Obituary of Kenneth L. Parrill

Kenneth L. Parrill Kenneth L. Parrill, 87, of Carlinville passed away at 1:45 am at the Carlinville Area Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2009. Kenneth, the second son of Dean and Emma Parrill, was born on September 21, 1921 at the family homestead near Kinmundy, Illinois. He married Ruth M. Wilson on September 13, 1947 in Bolivar, Missouri. He was preceded in death by Ruth, his beloved wife of 59 years, daughter Polly, and older brother Dr. Irwin Parrill of Edwardsville, IL. Mr. Parrill was a pillar of his community, a family man who believed that a strong work ethic, education, honesty and faith in the Lord were of highest importance. An entrepreneur and innovator, he test-marketed various farming techniques and methods that would later become standard practice in large agricultural operations. He stayed abreast of current agricultural research and trends through ongoing coursework at the University of Illinois and shared his training with farmers throughout central Illinois. Ken and Ruth lived near Farina, IL from 1950 - 1967 where he farmed the land homesteaded by ancestor Silas Parrill, before moving to Carlinville, where he worked as the chemical manager for the Macoupin County FS Company. Mr. Parrill attended elementary and high school at Farina, IL and received a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Business from Illinois State Normal University in 1942. He served his country from 1942 - 1946 as a Lieutenant aboard the USS Excel submarine chaser. Lieutenant Parrill was aboard the USS Excel as they secured safety for pre-invasion bombardment, escorted numerous battle ships in Pearl Harbor, Guam, Ulithi, and Marshall Islands of the Pacific. He was also among the crew that participated in what is known as the largest battle in military history (the Battle of Leyte). KP was a member of the Rural United Methodist Church in rural Carlinville, American Legion Post 554, the Macoupin County Historical Society, and the Imperial Domain of Golden Dragon, which is a military society for individuals crossing the 180th meridian while serving their country. Kenneth is survived by daughters Cathy Parrill of Birmingham AL and Mary Bates Tinder and son-in-law Dr. Randolph Tinder of Edwardsville, IL; four grandchildren: Angela Senicz and husband Tim of Birmingham, AL, Adrienne Applegate and husband Tyler of Madison Wisconsin, Bill Bates of Springfield, IL, and Bobbi Walker and husband Chad of Plainview; and four great grandchildren: Macy, Ella and Grant Walker, and Nicholas Senicz. Funeral Information Visitation for Kenneth L. Parrill, better known to many as "KP", will be held on Friday March 13 from 2 - 4 pm at the Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville, with a Celebration of Life Memorial service including military honors immediately following. Rev. John Curtis will officiate and Dr. Randolph L. Tinder will present the eulogy. Donations Information In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Carlinville Area Hospital or the Carlinville Rural United Methodist Church.