WORCESTER-Francis J. Parslow, 85, of 60 Tory Fort Lane, died Thursday, May 5th in Saint Vincent Hospital after a long battle with Parkinson’s syndrome. He leaves his wife of 61 years, Ethel R. (Supernor) Parslow, 2 sons, Thomas D. and his wife Lori-Ann Parslow of Millbury and Francis J. Parslow, Jr. of Shrewsbury, a sister, Vera Supernor of Worcester, 4 grandchildren, Patricia, Dierdre, Richard and James, many nephews and nieces. A brother, John Parslow and a sister, Phyllis Schofield predeceased him.
He was born in Worcester the son of John B. and Maria (Young) Parslow, graduated from Boys Trade School in 1938 and played on their baseball team. He was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran serving as a radio operator in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He then attended Worcester Polytechnical Institute. Mr. Parslow worked as a patternmaker for Wyman-Gordan Company for 33 years, retiring in 1985 and was a member of its Pistol Team. He was a member of the Chestnut Street Congregational Church and the Steelworkers Union Local #2285. He was a semi professional baseball player and semi professional weight lifter achieving the status of 3rd in the nation and had the privilege of training with Mr. Bob Hoffman and Mr. John Grimick, 2 notable weight lifters of his era. Francis helped develop some of the competition exercises that are used in the Olympics today. For his woodworking trade he was recognized by NASA on his perfection of work in the Apollo Space Program. He represented Wyman-Gordan at Cape Kennedy for the launch of Apollo 8. Later he helped develop the Ty Cobb Little League Field, coached the Joe Schwartz Little League Team and previously coached the Mass Electric Jesse Burkett Little League Team.
The funeral is Monday, May 9th at 10:00 AM in O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park. A calling hour will be from 9:00 until 10:00 the morning of the funeral in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., 1 Innovation Drive – Biotech 3, Worcester, MA 01605.