Marion Franklin Parsons Jr., 77, of Salisbury, MD, passed away on Thursday, January 15 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC.
Born on July 15, 1937, in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Marion Franklin Parsons, Sr. and Anna Maria Banks Parsons and the grandson of B. Frank and Eva Taylor Parsons and Granville and Zadie Dennis Banks.
Frank was a 1955 graduate of Wicomico Senior High School and after graduation joined his father and grandfather in the family auto repair business, B. Frank Parsons and Son. After selling the family business in 1988, Frank joined the real estate agency Ahtes, Hanna McLaughlin (Long/Foster) and for 12 years sold residential real estate before ‘retiring the first time.’ After a year of ‘retirement,’ Frank joined Saturn Auto Dealership and enjoyed several years of selling automobiles before settling comfortably into full retirement in 2006.
Frank was a member of the Presbyterian Church, the United States Trotting Association and the Old Timers Softball League in Salisbury. He proudly served in the Second Battle Group, 115th Infantry of the Maryland Army National Guard from 1955 to 1963 and enjoyed the monthly luncheons with his old Army pals at Lombardi's.
Frank's passion was training and racing Standardbred horses and he was involved in horse racing for over 50 years. He spent many years as a coach for football, basketball and baseball youth leagues locally. Frank was an avid Colts' football fan. He also liked watching old western movies and spending time with his ‘granddog’ Yogi. In a note for his family, Frank wrote that the most important part of his life was his family.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Pauline Louise Kraus Parsons who he married in1959; his three children; Lynn L. Parsons of Ocean Pines, Lori L. Nichols and her husband, Bobby, of Delmar DE, and William F. Parsons of Salisbury; his two grandchildren: Crystal L. Wilkins and her husband Tom of Delmar, MD and Robert L. Nichols, Jr. of Delmar DE; and his great-grandson Thomas E. Wilkins and his second expected great-grandson due in June of this year. He is also survived by his sister Joann Williams and her husband Jack of Salisbury; his Aunt Charlotte Parsons Spory and her husband, Jack, of South Abington Township, PA several cousins, nieces and nephews and their children and many wonderful friends.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 23 at 11 a.m. at the Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Entombment will be at Wicomico Memorial Park. Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Day, Jr. will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: Horse Lovers United, Inc., P. O. Box 2744, Salisbury, Maryland, 21802; Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, WIHI Class of 1955, 1324 Belmont Ave Ste 401, Salisbury, MD 21804 or P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312.
Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.
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