James Edwin Parsons

Another soldier, proud Army Aviator, Vietnam Veteran, husband, father, and grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel James (Jim) E. Parsons, United States Army (Retired) of Suntree, Florida, passed away on October 1, 2025.

Jim was a loving husband to his wife Carla, a proud father of four children and a grandfather to nine grandchildren. Jim leaves behind a very special and caring lady - his wife Carla; their daughter Meredith; Jim’s son Michael, wife Elaine and their three children; daughter Janelle, husband Tim and their three children; daughter Lisa, husband Bill and their three children.

He will miss his happy/yappy hours with Carla and the pups, their evening happy hour conversations, gatherings with special friends and Friday night date night. Jim enjoyed playing cards, hunting, fishing, shooting and playing golf. Most of all, he enjoyed traveling anywhere and everywhere with Carla.

Jim was born on a farm in Watsontown, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1940 to Edwin and Betty Parsons who have predeceased him in death.

He was the first of three children followed by his sisters Kay and Debbie. Jim graduated from Hubbard High School, Hubbard, Ohio in 1958 and enlisted in the Army in September 1958. He attended basic training at the Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky. After graduating, Jim was transferred to the 61st Air Defense Artillery Battalion in Northern Maine where he served from 1958 to 1963. In 1963, Staff Sergeant Parsons applied for and was selected to attend the Warrant Officer Fixed Wing Aviator Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Jim graduated in June 1964 in the top 25 % of his class and received his Army Aviator Wings and a commission as a Warrant Officer in the United States Army. Jim served as a Warrant Officer from June 1964 until December 1968. In December 1968, Chief Warrant Officer Parsons received a commission as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry. He served from December 1968 until August 31, 1989 as a Commissioned Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Parsons retired as a Regular Army Officer after 31 years of active federal service on August 31, 1989.

Several of Jim’s assignments included; Two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam (August 1964 to August 1965 and again from September 1967 to September 1968); served with the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; served in Germany with the 66th Aviation Company, 18th Aviation Battalion; attended The Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at Fort Benning, GA; was a Training Company Commander at Fort Ord, CA; a Recruiting Area Commander, Pittsburgh District Recruiting Command; served on the staff of the 25th Combat Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division then as Assistant Secretary General Staff, Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii; he was the Flight Detachment Commander and Aviation Staff Officer, US Army Readiness Group, Patrick AFB, Florida; served as the Policy Officer, Plans and Operations Division, ROK/US Combined Forces Command, Seoul, Korea; served as the Chief, Aviation Division, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield and culminated his career as the Garrison Commander, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.

Jim was qualified in both Fixed and Rotary Wing aircraft. He was an instructor pilot (IP), a standardization instructor pilot (SIP) an aircraft commander and a maintenance test pilot. He has over 5700 hours of flight time with 2063 hours of combat flight time in Vietnam. He was a Master Army Aviator rated in 11 different fixed and rotary wing aircraft. His awards include the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, fifty two (52) awards of the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Badge with Palm and several overseas and professional development ribbons/badges. Jim attended the Bootstrap Degree Completion Program and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Business Administration with a 3.5 GPA. He was an Honor Graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, a graduate of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and a graduate on the Commandants List of The Command and General Staff College.

His second career with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in Savannah, Georgia began shortly after he retired from the Army. He was hired in February 1990 and served with the company as a Maintainability Specialist, a Manager and a Supervisor until he retired in 2002 after twelve and a half years with the company.

Jim and Carla moved from Savannah, Georgia back to Florida following his retirement from Gulfstream Aerospace. He continued to serve in his local community on the Board of Directors (BOD) of his local homeowners association. He was later elected to the Board of Directors of the Suntree Master Homeowners Association (SMHA) and served on the board from 2003 to 2013. Jim was President of the SMHA BOD for seven years and was named Suntree Person of the Year in 2012. He also served on the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee of the Suntree United Methodist Church and the House Committee at the Suntree Country Club. Jim and Carla are members of the Suntree United Methodist Church and volunteered at the church on a regular basis.

A Memorial Service will be held at Suntree United Methodist Church on October 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Internment at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Jim requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of his wife Carla, who is a breast cancer survivor.