parish, Concord, Massachusetts; brother-in-law, Bruce (Patricia) Neumann, Pasadena, Maryland.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood with Pastors John Jones and Jerry Bentley officiating. Burial will follow in Price Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 to 7 PM at the funeral home in Richwood.
Memorial gifts may be made to Loving Care Hospice, P. O. Box 613, Marysville, OH 43040 and Marion Grace, 2813 Gooding Rd, Marion, OH 43302.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com