Hugh Parry died Jan. 25, 2008, at his home in Freeland after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born Oct. 26, 1927 in Chicago, to Hugh and May Summerville Parry.

Mr. Parry was raised in Chicago and attended schools there, graduating from high school in 1945. Soon after high school, he joined the U.S. Army, and after basic training he was sent to lithography school. After that, he was sent to Korea to support the police action that preceded the conflict. On his arrival, he was immediately made “acting sergeant” and a few months later, when he was able to take the exam for sergeant he did so, and was immediately promoted to the rank of Sergeant E-5.

When Mr. Parry returned from the Army, he entered college at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he earned his engineering degree with honors. Upon graduation, Hugh went to work for the Armour Research Foundation in Chicago and was later transferred to Springfield, Ohio, and then Tucson, Ariz. In 1958, he went to work for Lockheed Aeronautics in Burbank, Calif., where he stayed until 1970. While at Lockheed, he became a multi-patent holding inventor in aeronautic design. From 1970 to 1972, he worked for the engineering consultant firm of Bolt Beranek and Newman which was where his interest in the field of aviation and environmental acoustics blossomed. A true pioneer in this then-fledgling field, Hugh moved his family to Seattle in the summer of 1972 and shortly after, founded his own acoustical consultant firm, The Parry Company. Founder and chief engineer for The Parry Company, Hugh was the recognized authority in the field of airport and environmental acoustics.

Hugh and Joan fell in love with Whidbey Island and purchased a property in Freeland. In 1982, they built a home on the property and became residents. Devoted and inseparable, the couple also relocated the company headquarters to Freeland and worked together to grow The Parry Company into the leading acoustical consulting firm in its field.

Their love for each other extended to and enriched their family and their large family of friends. Their Whidbey Island home became the central gathering point for decades of major celebrations and spontaneous “get togethers.” In thought and in action, they exemplified the axiom, “Blessings are only truly blessings when shared.”

Hugh and Joan have been active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.

Hugh Parry is survived by his loving wife Joan at the family home and by son Bill with wife Elizabeth Parry of Bellevue, son Van Stephens with wife Georgia of Silverdale, and son David Parry of Southern California. He was preceded in death by his son James Parry in December 2005.

A celebration of Hugh Parry’s life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.

Rather than sending flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Hugh Parry Parkinson’s Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.