John L. Parsley

John Loyd Parsley, age 90, from Gahanna (formerly of Warfield, Kentucky), passed away February 3, 2024. John was a career real estate broker in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia for 55 years. A longtime active member of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Gahanna, Ohio, he was also a regular at the Martin County, Kentucky Lunch Group in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the proud dean of the "Bored Men's Breakfast Group" that frequented several restaurants in Gahanna every morning.

The last surviving of twelve children, John graduated in 1952 from Warfield High School in Warfield, Kentucky, having been captain of the basketball team during his senior year. He went on to serve for four years in the Navy during the Korean War years, working with seagoing tugboats near the Panama Canal before settling in the Columbus area.

John is preceded in death by his parents Sam and Ethel Kirk Parsley of Warfield, Kentucky; his twin, James Floyd Parsley; and siblings Virgil, Ruth, Maggie, Margie, Riley, Jessie, Paul, Irvin, Clifford, and Mary Ann Parsley. He is survived by his wife Myrna (Hester), daughters Pamela Starner (Steve), Karen Probst (Dennis), and Loriann Mancini (Nick); stepchildren Christina Benedict Witham (Chris), Jeffrey Benedict (Elizabeth), Jason Benedict (Rose). He is also survived by the mother of his three daughters and good friend, Ida Parsley. John served as a father figure to Chris Adams, Larry Helmers, Floyd Webb, and several others over the years.

John was so very proud of his three daughters, his stepchildren, his eleven grandchildren, his twelve great-grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews. He was the most wonderful, kind, loving husband to his wife Myrna for the 24 years they had together. Above all, his greatest and most important accomplishment of his life was accomplished for him on the Cross: believing in Jesus, in whose arms he now rests in glory.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 10am-12pm at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 600 West Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230, with John’s funeral service beginning immediately following at 12pm. Services will conclude with interment at Mifflin Cemetery in Gahanna, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (PCA), 600 W. Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230.

For those unable to attend the service, it can be viewed by livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@WCPCGahanna/streams.