Florence Parrish

Mrs. Florence E. Parrish, 95, of Warren, formerly of the Fountain City community, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 5. She had been a resident of the Warren Methodist Home since 2002 and lived in the Warren area since 1969.


She was born August 27, 1913 in Fountain City to Elmer Edward and Clara Little Bockhofer. She married Cleo Parrish on October 27, 1934. While a resident of Wayne County, Mrs. Parrish taught Released Time Christian Education classes at Fountain City Elementary School for 13 years. She was formerly active in Fountain City Chapter #552, Order of Eastern Star.


She was a homemaker and also served the Warren Methodist Home as a dietician. She remained an avid reader and writer and was a spelling bee champion in August 2008.


She was active in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union since 1946, serving at the state level for over 40 years. She first served as State Director of Visual Education and later served as Vice-President. She served as State President from 1959-1968 and also served on the State Board of Trustees. She then served as National Director of the Christian Outreach Department from 1970-1976, and National Director of Projection Methods from 1978-1984. In 1984 she was appointed World Superintendent of the Promotion Department of the WCTU and was a delegate to the World Convention in Manila, Philippines in February 1986.


She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Warren after more than 50 years worshiping in the Hopewell United Methodist Church.


Mrs. Parrish will be missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and John Stevens, of Kokomo; her son and daughter-in-law, Rev. William and Sharon Parrish, of Williamsburg; a foster son & daughter-in-law, Ed and Shirley Goss, of Prescott, Arizona; 6 grandchildren, 4 foster grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 3 foster great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.


Mrs. Parrish was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Cleo Parrish, on December 15, 2004; 1 daughter, Margaret Ann Parrish, on May 12, 1943; 1 son, Robert Duane Parrish, on January 4, 1946; 2 sisters and 3 brothers.


Rev. Max Knight will conduct a funeral ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, at the Smith & McQuiston Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South Fountain City. Interment will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery.


A Woman's Christian Temperance Union tribute will be conducted in conjunction with her funeral ceremony.


Family and friends may gather for visitation from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10, at the funeral home.


Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Ministries of the Lamb, 2301 Pleasant Plain Road, Richmond, Indiana 47374, or the WCTU.