Richard Parish

Richard (Dick, Pap) Vernon Parish was born November 20, 1927, in North Vernon, Indiana. He was one of six children born to Orpha and Noble Parish. Most people knew him as Pap, as he was a father and grandfather to many. Faith, family, loyalty and independence were the things he lived by.

Richard was a proud veteran of the Merchant Marines as well as the United States Army. He went on to work as a Union President at Johns Manville where he retired.

Richard married Clara (Long) in November of 1945. He accepted his role as a father and grandfather with great pride and accepted Jesus Christ into his heart during his marriage with Clara, as she was a great spiritual inspiration. They had a happy fifty-four years together until she passed away in 1999. He remarried in 2003 to Betty King, sharing 13 years together until she passed in 2016.

Although Richard was a man of hard work and dedication, he also enjoyed his life to the fullest. He had a lakeside property where he and his family made many memories. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, and being an outdoorsman as well as the occasional poker game. Most of all he enjoyed the time he spent with loved ones.

After having a major stroke, he fought his way through recovery until an unfortunate fall resulting in a broken hip. Richard survived the surgery, only to pass during recovery. Richard Vernon Parish passed away surrounded by loved ones on September 12, 2026, at St. Vincent Hospital in Anderson, Indiana.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Orpha and Noble Parish; his siblings, Jim Parish, Bud Parish, Bob Parish, Annie (Garmon) Parish and Margie (Johnson) Parish; his son, James Parish; his first wife, Clara Parish; and his second wife, Betty King.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Connie (Robert) Hoffman; stepchildren, Gloria Closser and Tim King; his six grandchildren, Kenneth (Alisha) Sizelove, Shawna (Kenneth) Shock, Daphne (Chris) Noone, Dawn (Blair) Dunn, Sharyl (Keith) Hammon, and Shari Hoffman; his ten great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Logan Sizelove, Brianna and Jesse Hamlin, Darci, Wyatt, and Arden Dunn, Rachel Medrano, Jeremy Winkler Taylor (Grant) Sailors, Jessica (Sammy) Mireles, and Jamison Hammon; and his three great-great-grandchildren, Mallory Sizelove, Emmit and Rocco Mireles, and several nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Dunnichay Funeral Home, 1113 S. Anderson St., Elwood, Indiana. A service to honor Richard’s life will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Philip Rogers officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Elwood City Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children's Hospital with envelopes available at the funeral home.