Nelson M Parkhurst

Nelson M. Parkhurst, 97, of West Lafayette, died at 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Westminster Health Care.
He was born Jan. 20, 1914, in Johnson County, and was the son of the late Ed and Anna Parkhurst. He received a B.S. in 1938 and M.S. in 1943 from Purdue University. He served in the Army from Aug. 3, 1943, to Dec. 11, 1945.
On Aug. 20, 1939, he married Annie Laurie White in Johnson County, and she died Dec. 3, 2006.
Mr. Parkhurst taught vocational agriculture at Morristown High School from 1938 to 1941 and was assistant food service manager at Purdue Memorial Union from 1941 to 1942. He then taught vocational agriculture at Jackson Township School from 1942 to 1943, was hired by Purdue as assistant registrar and director of admissions in 1946 and was named registrar and secretary of faculties in 1956, retiring in 1980.
He was a member of Federated Church, Lafayette Rotary Club, formerly serving as president and was on the board, a member and past chairman of Indiana Student Assistance Commission, past president of the Indiana Association of College Registrars and Admissions officers, and past president of American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Mr. Parkhurst was an active adult supporter of the Sagamore Council, Boy Scouts of America.
He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Bowen in 1982.
Mr. Parkhurst served as faculty sponsor of State Street Co-Op House and was faculty fellow in Wood Residence Hall and was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma Delta.
Surviving are sons Roger W. Parkhurst of Alexandria, Va., and Bruce W. Parkhurst (wife: Marcia) of Toledo, Ohio.
Also surviving are 7 grandchildren: Amy (Pat) Kuhlman; Bradley (Kelly), Cameron (Melody), Jason, Clark (Summer), Emily, and Alex Parkhurst and 3 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West. Funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, Gary Reif officiating. Interment will be at Nineveh Cemetery, Johnson County, IN, about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Those wishing may contribute to a charity of your choice. In lieu of other forms of recognition, consider a contribution to Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., 645 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022.