On June 2, 2023, Richard Allyn Parsons, 66, of Wareham, MA, with his beloved wife by his side, was called by his Lord, Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, to his forever home in heaven.
Richard loved people and serving his Lord, Jesus. As a result, in 1980 he joined the Evangelism Corp, a missionary organization serving in the United States. There he quickly became close friends with the other members of the corp, keeping in touch even up to the time of his passing.
In 1982, Richard and Brenda (Brignoli) were married. They continued in ministry at a Christian camp in MA, where Richard was the maintenance man. He could accomplish anything he put his hand to, and this set the stage for having an array of different jobs. That is until 1991, when he found his career in dialysis, as a bio med technician and RO specialist working his way to management. After a couple of years in this field, his reputation reached a Nephrologist, who also had a heart for people. Together they volunteered their free time to build dialysis clinics in Cameroon and Belize. When he wasn’t volunteering to build dialysis clinics or to go on mission trips, he was volunteering for America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration. For months every year, working alongside other volunteers, he helped to produce one of the most amazing Thanksgiving Parades in the United States, held right in America’s hometown of Plymouth, MA
Richard loved God’s word and enjoyed teaching others to love it as well. He led Bible studies and served as deacon. He was a talented musician, able to play the trumpet, drums and piano, but his favorite was the guitar. He used his gift to glorify God as a worship leader as well. Richard trusted his Lord and Savior with every area of his life and any decision he made was through prayer. This trust recently led him to pastor the flock at Vineyard Crossroads Church.
Richard liked to play as much as he liked to work, so without fail he took his family on vacation every year, visiting all the friends he had made along life’s journey. This took him, his wife and three children to many destinations in our great United States.
Richard loved spending time with his family, so he looked forward to hosting Holidays and summer cookouts with his three grown children, Joshua, Leanna and Daniel, along with their spouses, Kathleen, Steven and Jourdyn and the 10 precious grandchildren they gave him: Emmett, Madilyn, Hadley, Oliver, Steven Jr., Zoey Grace, Kolten, Whyat and the new baby Landen. In true Richard humor, when he was going to become a grandfather for the first time, over 12 years ago, he refused all the traditional names for grandfather, and chose one for himself. To this day the grandchildren lovingly refer to him as their “Vader”.
Richard was the youngest of three, born to Dick and Rose Parsons (Evangelista), who are now deceased, along with his brother Kenneth Parsons. Richard is survived by his wife, three children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Andrea Costello and her husband Bob, his sister in-law Elaine Parsons, along with cousins, nephews, nieces, church family, and friends all over the world. He has touched so many lives they are too numerous to list.
In his last months, his closest friends, who he and Brenda vacationed with every year for the past 7ish years, Dana and Sue Newton, and Donna and Chris Larson, came to visit from VA and FL, to encourage and make some final memories together. His church family was also indispensable to him. He leaves his flock to the Associate Pastor Charlie, prayer warrior Mark, brother Bill, who he lovingly referred to as his “brother from another mother and father”, knowing they will follow his example by continuing to follow the Lord’s leading.
Richard did not want to leave this earth; he loved life and it showed. He was always joyful, funny and ready to help with whatever the need was. He always made everyone feel welcome and it wasn’t an act. He was genuine in all that he said and did. He never complained or talked about people in a negative way. He was the life of the party. The Bible says in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Richard lived out this verse and he has received his reward, eternity in Heaven with Jesus his Savior. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and surrendered your life to God, you will see Richard when your race is finish and you go to your forever home. As our good friend Donna says, Richard has gone on an extended vacation, and we will catch up with him later.