Ronald "Ron" Franklin Parsley

Ronald “Ron” Franklin Parsley , 71 of Springdale, passed away Friday, February 9, 2018 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. He was born February 27, 1946 in Wichita, Kansas to Vol and Laura Jean (Johnson) Parsley. Ron graduated from Springdale High School Class of 1964. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Harding University in Searcy Arkansas Class of 1969. He did mission work in Copenhagen Denmark from 1969 to 1971 He obtained his Masters of Theology and Psychology at the Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis TN in 1984. He also obtained five units of Clinical Pastoral Education for Chaplains, worked at Lubbock Christian College and Oklahoma Christian College, was a featured speaker for lectureships and Gospel Meetings and he preached at various congregations of the Church of Christ. But their home congregation is the Johnson Church of Christ. Ron served his beloved country as a Chaplain in the United States Army with the rank of Major from 1985-2005 serving at Ft Riley Junction City KS, stationed in Seoul Korea Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and Ft Bliss El Paso Texas from 2002 to 2004. He retired from Springdale High School as Special Ed Paraprofessional in June of 2016 after two decades (minus 2 years of active military service) with the school district. Ron loved making people laugh! He was a light that would shine bright! But most of all he loved the Lord and said he would never want to retire from preaching God’s Word! After his retirement from Springdale High School Ron volunteered to help Bobby Dockery with the Gospel Tracts International. Those who have predeceased Ron are his maternal grandparents William Marion Johnson and Harriet Parthenia (Black) Johnson; his paternal grandparents William Wintford “Pop” Parsley and Lorena (Welch) Parsley; his brother in 1965, Roger LeRoy Parsley, his nephew, Tracy Scott Parsley and sister in law, Barbara Jean (Powers) Parsley in 1969, his father, Vol Parsley, on December 28,1999 and mother, Laura Jean (Johnson) Parsley on July 9, 2006 and his grand nephew Joshua Williams November 3, 2003. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Barbara (Jackson/Rogers) Parsley, of the home. They married on January 21, 1994. His two step daughters, Sherry (Rogers) Fine and Carrie (Rogers) Davis. Seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, he loved all of them! His brother, James Vol Parsley (Laurie) of Columbus Nebraska; two sisters; Linda Williams (Ivan "Speedy") of Springdale, Deborah Houston (Kenneth) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and his sister in law, Pat Dillard of Woodway, Texas. Several nieces and nephews as well as many friends across the world. Including their dear foreign exchange student from Berlin Germany, Anica (Liero) Tilman and their three children. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 10am at Robinson Avenue Church of Christ in Springdale with Dennis McCarty and Larry Culbreath officiating. Burial will follow in Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville with Military Honors. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 13, 2018 from 6 to 8pm at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Gospel Tracts International c/o Robert Dockery, Church of Christ 4377 East Huntsville Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 or Truth For Today World Mission School c/o Eddie Cloer 2209 South Benton,Searcy, Arkansas 72145. This obituary in no way can capture the true essence and character of Ron. But to borrow something told to him at a recent hospital visit “Ron truly is like one of the faithful mentioned in Hebrews.” The family want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at both Northwest Medical Center and The Earlene Howard Circle of Life for their care during Ron’s illness and transition. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com

Ronald "Ron" Franklin Parsley

February 27, 1946 - February 9, 2018