Louella Mae Parsons, 87, of Winchester, Virginia went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday at her home.
Our mother’s hard fought battle with, as she put it, “That Damned Old Dementia!” came to an end on June 20, 2018. Her journey on that long road home is over, but her walk with our Father in the sunshine of everlasting life has now begun. Though you may be gone, your love for family and your blue eyes smiling will never be forgotten. Mom’s last month was filled with enjoying nature, animals, as well as being surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Parsons was born in 1930 in Glengary, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Clarence and Matilda DeHaven. She was a graduate of Hedgesville High School, Class of 1949, where she was the softball pitcher for the first female team of the school. She was also a member of Hedgesville High School FHA. She was a homemaker, taking care of the duties at home and raising eight children. She was a member of Pine Grove United Methodist Church and involved with the Pine Knot Senior Group. She and her late husband, Fred, sponsored the youth fellowship group at Pine Grove UMC in the late 50s and 60s and was a Vacation Bible School teacher for the teenagers at Pine Grove UMC. She stayed involved in her children’s lives while they were growing up and would travel with her girls softball teams for games and was a teacher’s aide for her youngest daughter and son in the mid-70s at Senseny Road Elementary School. She enjoyed going to the Adult Care Center, fishing, and her family reunions. She was always the storyteller who kept the family’s past alive. She loved the beauty of nature and seeing all of God’s blessings at work; the squirrels, birds….all the critters created by Him. She was blessed by her many caregivers. A devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother that will be missed by many.
Her husband, Fred Harding Parsons, whom she married on October 27, 1950 in Winchester, Virginia, preceded her in death in 1993.
Surviving are children, Joyce Tranbarger (Jerry), Gary Parsons (Nancy), Mary Susan Ballenger (Poke), Deborah Balzer (Kim), Barbara Strosnider (Ed), Fred Martin Parsons (Sharon), Stephen Parsons (Kate Fravel), Donna Steffey (Gary Wilson); fourteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; seven great, great grandchildren; sister, Doris Miller; and brother, James DeHaven. Also surviving is her canine companion, Mollie, one of her great loves….”Momma’s bad baby girl, Mollie B.”
Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandchild; sisters, Nellie Brown, Geneva Dunham, Lena Douglas, Hazel Lamp, and Evelyn Shirley; and brothers, Melvin and Donald DeHaven.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 pm to 8 pm on Sunday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 am on Monday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Pastor Phil Brumback and Pastor James Markle officiating. Interment will be in Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Louella’s name may be made to Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery, PO Box 3847, Winchester, VA 22604 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601 or Adult Care Center, 411 N. Cameron Street, Suite 100, Winchester, Virginia 22601.