Herbert Lee Parr

November 29, 1933 - May 29, 2013

Mr. Herbert Herb L. Parr, age 79, a resident of Nashville, passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at Bethany Health and Rehab from complications of Parkinsons disease. A memorial service for Mr. Parr will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 3:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Rev. Matt Kelley officiating. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. An additional memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 5:00 PM at Arlington United Methodist Church: 1360 Murfreesboro Road in Nashville. The family will visit with friends from 4-5 PM at the church. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and in charge of arrangements. Born on November 29, 1933 in Giles County, TN, he was the son of the late Allen and Lucille Whitaker Parr. He grew up in Columbia and graduated from Central High School in 1952. He went on to complete work for a degree in mechanical engineering from UT- Knoxville in 1957 and later, a Masters Degree in engineering management from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Parr pursued a career of project and department management which took him to a variety of governmental and industrial positions in many parts of the country, including Brown Engineering, working closely with NASA in Huntsville, AL and Cocoa Beach, FL. A highlight of his career was the development and operation of the air pollution control program in Chattanooga, TN, one of the countrys most successful. He was honored with an article written in U.S News & World Reports for this success. Mr. Parr relocated to Nashville in 1979 to continue his career and retired in 2001 as an engineering consultant at the GM Saturn automobile plant in Spring Hill, TN. Herbert loved UT football and ladies basketball and reading about Native Americans. He was a Civil War buff who also enjoyed community theatre, and at a younger age held a pilot license. He dearly loved his daughter and granddaughter. He is survived by his beloved daughter: Tracy Parr (Richard) OBrien of Brentwood; granddaughter: Hannah Lee Torres of Brentwood; sister: Velma Parr (Frank) Littlejohn of Antioch; two nephews: Mark (Kim) Littlejohn of Kingston Springs, Scott (Meghan) Littlejohn of Weston, FL. He is also survived by three great-nieces: Stephanie, Sheena, and Shaylan all of the Nashville area; two great-nephews: Jake and Trevor of Weston, FL; aunts: Mae LeMay of Athens, AL, Mary Alice Goldberg of St. Petersburg, FL; uncle: David (Viva) Parr of Pulaski; and many cousins and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Jimmie Ruth Martin Parr, the mother of Tracy. The family extends thanks and appreciation to the staff of Bethany Health and Rehab and Gentiva Hospice for their excellent care during his illness. The family requests that memorials in his name be sent to the American Diabetes Association: 220 Great Circle Road #134 Nashville, TN 37228. You may share condolences with the family at the top of this page.