William Parr

William (Bill) Johnstone Parr, 76, died of dementia on November 14 at Resthaven Maple Woods. Born in Tuscaloosa, AL, on 20 December 1944, he lived with his family there until 1958–59 when they moved to Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father had received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach and conduct research there. Bill excelled in his studies at the historic King Edward VI School, the school William Shakespeare had attended.

Bill moved with his family from Alabama to Kent, Ohio, in 1962. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. At OSU he had noticed a young woman wearing a Hope College sweatshirt and asked her what she was hoping for. That conversation led to a marriage of more than fifty years.

Serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Engineer Corps 1970–73, he spent most of those years at Fort Bragg, NC. Later he worked as a systems analyst and systems auditor for the Hobart Corporation in Troy, Ohio. After earning a Master’s degree in Divinity from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, he served three United Methodist churches in central Ohio.

Bill and Judy retired to Holland in 2003 and became active members of Hope Church and the Hope Academy of Senior Professionals. He and Judy received a HASP distinguished service award in 2013 and are members of Hope College’s Dimnent Heritage Society. He was also a member of the Holland Area Historical Society, PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore, and the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony.

Bill and Judy travelled in the US, Canada, Europe, and China. For several months in 2005, they and their nephew, Aaron Dome, lived in Fuzhou, China. Judy and Aaron taught English, and Bill planned various trips.

Bill is survived by his wife, Judy Tanis Parr; his sister, Kathy Parr Hamilton and her son Manson Roper of Conway, SC; a brother, Henry Parr, of Stow, OH; and a brother Morris and his wife Becky Parr of Bessemer, AL. In-laws surviving him include Betty Dome of Hudsonville, her son Aaron Dome of Detroit, her daughter Elizabeth (Jordan) DeBruyn and their sons Silas and Alden; Randall Tanis of Hudsonville; Carol Tanis of Jenison; and Mark Van Allsburg of Grand Rapids.

Gratitude is extended to Resthaven’s Maple Woods and to Hospice of Holland for care given to Bill in his final months. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 26, 11am at Hope Church RCA, 77 West 11th St. officiated by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Wiersma and Rev. Dr. Lynn Japinga. Visitation with the family will begin at 10am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hope Church Endowment Fund, Hospice of Holland, or Resthaven. After cremation, his ashes will rest in Hope Church’s Memorial Garden.