Hiram Truman Parr

Hiram Truman Parr, 95, of Waelder, passed away Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Truman was born May 3, 1920 in Waelder to Adolphus David Parr and Essie Harris Parr. He graduated with the Waelder High School Class of 1938. 

Truman was a member of the First Baptist Church of Waelder where he had served faithfully as a deacon of the church. He was a member of the Hopkinsville Masonic Lodge No 183 A.F. & A.M.  having served as the Senior Steward of the Lodge. Truman was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4817 in Gonzales. 

Truman married Frances Ellen Low on Feb. 5, 1942 in Lockhart exactly one month before enlisting into the U.S. Army Air Corps where he served as an armored gunner on a B-22 bomber.

Truman’s family moved to his grandfather’s farm south of Waelder when he was young.  He grew up working on the farm that had been in the family since 1881. He helped his dad and Uncle Herbert work the farm and after graduating from Waelder High School, Truman worked as a carpenter along with his father and uncle in Houston and nearby cities. 

In 1942, even though he was recently married, he answered the call to serve his country. He flew many missions in Italy as an armored gunner aboard a B-22 bomber. He was proud of his service and often reflected on the missions he shared with his brave crewmates. There were accounts where the crew found their plane shot up by German artillery and they had to limp home on two engines. The crew became so enamored by their tough B-22 that when the Army sent another plane to take them home they instead chose to fly their beloved repaired plane home believing that as it had gotten them safely through many missions, they just couldn’t leave her behind.

After returning home, Truman and Frances moved to San Antonio where he continued working as a carpenter and later helping to raise their two sons. He continued to help his dad on the family farm on weekends. 

Truman retired from Prassel’s Manufacturing in San Antonio where he had worked in the lumber mill yard. Truman was very proud of the tall columns he helped construct that still stand strong in front of the former Wells Fargo Bank in Gonzales.

After retiring he and Frances moved to the family farm and built a new home across the driveway from his parent’s old home. Truman continued the family cattle business with the assistance of his sons and grandsons whom through the years Truman had taught the particulars of working cattle.

Truman Parr was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a fine Christian man and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of carpentry with his sons and grandsons. He loved the family farm and delighted in sharing his love for the 100-plus year family farm with his family. He was a very congenial man, always meeting folks new and old with his blue eyes sparkling, his welcoming smile and his warm and firm handshake.

Having survived the great depression, a world war, devastating droughts and loss of a son and his wife, Truman’s caring disposition never waned. Through all this hardship his faith led him to believe that he was never really alone, his Lord was always by his side.

Truman Parr is survived by his son and daughters-in-law, David and Sandra Parr of Waelder, Cheryl Parr of Boerne; grandchildren, Brian Parr and wife Christy, Steven Parr and wife Staci, Justin Parr and Kimberly Parr; great-grandchildren, Kristopher Parr, Madeleine Parr, Zoey Parr and Laekyn Parr along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Frances Ellen Parr; son, Richard Parr; his parents and a sister, Billie Grace Hurry. 

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with Pastor Robert Opperude officiating. Interment will follow in Waelder Cemetery. Pallbearers are Brian Parr, Steven Parr, Terry Parr, Louis Pack, Max Schmidt and Mike McCoy. Honorary pallbearers include Justin, Kimberly, Kristopher, Laekyn, Madeleine and Zoey Parr and Tommy Cox. 

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers friends may make memorial contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through www.lls.org or the charity of one’s choice. 

Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.