Milton Barr Parsons, Sr., 87, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on December 29, 2025, at the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach.
Milton was born on February 8, 1938, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late George and Thelma Parsons. He spent much of his life in Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, places he was proud to call home.
On October 18, 1986, Milton married the love of his life, Janet Marie Gray Parsons, at Wycliffe Presbyterian Church. Together, they shared 39 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and family.
Milton is survived by his devoted wife, Janet Marie Parsons; his sons, Andrew Parsons and Joshua Parsons (Shirl); his daughter, Kimberly Burke (Peter); his daughter-in-law, Kathi Parsons; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Parsons; his father, George B. Parsons; and his mother, Thelma Culpepper Skelton.
A man of many interests, Milton loved fishing and boating and was especially proud of his trophy catches, including “Mickey Marlin,” which hung on his living room wall for many years, and the citation he received for “Freddy the Flounder.” He had a passion for collecting presidential political campaign buttons, particularly those of John F. Kennedy, and in his younger years was very involved in the local Democratic Party.
Milton was an avid fan of mysteries, especially maritime mysteries, with his favorite being the discovery of the abandoned Mary Celeste in 1872. He loved beach music and was a longtime member of the Virginia Beach Shag Club, with Bill Deal and the Rhondels among his favorites. He also enjoyed researching family genealogy and was a devoted Elvis Presley fan who loved Las Vegas.
He was proud of his career in the insurance business and his work with “Ad Mats” place mat sales. Milton was a dedicated member of the Chesapeake Gang and the ROMUS Club. He served as Vice President of the Lesner Pointe Condominium Association Board of Directors for 25 years and truly enjoyed being a resident of Lesner Pointe for 32 years—even if he loved and occasionally aggravated over his boat.
Milton often joked that his proudest achievement was “surviving fatherhood,” but his greatest legacy was the love he had for his family and friends. He never met a stranger, was deeply loved by many, and was known for his practical, relaxed nature and his gift for making things happen.
Milton Barr Parsons, Sr. will be remembered for his warmth, humor, passions, and the lasting impact he made on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Milton held deep love and respect for many of Janet’s family and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center for the excellent care they gave to Milton in his time of need.
