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| 17 Maple Avenue Portville, NY 14770 www.portvillehistory.org |
Portville, New York
Earl T. Parish
1910-2008
1910-2008
PORTVILLE - Earl T. Parish, 97, of
Portville and Natick, Mass., died Thursday
(Feb. 7, 2008) in Natick.
Born Nov. 26, 1910, in Portville, he was
the son of the late Smith and Fanny Bell
Parish and a member of an early Portville
family. His great-grandfather, Smith
Parish, settled in the village in 1847 and
built the home that is now the Portville Free
Library.
He was a graduate of Portville High
School and after attending Fenn College in
Cleveland, Ohio, was employed by the First
National Bank of Olean. He married
Josephine Powers on March 8, 1935, and
resided with her in Portville and Natick until
her death in 2005.
In 1942, Mr. Parish enrolled in Parks Air
College, a division of St. Louis University.
After graduation, he served on the
meteorologist staff of Transcontinental and
Western Air in Kansas City and, with the
staff of that office, forecast for the pilots of
the Air Transport Command.
He returned to Portville in 1945 to act as
private secretary to Duncan Dusenbury and
took up duties as clerk-treasurer of the
village of Portville.
In 1962, he became the first manager of
the Portville office of the First National
Bank of Olean.
Mr. Parish was a lifetime member of the
Portville and Natick, Mass., died Thursday
(Feb. 7, 2008) in Natick.
Born Nov. 26, 1910, in Portville, he was
the son of the late Smith and Fanny Bell
Parish and a member of an early Portville
family. His great-grandfather, Smith
Parish, settled in the village in 1847 and
built the home that is now the Portville Free
Library.
He was a graduate of Portville High
School and after attending Fenn College in
Cleveland, Ohio, was employed by the First
National Bank of Olean. He married
Josephine Powers on March 8, 1935, and
resided with her in Portville and Natick until
her death in 2005.
In 1942, Mr. Parish enrolled in Parks Air
College, a division of St. Louis University.
After graduation, he served on the
meteorologist staff of Transcontinental and
Western Air in Kansas City and, with the
staff of that office, forecast for the pilots of
the Air Transport Command.
He returned to Portville in 1945 to act as
private secretary to Duncan Dusenbury and
took up duties as clerk-treasurer of the
village of Portville.
In 1962, he became the first manager of
the Portville office of the First National
Bank of Olean.
Mr. Parish was a lifetime member of the
Portville United Methodist Church and a life
member of the Portville Fire Department.
He served for over 40 years as a board
member and secretary-treasurer of both the
Portville Free Library and the Chestnut Hill
Cemetery Association. He was a charter
member and president of the Portville
Kiwanis Club and a charter member of the
Portville Historical and Preservation Society.
His interest in area affairs and boards
included the Portville Community Men's
Club, Portville Central School Board of
Education, Randolph Children's Home and
the Olean YMCA. In 1991, he was named
Citizen of the Year by the YMCA.
He is survived by his son, David, and
daughter-in-law, Shirley, of Natick.
In addition to his wife of 70 years, he was
predeceased by two sisters, Mary Parish
and Ruth Scutt; and two brothers, David
and Robert Parish.
A memorial service will be held at the
convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made
to the Portville Untied Methodist Church,
Portville Free Library, Chestnut Hill
Cemetery Association, Portville Historical
and Preservation Society, Olean YMCA or
to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of
the Guenther Funeral Home Inc.
member of the Portville Fire Department.
He served for over 40 years as a board
member and secretary-treasurer of both the
Portville Free Library and the Chestnut Hill
Cemetery Association. He was a charter
member and president of the Portville
Kiwanis Club and a charter member of the
Portville Historical and Preservation Society.
His interest in area affairs and boards
included the Portville Community Men's
Club, Portville Central School Board of
Education, Randolph Children's Home and
the Olean YMCA. In 1991, he was named
Citizen of the Year by the YMCA.
He is survived by his son, David, and
daughter-in-law, Shirley, of Natick.
In addition to his wife of 70 years, he was
predeceased by two sisters, Mary Parish
and Ruth Scutt; and two brothers, David
and Robert Parish.
A memorial service will be held at the
convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made
to the Portville Untied Methodist Church,
Portville Free Library, Chestnut Hill
Cemetery Association, Portville Historical
and Preservation Society, Olean YMCA or
to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of
the Guenther Funeral Home Inc.