Chester Valentine Parsons

Chet passed away at 88 or as he would say he was double 8’s. He was a native San Diegan who graduated from Chula Vista High School. As a child he grew up in a horse racing family in San Ysidro. He was a wonderful man who was very independent, had a sense of humor, always had to be doing something, loved sugar, and was very talented. He had his way about teaching you about life and made sure you took care of things and kept them in good working order.

He held several occupations during his lifetime. As a teenager he worked for Moody’s Market as a cashier and stock clerk and then as a Shell service station attendant. In his young adult years he served in the Korean War in the US Army, Army Corps of Engineers, as a chief radio operator achieving the rank of Sargent. Before and after the war he worked for General Dynamics as a Tool and Operations Manager as well as a Template Maker and Plastic Mold Tool Builder. He spent the remainder of his career as an Entrepreneur who owned a Texaco gas station, Pacific Stone Company (decorative pre-cast stone), and a Handyman business. He also worked as a construction foreman.

He was an avid outdoorsman. In the beginning it was waterskiing, golf, and hunting. Followed by camping and fishing. He spent several years deep sea fishing on his boat followed by numerous summers living in his motor home hiking and trout stream and lake fishing in the High Sierra’s. His hobbies included wood working and he was a model train enthusiast who built a very impressive model railroad. He walked at Mission Bay almost daily and enjoyed spending time flying drones, watching stock car races and golf tournaments.

He will be missed dearly by his family. He was predeceased by his wife, Mickey, of 46 years. He is survived by his Daughter Karen Beggs (Jim) of Ramona, CA, Stepson Mike Jirsa (Lauraine) of San Diego, CA, Grandson and Granddaughters (Cameron, Sierra, Michelle, Tammy, Judy) Great Grandsons and Great Granddaughter (Cody, Louie, Destiny).