CARMEL – Donald Wilson Parsons, 79, died Feb. 13, 2011, with his wife at his side, at his home. He was born June 17, 1931, in Saint Claire Shores, Mich., the fifth and youngest child of Bayward and Anna Ruth (Wilson) Parsons, who were Canadian citizens.
Donald grew up in Oshawa, Ontario, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1949, where he served overseas during the Korean War. He married Susan Lombard in 1955 and together they raised six children, finally settling in Hampden. Donald and Susan divorced in 1976.
Donald loved books, music, bicycling and mountain hiking, particularly in Acadia National Park. After retirement he spent many hours as a volunteer driver, a soup kitchen worker and a member of the building and grounds committees of the Unitarian Universalist churches in Bangor.
Donald is survived by his wife, Rosemary Petke Parsons; his six children, Marcia Gaglione and her husband, Lou, of Belton, Texas, David Parsons of Lincoln, Trudy Bacon and her husband, Jeff, of Hampden, Cedena McAvoy and her husband, Terry, of Hampden, Katie Lewis and her fosterman, Paul Nadeau, of Bangor and Robert Parsons and his significant other, Mickie Bedard, and her daughters, Taylor and MacKenzie, of Newburgh; a former son-in-law, Daniel Lewis; Rosemary’s three children, Ben Roberts and his wife, Lisa, of Gorham, Laurence Roberts of New Orleans and James Roberts of Berkeley, Calif.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Wynonna Francis and her husband, Drew, and her children, Devean and Daniel, and his children, Andrew and Austin, of Kentwood, Mich., William Parsons of Lincoln, Toby Parsons and her daughter, Lydia, of Lincoln, Nathan Bacon and his wife, Melissa, and their son, Wyatt, of Hampden, Caleb McAvoy of Hampden and Jessie McAvoy of Westbrook. Donald was predeceased by a sister, Joan; and a brother, James. The family gives special thanks to the amazing people on Grant 6, Waterman Unit, and New Hope Hospice.
There will be no visiting hours and no service. If you would like to remember Donald in a special way, he suggested you plant a tree or donate to Bangor Symphony, Bangor Public Library, a soup kitchen or food pantry.