Major Sanford Elliott Parr, United States Army (Ret.), of Martinez GA, passed away on May 21, 2026.  We come to praise God for the 86 years of life that he lived and to thank God for the mark he left upon those who knew him.

Major Parr was Born on August 9, 1939 in Oakland California, one of three children born to Thornton and Lillian Parr. In 1947 he moved with his family to Evansville, Indiana because of his father’s job. After residing there for one year, they moved back to a brand new home on Irvin Way in Sacramento, California in 1948. When the family moved into the house it was literally on the edge of Sacramento and Executive Airport could be seen from the bedroom windows. Finishing out his childhood there, he graduated from C.K. McClatchy Senior High School in 1957. He then went to work at Folsom Prison as a correctional officer. The next year, on April 4, 1958, he successfully completed recruit training for the United States Coast Guard Reserve. In 1960 he was appointed to Fire Fighter Third Class and then went on to receive instruction for Petty Officer Leadership with the Coast Guard Reserve in 1961. Appreciative of his time there, he felt he was lacking direction and decided to explore the Army.

In 1963 he enlisted in the United States Army in Rancho Cordova, California where he successfully and honorably completed 20 years of service going from enlisted to Warrant Officer and then Commissioned Officer. In his words, “ the Army gave him a great wife, a good life and ‘one hell of an adventure’.” He met his Beloved wife, Brigitte, during his first duty station in Germany in 1963. She was 19 when they married. He always got misty eyed when speaking of her. After three years of marriage and three children later, he left for his first tour in Vietnam. Always jokingly saying he’s lived 9 lives, he always said he lost a few of them in Vietnam. He never spoke about them much except for one. On the 366th day of his first tour as a helicopter pilot in Chu Lia - the day after what should have been his last day in the country, his Chinook was hit for the 13th time. It missed him by six inches. “That was life number five”, he said. On another instance that he never spoke of, while participating in aerial flight of his CH-47 helicopter in support of the 1st Infantry Division heavily engaged with Viet Cong forces near Minh Thanh, his mission to lower a foot bridge across a swift moving stream in the operational area, As his helicopter approached the site with the sling loaded bridge section, it came under constant and accurate hostile fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, then Warrant Officer Parr, ignored the hostile fire and slowly lowered the bridge into place. The insurgent fire became so intense that the ground force Commander ordered his aircraft out of the area. He refused to jettison the load which, if dropped, would have killed friendly troops on the ground. Instead, he slowly lifted the bridge section vertically and then departed from the area. After flying his cargo to a secure area, he returned to the site to extract the engineer unit. Again, approaching the area the aircraft again came under hostile fire. Despite the devastating barrage, he landed the aircraft and remained at the controls completely exposed to the snipers, so that he could depart as soon as the troops and bridging materials were loaded. Theintrepidity, undaunted spirit and unwavering resolution in the face of extreme danger he exemplified was responsible for saving the lives of many soldiers and distinguished him as a combat aviator of the highest calibre. As a result he was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross.

For his gallantry in action, heroism and outstanding service, Major Parr was awarded some of the nation’s highest military honors including:

The Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster (for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces)

Army commendation Medal with V Device

Two Valorous Unit Awards

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Distinguished Flying Cross

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

National Defense Service Medal

Air medal with Twenty-Nine Oak Leaf Clusters

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Four overseas service bars

Army commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters

Vietnam Service Medal with Six Service Stars

Meritorious Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters

Humanitarian Service Medal

Major Parr exemplified courage, leadership, dedication to service, and a lifelong commitment to education, family, and country. During his military career, he and Brigitte raised three beautiful children and lived in various places, such as Mannheim Germany, serving in Fort Hood and Forth Worth Texas, Fort Benning Georgia, twice at Fort Sill Oklahoma, twice at Fort Gordon Georgia, and also Wurzburg Germany. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in 1978 from Cameron University in Oklahoma.He retired from active duty in 1982. 

He then went on to work in Civil Service for The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Office (TRADOC) at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia as their Senior Technical Advisor where he spent many years doing consulting and education applying his unsurpassed leadership skills, sound judgment, aggressive management and rock solid focus to shape and instituionalize the role of antitank systems, now known as Close Combat Missile Systems. Increasing lethality, survivability and sustainment for infantry soldiers of the Army. Due to his unparalleled efforts with the Javelin Team, they were presented the Order of the Daidalian, the coveted award for excellence. His contribution to the effort laid the foundation and guided the antitank modernization programs of the Javelin Missile System. He was not satisfied with just accomplishments. He worked to improve the development for the total process for modernizing antitank forces. The Army’s capabilities and efficiencies were significantly improved. The legacy of Major Parr’s dedication, professionalism and major contributions will benefit infantrymen and the Army well into the 21st Century. He is the catalyst that provided a synergistic effect throughout the Infantry Center, TRADOC and the industry. He was comfortable working at every level, from under The Secretary of the Army, Congressman, to Action Officers and Engineers with the Captains of Industry. He had a brilliant understanding of warfighting, science, and technology with an understanding of people that set him apart and has a focal point for his expertise in infantry antitank missiles.

September 11, 2001, a day that shook our Nation to its core, He was meeting with officials at the Pentagon when he turned down the wrong hallway (or the right hallway as it turned out) and narrowly avoided being in the area where the hijacked jet crashed. A hundred yards away from ground zero, he was flung against the wall.

After 43 years of service to our Nation, he retired for the final time.

He has lived so much life and done so much for his family, his friends and our Country. A beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle and friend. He spent his later years soaking up time with his daughters, son’s in law and his grands. He loved to spend time in the outdoors and ride his four wheeler on the property that he purchased with his daughter, Sandi, in Appling, Georgia. He loved to scope out wildlife from his game cameras that he could view remotely. He enjoyed hunting, nature and wildlife. He made sure to attend every family function and thoroughly enjoyed watching the legacy he helped to create. The Christmas Holiday’s were one of his favorites. He loved his family BIG and made sure everyone knew how special they were to him. He also really looked forward to the day he could be reunited with his lovely bride.

His family mourns his passing but are truly honored and grateful to have had this humble, loving, compassionate, funny, quick witted man in their lives. He will be sorely missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Adrian Parr Miller, his loving bride, Brigitte R. Parr and his son, Andreas Parr.

Survivors include his two daughters, Christine Parr Mitchell (Randy) of Evans, Georgia and Sandra Parr Deas (Byron) of Appling, Georgia. His grandchildren, Heather Deas Story (Wesley) of Clarks Hill, SC, Adam D. Deas IV (Mandy) of Augusta, Georgia, Anna Hogan (Lance) of Martinez, Georgia, Parker Sanford Deas (Katelyn) of Grovetown, Georgia, Hailey C. Deas of Augusta, Georgia. 7 Great Grandchildren, one Great Great Grand and numerous nieces and nephews, and his sister, Linda Parr Harold of Martinez, Georgia.

The family will receive friends on Thursday June 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm followed by a Memorial Service in the Thomas L. King Funeral Home Chapel at 3:00 pm with full Military Honors.