Robert O. Parsons

GLOUCESTER — Robert Owen Parsons, (affectionately known as "O.T.D." older than dirt), 89, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 in the Woodbriar Nursing Home in Wilmington. He was the husband of the late Althea V. (Dempsey) MacEachern Parsons.

Born in Gloucester on Dec. 16, 2008, he was the son of the late Owen N. and Lydia W. (Marston) Parsons. A lifelong resident of Gloucester, he graduated with perfect attendance from Gloucester High School, Class of 1936. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He served in North Africa, France and Italy as an aircraft mechanic before being honorably discharged in October of 1945. Robert was employed as a master mechanic and meter reader for the Massachusetts Electric Company in Gloucester for 40 years before his retirement. He also founded along with his first wife Evie "The Rudder Restaurant" on Rocky Neck in East Gloucester. He was a member and past-master of the Acacia Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Gloucester and the Aleppo Shrine in Wilmington.

Although Bob was born, raised, resided and loved East Gloucester, after he married his second wife, Althea, and moved into her home on Wheeler Point - he never looked back. He absolutely loved being on the "River" and cherished every moment living in his home he affectionately named "Sleepy Hollow." His face will forever be immortalized in the mural on the wall in the Mayor's office at City Hall. "O.T.D." was a master at jotting down random thoughts like these... Being part of World War II, I saw the Straights of Gibraltar on the port side and Morocco on the starboard; I saw the home base of the French Foreign Legion (Sid. Bel- Abbes, Algeria); I descended on a rope net to a waiting small craft to take me ashore in Baples Bay in sight of the Isle of Capri; I saw Pompeii and the eruption of Vesuvius 1944 and the Tower of Pisa, which I climbed, but could not see bottom! I carried a friend's rosary to the Sistine Chapel and got them blessed by Pope Pius II. We will miss finding these notes. He once wrote a high school absentee note to his friend, the Vice Principal Bob Karcher, in German. No one had any idea what it actually said! He was best known for his handsome look, his 6' 4" frame, and his crazy sense of humor. He loved music and sang bass in the choir at the Community Church of East Gloucester for years. His family will carry on his spontaneous theatrics, roaring laugh and those of us who have the ability will continue to make the "Parsons' Face."

He is survived by two daughters, Susan M. and her husband, William W. Baker and Paula J. Parsons and her partner, Debra A. Callahan all of Gloucester; four grandchildren, Andrew S. and his wife, Holly Baker of Los Angeles, Courtney S. and her husband, Tony Davis, Bethany J. and her husband, Adam Sherlock, all of Gloucester, and Matthew A. and his wife, Jessica Baker of Wenham; 10 great-grandchildren, Adrian, Cameron, Austin, Carrington and Ashton Davis, Conor, Owen and Hannah Sherlock and Douglas and Zoe Baker; and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his son, Douglass F. Parsons, a sister, Janet M. Parsons, a brother, William Story Parsons and his first wife, Evie (Douglass) Parsons.

ARRANGEMENTS: A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 260 Main St., Gloucester. For more information and to send online condolences, please visit www.grondinfuneralservices.com.