GERALD EUGENE PARROTT -SAVANNAH - Gerald Eugene Parrott-Pilot, diver, student of history, ladies' man and talented raconteur-passed away 11 March 2015. Jerry was born in Aurora, Illinois on May 1, 1934. He moved with his family to Newport Beach, California just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He contracted polio at the age of 9 but his muscular strength improved after treatments with the famous Sister Elizabeth Kenny. At the end of World War II, he moved with his father and sister to Honolulu, Hawaii. He returned to the mainland to attend high school and graduated from Municipal High School in North Hollywood, California. He married his first wife, Willa Marie Visser, at the age of 19. They had three children, Daniel Lee, Anna Marie and Gerald Eugene, Jr. Through the assistance of his father-in-law, Orville Visser, Jerry began his career with Douglas Aircraft Company helping to assemble DC-3 aircrafts at the Santa Monica Airport. Across the tarmac lay the Santa Monica Flyers flight school where Jerry took flying lessons in exchange for cleaning Pipers, Cessna's and Beechcraft Bonanzas. By age 21, he obtained a pilot's license and later became a flight instructor for the Flyers. Jerry had a life-long love of flying and obtained flight certifications for over 25 aircrafts-from hot air balloons to small jets. Not deterred by the polio, and as a hobby, he began scuba diving with the California Wreck Divers in the 1980's. He enjoyed the underwater exploration of WWI and WWII Liberty Ships, war ships and submarines. An avid collector and historian, Jerry researched and documented the historical context of each of the wrecks that he personally explored and worked to restore many brass nautical items. In 1984 Jerry began working for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Riverside, California, as a Flight Safety Officer and simultaneously worked as a part-time Deputy for the San Bernardino County Sherriff's Department for ten years. He served as an aviation consultant for Hollywood movie studios. Occasionally he had non-speaking roles as an actor and can be seen in an airport tower scene in the movie Die Hard 2 (1990), and was a proud member of the Los Angeles Hanger of the QB's, or Quiet Birdmen. In 1987 Jerry married Judith Delia. In 1995 the couple relocated to Hawaii. They were active at the Waikiki Baptist Church in Honolulu. Jerry retired from the FAA in 2007 after 23 years of service. Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Judith Delia Parrott. In 2010 Jerry moved to Savannah, Georgia to a retirement home to be near his eldest son, Daniel. Jerry was also predeceased by his father, Albert Elwood Parrott of Illinois, mother, Cordia Samms Parrott of Kentucky, and sister, Shirley May Parrott of California. He is survived by his sons, Daniel Lee Parrott, Gerald Eugene Parrott, Jr. and his daughter, Anna Marie Parrott Kuka. In addition, he is survived by his stepchildren: Robin Roberto, Robert Host, Jr., Susan Liberatti and Elizabeth Roberts. In accordance with Jerry's wishes, his ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean near Honolulu, Hawaii at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family request that remembrances be given to the Alzheimer's Association.
GERALD EUGENE PARROTT -SAVANNAH - Gerald Eugene Parrott-Pilot, diver, student of history, ladies' man and talented raconteur-passed away 11 March 2015. Jerry was born in Aurora, Illinois on May 1, 1934. He moved with his family to Newport Beach, California just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He contracted polio at the age of 9 but his muscular strength improved after treatments with the famous Sister Elizabeth Kenny. At the end of World War II, he moved with his father and sister to Honolulu, Hawaii. He returned to the mainland to attend high school and graduated from Municipal High School in North Hollywood, California. He married his first wife, Willa Marie Visser, at the age of 19. They had three children, Daniel Lee, Anna Marie and Gerald Eugene, Jr. Through the assistance of his father-in-law, Orville Visser, Jerry began his career with Douglas Aircraft Company helping to assemble DC-3 aircrafts at the Santa Monica Airport. Across the tarmac lay the Santa Monica Flyers flight school where Jerry took flying lessons in exchange for cleaning Pipers, Cessna's and Beechcraft Bonanzas. By age 21, he obtained a pilot's license and later became a flight instructor for the Flyers. Jerry had a life-long love of flying and obtained flight certifications for over 25 aircrafts-from hot air balloons to small jets. Not deterred by the polio, and as a hobby, he began scuba diving with the California Wreck Divers in the 1980's. He enjoyed the underwater exploration of WWI and WWII Liberty Ships, war ships and submarines. An avid collector and historian, Jerry researched and documented the historical context of each of the wrecks that he personally explored and worked to restore many brass nautical items. In 1984 Jerry began working for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Riverside, California, as a Flight Safety Officer and simultaneously worked as a part-time Deputy for the San Bernardino County Sherriff's Department for ten years. He served as an aviation consultant for Hollywood movie studios. Occasionally he had non-speaking roles as an actor and can be seen in an airport tower scene in the movie Die Hard 2 (1990), and was a proud member of the Los Angeles Hanger of the QB's, or Quiet Birdmen. In 1987 Jerry married Judith Delia. In 1995 the couple relocated to Hawaii. They were active at the Waikiki Baptist Church in Honolulu. Jerry retired from the FAA in 2007 after 23 years of service. Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Judith Delia Parrott. In 2010 Jerry moved to Savannah, Georgia to a retirement home to be near his eldest son, Daniel. Jerry was also predeceased by his father, Albert Elwood Parrott of Illinois, mother, Cordia Samms Parrott of Kentucky, and sister, Shirley May Parrott of California. He is survived by his sons, Daniel Lee Parrott, Gerald Eugene Parrott, Jr. and his daughter, Anna Marie Parrott Kuka. In addition, he is survived by his stepchildren: Robin Roberto, Robert Host, Jr., Susan Liberatti and Elizabeth Roberts. In accordance with Jerry's wishes, his ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean near Honolulu, Hawaii at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family request that remembrances be given to the Alzheimer's Association.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
