DeWitt C. Parsons Jr

DeWitt C. Parsons Jr., born in Battle Creek, MI as the only child of DeWitt and Dorothy Parsons.  Attended Lakeview HS where he played in 3 state tennis finals in 3 years, won two titles and was considered the best tennis player in the state of Michigan at the time. After graduating Michigan State University he married Joan Gerstmann (deceased) of Buffalo, NY then promptly departed for The Korean War where he served as the Navigator on a Destroyer in the Pacific Theatre.  Upon return to Battle Creek he went to work at Parsons & Holmberg Heating & Oil, his father’s business, and he and Joan had 3 children.  DeWitt III (Dewey), Corey (Scott) (deceased) and Allison.

When his father sold the business in 1963, DeWitt took a job with Kellogg’s and moved the family to College Park, Maryland and then in 1968 to Bradford St in Needham where they would grow roots, raise a family and start their business.  As Foodservice Brokers, DeWitt and Joan founded and operated Eastern Sales Systems, a marketing firm that started by servicing New England and after a few years became national in scope. The main focus was School Lunch products and they were good at it.

DeWitt enjoyed Tennis, Golf, Basketball, table tennis and card games…any card game.  He became a master of Bridge and would work on cruise ships teaching Bridge and officiating tournaments. He enjoyed people and he enjoyed life.

Loving Father to DeWitt C. Parsons III (Dewey) and his wife Jamie, Corey (Scott) Parsons (deceased), and his daughter Allison Parsons.  Loving Grandfather to Daniel Parsons and wife Holly, Casey Parsons Gill and husband Joe, Jake Parsons and wife Natalie, Katarina and Kaiser Leung.  Loving Great Grandfather to Calvin and Willa B. Parsons and Gavin Gill.

Loving companion and partner in many excellent adventures with Kathleen Galvin of Hull, MA.  They made quite a team over the last 25 years.

DeWitt Parsons, truly an authentic man that loved to laugh…and that laugh was very contagious.

Visiting hours will be held on Tues Oct 30 from 5-8 PM in the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Funeral services are private.

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