Malcolm Parsons

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-129922

Other Events:

• Military: WW2
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-129918
• Immigration: 1954, , Canada
• Occupation: 1956, Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; teacher
• Occupation: 1961, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; teacher

Notes:

Lifetimes: Ken Parsons 'had a deep caring for those who were marginalized'

By Valerie Hill Special to the Record
Mon., Dec. 6, 2021.

One of 10 kids growing up in an impoverished family in London, England, Ken Parsons never let the lessons he learned about hunger and desperation fade from his memory.

Certainly, he did everything he could to improve his life but Ken also believed "we are our brothers' keeper," said his daughter, Liz Parsons. "He was always about the underdog, social justice and social responsibility."

An educator and an advocate, Ken not only never forgot his roots, he let it guide him in everything he would do over nearly a century.
Born Jan. 9, 1922, in London's poor East End, the Cockney lad was the eldest boy of Cecil and Ada Parsons. His father, a dock hand, worked hard to support his family but like all their neighbours in this rough area of London, they lived in squalor with no indoor plumbing, overcrowding and very little hope. At least until a happy change took place.

"London city council did slum clearance and moved them in 1929 to what seemed then a paradise: newly built council row housing in Dagenham, out in the countryside," Liz said.

With so many mouths to feed, Cecil needed his children to forget school and get a job but Ada, encouraged by the head master at Ken's school, insisted the boy had exceptional abilities.

Ken spent hours secreted away in any available corner of their flat focusing on homework and reading. At age 11, he wrote the secondary school entrance exam known as the Eleven Plus. He must have scored well because Ken was offered a place at The Royal Liberty, a rather posh high school. There was one problem: Ken's thick Cockney accent was difficult to understand so the school provided elocution lessons.
It was in high school he discovered his passion for soccer and some of the well-off boys purchased his first soccer shoes.

Ken graduated in 1938 and soon joined the British navy, serving aboard the HMS Valiant at the same time as a midshipman who would become Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip.

Days before Christmas 1942 the Valiant was damaged in a torpedo attack and limped into the harbour at Durban, South Africa for repairs. The ship was out of service for two weeks, long enough for Ken to attend a dance where he met a pretty German nurse, Kathe Hillermann. He was smitten.

For the next six years the two developed a bond through letter writing. Ken served until 1946 and took advantage of government-sponsored university training after his discharge, achieving his teaching credentials.

In 1948, Kathe immigrated to England and they were married. Liz and son Malcolm were born in England. A second son, Colin, was born when the couple returned to South Africa.

The idea had been to grow closer to Kathe's family who hadn't approved of her running off with a sailor. But Apartheid was in the full bloom of its ugliness and the couple returned to England.

Postwar England was still struggling. In 1954 Ken immigrated to Canada, and one year later had enough money saved to bring his family.
Ken had been working as a teacher in Palmerston after reading the want ad in a Toronto newspaper. From 1956 to 1961, he was principal of Harriston Public School, then moved to Kitchener where he taught high school and at the University of Waterloo's writers' clinic. Ken retired in 1978.

He found solid footing as a community volunteer and advocate, for both supportive housing and mental health. There had been mental health issues in his family and he didn't want anyone else to suffer.

Joe Mancini, co-founder of The Working Centre, recalls Ken was an early supporter of the centre in the late 1980s. Ken had visited St. John's Kitchen to discuss mental health problems and dove right in to help.

"He had a deep caring for those who were marginalized," recalled Mancini, who admired his friend's wealth of information.

"Ken was committed to social justice and good relationships," said Mancini. "People looked up to Ken for his force of character to name injustice and to look for solutions."

Elaine Paton remembered Ken as the one who created a support for families so they could be involved in the mental health treatment of loved ones. "He inspired me to be a very involved parent," she said.

Ken served on the board of the Canadian Mental Health Association and founded the local chapter of the support group Family and Friends.
Ken, predeceased by Kathe and both sons, died Nov. 21, 2021. Reflecting on life lessons learned from her father, Liz said, "Do not give in to despair, but rather, ask how to make the world a better place, and take action."

Freelance writer Valerie Hill is a former Record reporter. She can be reached by email at

"Lifetimes: Ken Parsons 'Had A Deep Caring For Those Who Were Marginalized'". 2021. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2021/12/06/lifetimes-ken-parsons-had-a-deep-caring-for-those-who-were-marginalized.html.


Military:
Ken graduated in 1938 and soon joined the British navy, serving aboard the HMS Valiant at the same time as a midshipman who would become Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip.

Days before Christmas 1942 the Valiant was damaged in a torpedo attack and limped into the harbour at Durban, South Africa for repairs

Kenneth married Kathe Hillermann 1948, , England. Kathe was born 6 Oct 1919, , Germany; died 23 Oct 2011, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Kathe Parsons
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-129919

Notes:

Obituary of Kathe Parsons

Died peacefully with her family by her side early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2011. Kathe was born October 6, 1919 in Germany. She emigrated with her parents and six siblings to South Africa in 1924. As a young nurse she immigrated to England in 1948, where she married her beloved, Kenneth Parsons. Kathe was the loving and cherished mother of Martin, Elisabeth, and Colin (who predeceased her in 1977).

Her strong faith, her free spirit, her love and compassion for others will be remembered by all who knew her. Kathe's lovingkindness was also showered upon her flower "children", and all creatures great and small. Her life has touched many. She leaves us with the certain knowledge that "all is well" with her soul.

The funeral service will be held at Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church, 19 Ottawa St. N., on Monday, March 28 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Vidya Narimalla officiating. A reception will immediately follow at the church.

Donations in memory of Kathe may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee or to a charity of your choice. Psalm 121.

"Obituary Of Kathe Parsons | Erb & Good Funeral Home". 2021. Erbgood.Com. https://erbgood.com/tribute/details/12818/Kathe-Parsons/obituary.html.