Robert Nevins Parrish, Jr.

Robert Nevins Parrish, Jr. died on August 14, 2023, at age 98, in his home in Indianapolis. He was born on July 9, 1925, in Paris, Illinois, to Mary Smith Parrish and Robert Nevins Parrish II. He attended Paris High School, Appleby School (Oakville, Ontario), and Darlington School (Rome, Georgia), graduating from Botetourt High School (Gloucester County, Virginia). He served in the army as a rifleman Private First Class during World War II in France from 1944 to 1945 and was honorably discharged in 1946. After the war, he continued his education, graduating from Casper College (Casper, Wyoming). He then studied to become an interior designer and decorator at Parsons School of Design in New York. He worked for decorating firms in New York and other cities including New Orleans before moving back to the midwest, settling in Indianapolis. For most of his career he worked at the Aero Drapery Company designing and decorating clients’ homes. On June 27, 1959, Robert married Bonnie Jo Huffer. He was devoted to his family and loved them and all his nieces and nephews dearly. He enjoyed reading and listening to classical music and was a lay minister at Trinity Episcopal Church. He is survived by his three children, Mary Jennifer “Jennie” (John) Rakos, Jane Sheppard Parrish Swartz, and Robert Nevins Parrish IV; granddaughters, Chloe Elizabeth (Brendan) Silva and Bonnie (Peter) Swiatkowski, and step-granddaughters Cindy Hinant and Natalie (Aaron) Foster. A private memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, where he will be interred with his loving wife.