Grant Parker Parkinson

Grant Parker Parkinson
Wellsville- Grant passed away on February 17, 2011. Grant was born in Wellsville, Utah to LeRoy Woodward Parkinson and Violet Cooper Parker on October 29, 1922. He had four sisters and three brothers (2 brothers died in childhood). He attended schools in Wellsville and Cache County and graduated from South Cache High School with the class of 1941. On August 26, 1941 he married Millicent Carlsen of Hyrum, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple on July 23, 1953.
Grant attended Aircraft Sheetmetal School in Salt Lake City from September to December 1941. He was employed at Hill Air Force base until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 21, 1942. He was in the Marines for a little over three years. He served in the southwest Pacific with the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Battalion Co. F. He was with the initial invasion of Bougainville Island of the British Solomon Island and Guam of the Mariana Islands. Grant was 1 of 7 survivors from his platoon of 49 men.
After two years overseas and having contracted malaria, he was sent to the Marine Barracks at Klamath Falls, Oregon. While there Millicent came to Klamath Falls to be with him during his convalescence. After four months he was transferred to Marine Barracks, Naval Supple Depot in Clearfield, Utah, where he served as a military guard until the time of his discharge on October 2, 1945.
Following his discharge from the Marine Corp he decided to go into farming. He purchased the land that is great grandfather Timothy Parkinson Sr. had settled in 1857. Several of the Parkinson family still live on the original land. Besides farming, Grant worked for over 15 years as a civil engineering technician. He also worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U. S. Forest Service.
Grant helped organize the Blacksmith Fork Soil and Water Conservation District in 1950 and served on the board of directors for 17 years and as Chairman of the Board several years. Grant was awarded three awards for soil and water conservation improvements. Grant was a member of the Amvets and was also a member of the American Legion Post 47. He was in the Wellsville Lions Club for many years.
Grant enjoyed serving in two bishoprics and various other church callings.
His hobbies were hunting, fishing, camping, river boating, photography and gardening. He always had a beautiful garden even last summer when he wasn’t feeling very well. He also enjoyed have many varieties of flowers around the yard and in his rock garden.
Together dad and mom have taken many camping trips spending time in Canada, Alaska, Montana and Yellowstone Park. They also enjoyed hiking to the top of the Wellsville Mountains several times. In 1994 they went on a tour of the South Pacific commemorating his military service over 50 years ago.

He is survived by his wife, Millicent of 69 years, three sons Grant (Rosemary) Wellsville, Stephen (Gay) Sunset, Tim (Chris) Wellsville and one daughter, Chris (John) Petersen Hyrum and a sister, (Aniece)Sarah Ann P. (Kay) Alder and 20 grandchildren and 33 great grand children. He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Lorrie, three sisters, Phyllis P. Forsgren, Vera P. Poppleton and (Beth)Betsy P. Milligan, and three brothers, Heber P. Parkinson, Riley P. Parkinson and (Harry)Henry P. Parkinson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in the Wellsville Stake Center. A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net