PARRISH, RALPH WESLEY JR., 91 , passed away peacefully surrounded with love on Jan.3,2025. Born in Mound Valley, Ks on March 17, 1933 to Ralph and Naomi Parrish he grew up in Kansas and Michigan. In 1951 he married his first wife, Feryl Thomas. Together they had 3 children. The family lived in Kansas, Colorado, Germany, Tennessee and Arkansas due largely to his military career including National Guard, Army Reserve and Active Army, While stationed in Germany the family enjoyed the opportunity to travel through Europe creating many lifelong family memories.

Ralph was fortunate to have found lasting love a second time when he found Barbara whom he had met while taking classes and working as a teaching assistant at WSU. They married in 1982 and then moved to Arkansas to pursue the lifelong dream for both of pursuing their doctorate degrees at the University of Arkansas. After completion, they both became university professors, first at Colorado State University, then at Colorado Mesa University and finally at the Unversity of Central Oklahoma. Eventually, however the need to be closer to family became apparent and they moved back to the Wichita area. They settled in Rose Hill, Ks with granddaughter Laura's family and lived out the rest of their lives surrounded by family.

He will forever be remembered as a lifelong scholar and educator, a beloved father, brother and grandfather (grampy) and the world's best reader of "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Ralph is survived by his brother, Richard Parrish (Corine), his children Wesley (Vickie), Sheryl Loveland, and Lisa (Robert) Brandes, granddaughters Lisa, Laura and Jennifer, grandsons Alex, Austin, Jacob and 12 great grand children.

A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later date.