Obituary: Virgil Hugh Parrish
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Virgil Hugh Parrish, USAF CMSgt (Retired), reported for final muster and passed away on Monday morning, April 23, 2012, in Lakeway, Texas.
He ascended peacefully to heaven in his sleep after a long illness. He was 84 years old.
Virgil was born on March 5, 1928, in Harrisburg to Vernie and Myrtle (Wright) Parrish. He was preceded in death by both parents as well as his siblings Wendell Parrish, Violet Parrish, Lloyd Parrish and Raymond Parrish.
As a young teenager, Virgil went to Peoria. working one summer at Caterpillar Trac-tor Co. Having a desire to serve his country, at the age of 16, joined the US Merchant Marines and then subsequently transferred to the US Army on his 18th birthday. He initially served in the Philippines. When the US Air Force split from the Army, he immediately followed and served as the bodyguard and driver for General Curtis Lemay, Commander in Chief of the Strategic Air Command (CinCSAC), in Omaha, Neb. As his service to his country continued, he enjoyed many duty stations across the US as well as tours of duty in England and Japan. Additionally, he proudly served two tours during the Vietnam Conflict. Virgil retired from the Air Force in 1973 due to medical reasons. His final post was Worldwide Superintendent of USAF Ground Transportation. On his last day of active duty, he received orders to report to Washington, DC as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF), which even today is the highest enlisted level of leadership.
While serving, he managed to be side tracked by a very lovely Woman's Air Force (WAF) Corporal, Glenna Lee Mitchell, and they were married on May 7, 1949. During their life together, their first son, Raymond Shirley Parrish, was born in Waddington, England, and their second son, Phillip Hugh Parrish, as well as their daughter, Nancy Lee (Parrish) Pallmann were born in Tucson, Az. After the Air Force, Virgil and Glenna retired to Harrisburg. They would have been married 63 years next month.
In addition, as an extension of his commitment to serve, Virgil was also a dedicated 32-Degree Master Mason in the Square and Compass Lodge as well as a Permanent Member of the AFIFI Shiners' Society.
Virgil is survived by his loving wife, Glenna Parrish; eldest son, Ray Parrish (spouse Veronica Crowley Parrish and two children Victoria Piel and Michael Crowley); youngest son Phil Parrish (spouse Sherri Eller Parrish and three children, Derek Wilson, Megan Ciezki, and Monica Fergus); and daughter Nancy Pallmann (spouse Thomas Pallmann and two children Joseph and Miles Pallmann). Other survivors include many great-grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and numerous friends worldwide.
A memorial service in celebration of Virgil's life and his family's love for him is being planned for Monday, May 7, 2012, at The Summit at Lakeway Assisted Living Center, 1915 Lohmans Crossing Road, Lakeway, Texas 78734. The family requests memorial condolences, wishes, and prayers be sent directly to The Summit facility.
The family wishes to thank all of the staff at The Summit for their tremendous care, thoughtfulness, and compassion during the last three years.