Losone Parmeter

Losone "Lee" Parmeter, 90, of Biloxi, Mississippi passed from this life he cherished so much on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 in Biloxi, Mississippi from the ravages of Agent Orange from the Vietnam War. Lee was born in the early morning hours of August 9, 1934 in Lexington, KY., to Lyle Parmeter and Marie Ydofkimiva. He was named after his grandfather Leone but his name was misspelled on the birth certificate and kept the name Losone throughout his military career and into retirement life. His early years, in the 1930's, were spent on the road with his parents in the vagabond society of the great American Depression. They lived in a Tear Drop trailer that his father Lyle made. Lee immortalized those vagabond years in his published book, "The Last Tear Drop." His father was a native of Michigan and his Russian mother was born in Ashabad, Turkestan, and part of old Persia. The family settled in Sanford, FL where he began his formal education and graduated in 1952 from Seminole High School. Prior to moving to Sanford, Florida, the family lived in Lumberton, NC and various other towns in the rural south where his artistic parents operated roadside tourist shops.

At 19, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps reserve in Orlando, FL, after this service, he returned to Gainesville, FL where he entered college. He joined the U.S. Army and remained with this branch until 1962 with service in Germany and various parts of the world. He attended the Nike/Hercules Guided Missile School in Ft. Bliss, Texas with an assignment to Germany where he helped establish Germany's Air Defense System during the Cold War. When he returned from Germany, he worked in the Polaris Missile program as a systems engineer for Vitro Laboratories in the Washington, D.C. area. He joined the Air Force reserve and was called to active duty during the Cuban crisis and assigned to Hamilton Air Force Base California. His ribbon rack holds 27 ribbons including distinguished military awards and Foreign Service Medals from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam and beyond until his retirement. He was most proud of the Vietnamese Medal of Honor, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnamese Presidential Unit Citation with a V for valor. In 1978, he was medically retired from active military service with the United States Air Force as a Master Sergeant (1stSgt). He joined the Mississippi State Guard where he served as a Captain and Intelligence Officer for the 3rd Brigade, Hattiesburg, MS for more than 5 years. Following his many years of service to his Nation, Lee was an asset to his community by serving as the first Director of Transportation for Biloxi School Public Schools under Dr. Olen Ray. He was an electronics instructor and logistician for the United States Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi Mississippi. He operated Lee's Auto Clinic for many years where he repaired automotive electronic problems that everyone had given up as non-repairable. He and his wife, Margie were enthusiastic travelers and enjoyed the solitary moments of the sunrise, the quiet roll of the gulf, and the unexpected sights around the next bend of the road in their Motorhome. He was a published author and poet. His favorite published book was "War Stories and Little White Lies” a story of boots on the ground Vietnam, without blood, gore or profanity. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution by Andrew Giltner who fought in the revolutionary war.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Marie Parmeter; a half-sister, Ruth Parmeter Rockensues; and a half-brother, Howard L. Post. Sadly, his last half-brother Dr. James "Jim" Post passed away on Lee's 80t birthday in Nevada City, California.

He is survived by his wonderful loving wife, Margie Redmond Parmeter; a son, Leonhard "Lee" Parmeter of Boca Raton, Florida; two daughters, Elisabeth "Sissy" Wasvick of Wilmer, Alabama and Michelle Parmeter and her husband, David Martin of Pass Christian, Mississippi; a step daughter, Becky Malone of Bush, Louisiana; and a step granddaughter, Brandy Jarrell of Biloxi.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024 at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road Chapel in Biloxi. Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 11:00 a. m. 

One of his favorite saying was, "I don't mind dying, but I just don't want to be there when it happens." Now Lee will rest with all his fallen comrades in the hallowed grounds of the Biloxi National Cemetery, waiting patiently for the final reveille, when God calls all of his troops to their eternal muster. Master Sergeant (1st Sgt) Losone Lee Parmeter, was one of the last of a dying breed of Americans who honorably served our nation in peace, through the hell of Korea, the cold war and the jungles of Vietnam. He is gone, but he will be remembered.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Losone "Lee" Parmeter.