CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

David Allen Parsons

David Allen Parsons was born May 1, 1948 to Norman and Mary Parsons of Delanco, New Jersey and passed peacefully in his
own home located in Erial, New Jersey on December 18, 2021 while surrounded by loved ones. A lifelong resident of New
Jersey, he would continue to reside in Burlington County for much of his early life. Then in 1996, after many years of hard work,
he purchased a new home in Gloucester Township; this would be the home he would finish raising his children in, continue to
watch his family grow in, and eventually retire to.
Most of his professional career was spent working in the automotive industry which was one of his passions. Between the years
of 1967 – 1985 he was an employee of: Willis Volkswagen, ABC Auto Parts, and Hutchinson’s Speed Shop, but it was Ted Rapp
Pontiac in Cinnaminson, New Jersey that would play a more integral role in his life than expected. In 1969, while working as the
Service Department Advisor, the then receptionist told him about her broken-down Firebird. Unbeknownst to him this was
nothing more than a ploy to try and spend more time with him; it worked because the tale resulted in three car rides, and almost
50 years of marriage together.
On September 16, 1972, David and Meredee (Stephens) Parsons were married which was followed by thirteen long years of
waiting for a child of their own. It was by coincidence that on David’s birthday (May 1, 1984) they adopted their first child,
Sabrina Parsons. Only a year later they were surprised by the birth of their son, Joshua Parsons, who went on to marry his high
school sweetheart, Kari (Fagerstrom) Parsons who had already been a member of the family for many years. They blessed
David and Meredee with the experience of becoming grandparents to four grandsons: Dylan Patrick Connor, Elijah David, Liam
Hunter, and Wesley Gauge. He is additionally survived by his nephew, John Alloway (Krissy Richman) who was much like a
son for most of his life, was predeceased by his sister, Judith (Parsons) Amburg and his many nieces and nephews.
Over the course of eight years, and prior to the arrival of his children, David worked as an apprentice learning how to operate an
arc furnace for powdered metals at Hoeganaes Corporation in Riverton, New Jersey before he went on to join Cardone
Industries in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1985. This is where he would spend his career of twenty-three years working in
several positions until becoming the International and Surplus Manager of the Core Procurement Department. This provided
him the opportunity to travel both domestically and internationally to several different countries as well as stories he would go on
to tell many years later.
It was not long after “retirement” that he would decide to continue working and mentoring the next generation of kids within the
industry he loved so much. He would spend time working at both Napa Auto Parts in Hammonton, New Jersey and PartsLife, Inc. in
Moorestown, New Jersey until December 2016, when he officially retired for the second time. After years of providing for and
teaching others, he started to enjoy sleeping in, having a cup of coffee while sitting on his deck, taking the afternoon to go hit
golf balls, and some peace and quiet which was a new experience to him. Through a membership at Main Street Cigar in
Medford, New Jersey and Heritage in Marlton, New Jersey he formed a close bond with a group of men over their shared love of
a good cigar, a glass of whiskey, and the Philadelphia Eagles. This newfound hobby was what would lead to a trip of a lifetime
where he visited Perdomo Cigars in Nicaragua for a factory and agricultural tour with a few of his dearest friends, Jay (Kim)
Beaumont, Joseph (Lillian) Beretta, and Sam (Danilyn) Thevanayagam.
In his early years, David could be found either freshwater fishing in his small boat he would take to the local lake each weekend
or duck hunting. He also found he had a passion for cooking early in life, and most recently expanded his knowledge and
mastered dishes of all ethnicities. He would eventually give into the newest technologies his grandchildren had to teach him and
could be found sitting in his beloved chair watching old mobster movies on Netflix, laughing hysterically to YouTube videos
found on Facebook, or chatting on FaceTime to his childhood friend, John (Marcia) Daniels.
Late in a life cut far too short, he found what was seemingly a new calling to all of us, but one that he knew he had always been
meant for; he did what he felt was his most important job in life and “raised good humans”, he felt the indescribable joy of
hearing “pop” screamed across the house, he enjoyed a final anniversary dinner with his wife in the comfort of his own home,
and even gained a sidekick he would not-so-secretly grow to love in his daughter’s dog, Chester. He gained a second family in
the lifelong friends he made throughout each chapter of his life both personally and professionally. He was known as a gentle
giant and a man of very few words, and true to himself his final days were spent cracking jokes and making sure those around
him would be okay; to know him was to love him.
A memorial service will be held Thursday January 6, 2022, from 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. at Calvary Church located at 317
Conrow Road in Delran, New Jersey. If you are unable to attend in-person but wish to be a part of remembering him,
this will be livestreamed through Facebook as well.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org) where a
contribution can be dedicated specifically in his memory, Calvary Church (Delran, New Jersey), High Street Worship
(Burlington New Jersey), or The Sam T Foundation (www.samtfoundation.org).