Roll Call Tribute

Col. Walter H. Parsons
June 8, 1907 - November 23, 1993

Funeral services for Col. Walter H. Parsons were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station, Texas on 28 November 1993.

Col. Parsons was born on June 8, 1907, in Palestine, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M College in 1930 and went to work for the Humble Oil Company in Ingleside, Texas. In 1932 he married the former Abbie Dawsey of Houston.
Walter and Abbie were married for 52 years until Abbie’s death in 1985; they were the proud parents of six children, five boys, and one girl.

Walter H. Parsons entered active military service as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in April 1941 and served our country with distinction until 1962. One of his major accomplishments during his military career was the construction of the Alaska Highway, a 1,400-mile highway connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States. Col. Parsons was assigned to the Military Science Department at Texas A&M from 1948-1951.

In 1962 Col Parsons retired from the United States Army and returned to College Station where he served as the Director of the Physical Plant for Texas A&M University from 1962 to 1972.

Col Parsons was active in retirement. He was the first president of O.P.A.S. - Opera and Performing Arts Society at Texas A&M; recipient of the Boy Scouts Silver Beaver Award; advisor to Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity at A&M; past master of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Parish.

Col. Parsons was preceded in death by his wife Abbie Parsons and a grandson Andrew Parsons.

Survivors include Walter H. Parsons III ’56, William David Parsons, Donald L. Parsons ’59, Michael D. Parsons, Anne Parsons O’Neill, and Paul R. Parsons ’70; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren