The Rt. Rev. Donald J. Parsons, sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy has died. His family reports the retired bishop passed away at home in Peoria, Ill., on the evening of 4 January 2016. He was 93. Born on 28 March 1922 in Philadelphia he was educated at Temple University. He trained for the ministry at the Philadelphia Divinity School and earned a B.Th., M.Th, and Th.D. degrees. Ordained deacon in 1946 for the diocese of Pennsylvania and priest that year for the Diocese of Delaware, he served as a tutor in Greek and in New Testament studies at PDS, while also serving as curate at Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square, and assistant at Immanuel Church in Wilmington, De. He was rector of St Peter’s in Smyrna, De., when he took up the post at Nashotah House, rising to the dean of the seminary from 1963 to 1973. In 1973 he was elected Sixth Bishop of Quincy, retiring in 1987. Bishop Parsons had an active retirement and served as a “flying bishop” for Anglo-Catholic congregations in Pennsylvania and other dioceses, and was a leader of Forward in Faith – North America / ESA. He was married to the former Mary Russell and they had three children. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
