Clyde Parrott M-F-71-4

Clyde Dennis Parrott, 86, went to be in a better place on February 1, 2024, at Four Seasons Retirement Community. Clyde was born on April 1, 1937, in Louisville, KY, to William Clyde Parrott, and Sara Mae Watson Parrott. He had one sibling, a sister, Lorna Lynne Parrott, 4 ½ years his junior. Clyde’s formative years were spent in Charlestown, IN, where he attended public schools and graduated as valedictorian of his senior class in 1954. He entered Purdue University that fall and graduated with a degree in engineering in 1958. He would go on to earn an MBA from Indiana University. He was a member of Mensa. In July 1957, he married Katherine Bottorff, and they were born to them a daughter, Tracy Katherine, and a son, Jeffrey Kent Wyckoff. That marriage ended in 1965.Clyde’s employment career was in the field of manufacturing, with such companies as Ford Motor Co., Corning Glass, American Standard, United Technologies, and Lear Corporation. In 1966, he relocated from the Louisville area to Columbus, taking a position in R&D as a design engineer with what was then Hamilton Costco, Inc. It was while at Costco that he met Lenora Conover, nee Combs. The two were married on November 29, 1970, by Rev. Lester Vanest at the Edinburgh United Methodist Church. They recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary. Clyde had begun playing trombone in jr. high in Charlestown, continuing through high school, and at Purdue played in both the marching band, as well as the Purdue Symphonic Band for four years. Music had always been a source of inspiration for Clyde, and while in Symphonic Band he had the privilege of playing under the batons of such maestros of the time as Paul Lavall, Edin Frank Goldman, Arthur Fiedler, Leroy Anderson, Rafael Mendez, Merle Evans, and Ferde Grofe. After college, he enjoyed participating with folk, country, and attending a concert of barbershop music. His interest piqued in this “new” music genre, Clyde auditioned for and was invited to join the Louisville Thoroughbred Chorus, one of the society’s preeminent choruses, winners of seven international championships in barbershop singing competition. Clyde’s engineering work was always a source of satisfaction and fulfillment to him, and he took pride in the work of manufacturing, of making things. He worked full-time until age 70 when he retired from Lear Corporation as Technical Manager/Manager of Engineering. Clyde is survived by his wife, Lenora Parrott; daughter, Tracy (Leonard) Monroe; son, Jeffrey (Michelle) Parrott; grandsons, Joshua Monroe, and David Monroe; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Sara Parrott; sister, Lorna Parrott Kreimer; and several dearly beloved dachshunds and an angelic miniature poodle, which he looks forward to being reunited with again at The Rainbow Bridge. Clyde and Lenora have been long-time members of Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church, to animal rescue organizations, or to charities of the donor's choice. The funeral will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at Fairlawn Presbyterian Church with Rev. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick officiating. Visitation will be from noon until the time of service on Tuesday. You are invited to light a virtual candle of remembrance and leave a condolence message for the family online at www.jewellrittman.com.