The Ritzville Adams County Journal - Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887

"Barney" Gayle Frederick Parish Dec. 10, 1931 - Oct. 15, 2020

The world lost a one-of-a-kind, funny, loving and generous man on Oct 15, 2020.

"Barney" passed away from Parkinson's disease in Walnut Creek, CA. He was born on Dec 10, 1931 to Dick and Marion Parish in Benge, WA. The second of four children.

He spent his grade school years at the Benge School. As a teenager he drove wheat trucks to the Benge Elevator Company during wheat harvest.

Barney graduated from Washtucna High School in 1949 where he played football,

basketball and baseball. He studied engineering at WSU.

In 1952 Barney went into the Army at Camp Roberts and was in the Signal Corp. From there he went to Fort Kilgard, NJ and then on a troop ship to Germany. The Atlantic Ocean had the worst storm in 100 years. Needless to say, there were many sick soldiers on that ship, except for Barney, who luckily didn't have that problem. He had many stories to tell of exploring Paris, Holland, Austria, and Switzerland while stationed in Germany.

After being discharged in 1954, Barney went to work for the telephone company in Othello, WA as a "jack-of-all-trades" he said. While there he was assigned to Larson Air Force base in Moses Lake for 5 years, and then was transferred to Seattle where he was assigned to Boeing for one year. The telephone company transferred him again to California where he worked for the next 35 years. Barney retired in 1994 from AT&T Headquarters at San Ramon in the Engineering Division.

Barney met his wife Mary Maney at the telephone company in California and they were married for 42 years. Mary predeceased him in Feb 2020. They traveled the world together and made many happy memories. Daughter Joan and grandchildren Zane & Chelsea were the central focus of their lives; with happy times spent attending their activities, sports events, taking them on trips and always providing love and guidance. Barney's grandchildren adored him and he felt the same. They remained very close throughout the years to present day. Barney was a wonderful Husband, Dad & Grandpa to his family.

Barney was also blessed with a natural artistic talent. He loved to doodle and sketch, and in younger days was great at drawing cartoons. In later years, he studied oil painting and was very good at it, creating some truly beautiful works of art in different and various mediums.

Barney is survived by his stepdaughter Joan Miller, grandchildren Zane Miller and Chelsea Grant, and sister-in-law Barbara Gasparini, all of California. He is also survived by sisters Joyce Lund, Othello, WA, Joanne Bratsch, Beaverton, OR and brother Paul (Linda) Parish of Kennewick, WA, plus many nieces and nephews.

Throughout his life Barney touched many lives with his thoughtful, intelligent, positive, happy personality. Barney was loved by all and will be truly missed.

There will be no service at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions.