Obituary for Russell "Junior" Parish Jr.
Russell C "Junior" Parish Jr, 90, of Oaktown passed away at home on February 8, 2025. He was born in Oaktown on February 14, 1934, to the late Russell C Parish SR and Mildred (Southers) Parish. JR graduated from Oaktown High School on May 2, 1952. Soon after he joined the United States Air Force on the buddy system in 1954 to 1958, he loved flying. After his service to his country, he worked for Public Service for 35 years and was president of the Wabash Park board. On April 1, 1967, he married Diana M (Briner) Parish and they made their life together for over 55 years until her death on Mar 22, 2023. In his free time, he enjoyed watching old time westerns, watching his grandchildren play sports, watching IU basketball with his wife, gardening, mushroom hunting, going to Gatlinburg, coaching baseball for his son, coaching softball for his daughter, going to the Indiana state fair and making trips to see his newest great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his Son Kevin (Ruth) Parish, Daughter Dana Wegehoft, grandchildren Brittany (Jonathan) Weaver, Cody (Shannon) Parish, Jena Parson-Parish, Lacey (Raymond Wallace) Ellerman, Braden Ellerman, and Michelle (Travis) Harper, 8 great-grandchildren, brother in-law Charles (Judy) Briner SR, Tom (Frances) Briner, and many nieces and nephews. Junior was loved by many and will be deeply missed by many. His love for his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews shined very brightly. He loved 3 people like they were his own; Jill (Kerns) Clark, Rene (Blocher) Garner, and Shane Shelby.
He is preceded in death by his wife Diana M (Briner) Parish, his parents Russell C Parish SR and Mildred (Southers) Parish, his in-laws Delbert C and Clara M (Cogdill) Briner, his estranged brother Wilbur Parish, son in-law Fredrick “Fred” Wegehoft, and nephew Charles “Chuck” Briner Jr.
Funeral services will be celebrated at Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home 521 Vigo St, Vincennes, Indiana Saturday February 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM with Pastor David Cogdill officiating. He will be laid to rest next to his wife Diana Parish in Oaktown Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to Wounded Warriors. Duesterberg-Fredrick Funeral Home is honored to assist Russell's family during their time of loss.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
15
Feb
11:00 AM
- 2:00 PM
Duesterberg-Fredrick
521 Vigo Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Funeral
Saturday
15
Feb
2:00 PM
Duesterberg-Fredrick
521 Vigo Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Cemetery Details
Location
Oaktown Cemetery
Oaktown, IN
Memorial Contribution
Wounded Warriors
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