Bruce Eugene Parms was born on October 1, 1938, to the late Ophelia Rice Parms and Johnson Parms, Jr. While on this earth, Bruce lived for the glory of God and passed from a glorious life to eternal glory on July 13, 2022. Forevermore, Bruce Parms lives in the Eternal presence of God, having been graced with “that more Abundant life” through Jesus Christ His Lord.
In 1958, Bruce married his first true love who would become his lifelong sweetheart, then Miss Marthann Miller. The couple celebrated fifty-four years of marriage on June 15, 2022. Bruce and Marthann were a couple joined in heart and soul. They labored for the Lord together and were blessed with three daughters, Pamela, Stacie, and Carmen. The family was blessed with many years of blessedness, enjoying family trips, college graduations, and celebrations of many special occasions. Bruce was a strong, committed husband and father. He tirelessly poured his heart out in caring for his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.
A lifetime resident of Akron, Ohio, Bruce was the second of eight children of the Parms Family, owners of the city of Akron’s oldest black-owned business— the Parms Cleaners—founded in 1944 by the family’s patriarch, Johnson Parms. Bruce began to manage and operate the dry cleaners in 1965, making the strategic decision to consolidate the business into one location at 1239 Diagonal Road—where it remained until December 31, of the year 2000, when Bruce retired from the business, after thirty-five years, affording him more time to devote to his family, church, and ministry.
Bruce was a faithful servant of God, always praying for the sick, helping those in his community, and faithfully serving at his church, First Apostolic Faith Church, on Easter Avenue, Akron Ohio. Bruce served as a Deacon, as the Superintendent of the Sunday School, in the Choir, and in the Soldiers of the Cross men’s brotherhood ministry. In fact, Bruce was deeply passionate about God’s work in men’s ministry. He always listened to the voice of God, ready to meet any need the Lord revealed to him. Prison ministry was a particular area of men’s ministry which brought him great fulfillment. Still, perhaps his greatest joy in ministry came when he created a youth basketball league for young men. Whatever Bruce did, he did with all his might. And that was apparent in his work for the basketball league, where he purchased uniforms, trophies, hosted an awards banquet, and took the young men out to dinner regularly, all with his personal funding.
Mostly, Bruce desired to be a godly example for other men to follow. The admonition of Apostle Paul, expressed in Philippians 4:9 is Bruce Parms’ admonition to us all:
“These things which you have both learned and received and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of Peace shall be with you.”
During the Vietnam War, Bruce served honorably in the United States Army. In 1962, he was stationed at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland helping to train pilots in combat. He also was a member of the on post Basketball Team and participated in the US Army Championship Tournament. As a veteran, Bruce continued a life of service for the entirety of his life. He volunteered with SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteers and business experts. He mentored many individuals, teaching skills of business ownership, entrepreneurship and management.
Bruce is predeceased by his mother, Ophelia Parms, his father, Johnson Parms, and his brother, Paul Parms.
He leaves many family members and friends who will forever cherish his life and memory: First and foremost, his wife of 54 years, Mrs. Marthann Parms; his daughter and son-in-love, Pamela and Michael White (of Detroit, MI), daughter, Stacie Parms (of Akron); daughter, Carmen Parms-Riggins (of Akron). He will forever be cherished in the hearts of his beloved grandchildren, Michael White Jr., Mark White, Myles White, Kayla White, Kiara White, Mylan White, Keya Riggins, Mario Riggins Jr. Mitchell Riggins. He is affectionately remembered by his siblings; brother, Attorney Edwin L. Parms (of Overland Park,KS.); sister, Bonnie Parms; sister, Marie Parms; sister, Karen Hunter (of Atlanta, GA); sister, Rebecca Parms ( of South Carolina); brother, John (Crystal) Parms (of Columbus, OH) and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
As a veteran of the United States military, Bruce Eugene Parms will receive an honorable military burial at the Case Western Reserve Cemetery. The ceremony will be held Monday, July 25, 2022.
To God be the glory!