Marilyn Jean Parrish

Marilyn Jean Parrish, 98, of Fort Wayne, died on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Lutheran Life Villages Pine Valley after a short illness. She was born in Bryant, Indiana, on November 7, 1923, the daughter of the late Irvin V. and Lillie E. (Hiestand) Campbell. On March 17, 1944, she married Henry L. “Hank” Parrish, who preceded her in death on July 13, 1994, shortly after having celebrated their golden anniversary and 50 years of loving partnership.

Having grown up on a farm in a large family during the Great Depression, Jean learned early on the importance of hard work and self-reliance, and she lived the rest of her life according to these principles. She was a proud alumna of Bryant High School, Class of ’41, who after graduation moved to Fort Wayne to work for General Electric throughout World War II.

Jean met her future husband, Hank, while he was stationed at Baer Field. After the war, they remained in Fort Wayne; in the early 60s, they built a home where they lived the rest of their lives, on Leesmoor Lane, amongst neighbors who became lifelong friends. There, they raised their only son, Greg, and enjoyed many hobbies together, including extensive travel, mushroom hunting, and square dancing. They were both longtime members of the faithful congregation at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church.

A talented homemaker, Jean was known for creating her own window treatments as well as her passions for all things sewing and quilting. She cared for the outside of her home with the same dedication, a calling that kept her on her tractor and in gardening gloves working on her yard and tending her flowers into her mid-90s. She also loved the water, watching old movies, and keeping up with current events via the Sunday morning political shows.

Jean is survived by her sister, Betty Joan Stein of Portland, IN; her sister-in-law, Eloise E. Campbell of La Porte, IN; her son, Gregory L. Parrish of Fort Wayne; two grandchildren, Sara Elaine Jackson of Fort Wayne and William H. Parrish of Cincinnati, OH; an abundant extended family; and many good friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was preceded in death by nine of her ten siblings: Marjorie L. Crowell, Mildred M. Brubaker, Harold A. Campbell, Orla O. Campbell, Beatrice A. Weinberger Wolfe, Harley V. Campbell, Robert L. Campbell, Norman L. Campbell, and Norma Kay Gardner.

A funeral service to honor Jean's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, with Rev. Barry A. Belknap of First Wayne Street United Methodist Church officiating; calling is scheduled for the hour prior to the service. Visitation will also be Friday, June 17 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home. Reception to be held 3:30pm - 4:30pm on Saturday, June 18 at Canterbury Middle School, 5601 Covington Rd. Burial will be private, at Covington Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Jean’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Parkview Regional Medical Center and Lutheran Life Villages Pine Valley for the kindness and care that they showed to Jean in her final weeks.