Herbert Lynn Parsons, M.D, 69, passed away in the comfort of his home in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on May 11, 2012. He was born to Oneita Montgomery Parsons and Joel Herbert Parsons of Somerville Tennessee on December 23, 1942. 

After graduating a valedictorian of the 1961 class of Fayette County High School in his hometown of Somerville, TN, he graduated cum laude from Southwestern at Memphis (Rhodes University).  Dr. Lynn Parsons was a 1969 graduate of the Tulane School of Medicine.  Major Parsons then served in the military as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Hospital Services at the United States Air Force Hospital of the Air Training Command in Columbus, Mississippi.  Dr. Parsons was a general surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous surgical societies.  He practiced surgery in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio and worked at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine, Ohio, up until the time of his death.

Dr. Parsons is a Life Member of The Amateur Trapshooting Association and enjoyed clay target shooting (trap, skeet and sporting clays), hunting and tennis. He committed much of his time to preserving the memory and legacy of his late father (www.showmanshooter.com) who was one of the greatest exhibition shooters of all time.

Lynn is survived by his beloved daughters, Diana Lynn Parsons of Iron Station, NC and Melissa Parsons Healy (John Healy) of Charlottesville, VA; his twin grandsons Thatcher William Healy and Duncan Joseph Healy of Charlottesville, VA; his former wife and friend Charlotte Parsons of Wapakoneta, OH; and his brother Jerry Parsons (Carolyn Tapp Parsons) of San Antonio, TX. He also leaves behind several cousins and a host of friends and colleagues who played very important roles in his life.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Peebles Funeral Home in Somerville, TN. Visitation will be held from 1:00 - 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 15th at the funeral home; a graveside service will follow at Somerville Cemetery at 2:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in his memory to the Trapshooting Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 281, Vandalia, Ohio, 45377.

Business Hours - visits by appointment only until June 1

The Trapshooting Hall of Fame, Museum, & Research Library will no longer maintain its regular business hours.  Please call or email if you would like to schedule a visit before we close on Friday June 1, 2012.  The office will continue to answer telephone messages and emails after that date.