George Robert “Bob” Parish, Jr., 92, died peacfully of natural causes at 6 AM May 30, 2020 in his room at Laclede Grove Senior Care Center, Webster Groves, Missouri. His wife of 70 plus happy years, Dolores, was at his side the afternoon before he died. Services are being postponed till further notice on account of the national covid crisis, but it is planned to have a church memorial service followed by a full military honors internment at Jefferson Barracks Memorial Cemetery in St. Louis. The dates of the services are to be determined.

Mr. Parish was born on August 5, 1927 in Alton Illinois, the son of George Robert, Sr. and Stella Parish, in Alton, Illinois. Mr Parish served honorably in the U.S. Navy on the LSD-2 USS Belle Grove and landside in California from 1945 to1948. He married the love of his life, Dolores Nekola, on November 5, 1949. He spent most of his working career at the Shell Oil Company Wood River, Illinois refinery as a pipe fitter, and then as a crew chief in the boiler house. Bob and Dolores raised 5 children, three sons and two daughters and additionally took care of Dolores’s Nephew as his legal guardian during his teenage years to adulthood. Bob and Dolores resided in the Alton, Illiniois area until Bob retired from Shell Oil Company at the age of 57. Following retirment, they resided in Lake Placed Florida for eight years, then moved to Mountain Home Arkansas where they resided for 18 years. They moved to Webster Groves. Missouri in 2013, where they lived with son Joseph and his wife Mary until Bob was placed at Laclede Grove Senior Center following a stroke. Dolores was placed in the same home the following year where she presently resides.

Mr. Parish enjoyed gardening, fishing, reading, and wood working. He was an award winning master gardener and planted a wide variety of vegetables and flowers. He spoke with pride of his Native American ancestry, and passed that legacy on to his children. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Dolores, three sons, George Robert “Bob” III, Joseph Michael, and Danny Richard, two daughters, Laura Lee and Kathryn Ann, and nephew, James Nekola, his legal charge, as well as many other nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great grand children, and one great great granddaughter.

Family Testimonials:

Dad taught me to enjoy the great outdoors and to learn wisdom from observing nature. He always encouraged me to do my best and to excel at what I was naturally good at. He was and still is my hero.

What I remember most about dad was his work ethic and how considerate he was for mom. He’d come home from a hard days work and still take time to help her with the house work. He always lead us in grace before meals. He is my hero.

I thought dad could do anything…fix anything, build anything, solve any problem. My fondest memory was how he loved mom. I learned so much about life just watching that.

The legacy that dad left me was his faithfulness and dedication to family, a strong sense of right from wrong, a love for gardening and growing beautiful things, and a strong work ethic. He also had an amazing sense of humor that could always make me laugh. He had a father’s heart that has provided lasting memories.

I remember dad’s love for mom and family, his sense of humor and his love for fishing and gardening. He will live on in our hearts.