Iola Parsons, 101, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 6, 2013.
She was born on July 14, 1912 in Jacksonville, CA the fourth of eight children born to Cyrus Henry Rouse and Nora Mabel O’Connor Rouse. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1920. She met her future husband at Epworth League at the Christian Church in Stockton. She and husband Horace were married in 1935 and were excited to start their family of six. The family settled in Escalon after the war.
A homemaker active in WSCS (now United Methodist Women) on the local and district level, Mrs. Parsons also taught Sunday School and sang in the choir at Methodist church regularly. She was active in the Parent Teacher Association, serving as president of the Dent PTA from 1948-1949 and held many other offices. In 1948 she was elected secretary of the San Joaquin County Council PTA and also served in the 8th District PTA. She was honored with a Life Membership years later.
Some of her favorite things to do were camping, spending time in Santa Cruz, gardening, sewing for the girls, doing needlepoint, and playing pinochle and scrabble. Family was important to her and she hosted large family gatherings for the holidays, always setting a beautiful table.
Survivors include one sister, Jean Conaway and one brother, Kenneth (Julie) Rouse of Arizona; children, Nancy (Jonnie) Galloway of Escalon, Susan (Charles) Weaver of Arlington, VA, Henry (Marcia) Parsons of Anacortes, WA, Mary (Marc) Panero of Escalon, Herb (Rita) Parsons of Yoesemite National Park; grandchildren Barbara (Steve) Massey, Karen (Peter) Natscher, Howard and Hugh Parsons, Daniel (Caren) Galloway, Robert Galloway, Abigail Casteel, Nora (Patrick) Hart, Becky (Mark) Dahlman, Christopher (Sally) Weaver, Lucy (David) Abbey, Amanda (Johndon) Castro, Jamie (Wesley) Evans, Angella (Jeremy) Titsworth; 22 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Milfred, Joe, Jim, and sisters Verona Normington and Dottie Daschel; her husband Horace, and her oldest son Harold (Jeanette) Parsons.
A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Escalon United Methodist Church, where she was a member for more than 70 years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon, CA 95320 or the Escalon Community Ambulance, 1480 Ullrey Ave., Escalon, CA 95320.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Dec. 18, 2013
