The Greatest Generation

Elfed Haydn Parry. My father-in-law passed away, January 4th, 2 days shy of his 90th birthday. He was a Welsh immigrant and proudly served in WWII. He was a member of the "Greatest Generation". A generation that believed that through hard work anyone's dream can come true. A generation that was proud to be an American. A generation that believed in morales and manners. A generation that only blamed themeselves not the government for making misguided choices. A generation that took responsibility and was responsible. A generation that believed in families and strong faith.

He served his country, owned a jewelry store in the Proctor district in Tacoma. Was a Grand Mason (not sure if that is the correct title) and also ran for Tacoma City counsel back in the early 70's. He was extremely opinionated and not very tactful. He didn't win. That may have been a good thing. Ha. He also had his own radio program on NPR called "Yesterday's Sunshine". He loved the music of the 20s. He had amassed a record collection of over 70,000. These were 78's. When the Canadian government found out about his collection & that he had hundred's of Henry Burr's 78's they traveled from Quebec to acquire them for their museum. Many of the records he had were the only ones left that they knew of in existence. Henry Burr is a big deal up in Canada. He was the most prolific recording artist in the early 1900s. Mr. Parry was extremely happy to have these records in their museum/archives.

We grieve for him but we also are very happy that he is now finally back with his Gracie who passed 4 years earlier & not a single day that passed since then that he didn't speak of her with tears in his eyes. They were married 8 days after meeting each other. They were together until her death for over 60 years. They are together again.