Published in The New York Times on September 1, 2013
Lucille Parsons, 100, of Palm Beach, FL, widow of Ronald Bush Balcom passed away August 29, 2013 at her home in Fishers Island, NY. She was born on November 1, 1912 in Montclair, NJ. “Lulu” was the daughter of Jay Lester Parson and Lucille Myers Parsons. She grew up in Orange, NJ and attended Miss Porters School in Farmington, CT. She was married to and divorced from George Vanderbilt.
During WWII she did volunteer work with the American Red Cross. In 1950, she and Ronnie Balcom were married in Palm Beach, FL at her home. She was an exceptional golfer and at the age of 16 hit her 1st of “10 holes in one”. She was also an excellent skier and she and Ronnie spent much of their time skiing in Vail, CO and Klosters, Switzerland. Her greatest love in life was traveling and there were few places in the world she had not been.
Lulu was an extremely talented artist and was well known for her unique, primitive paintings. Most of her original 3-dimensional paintings depict scenes from the Caribbean and New England.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 44 years and her brother Jay Lester Parsons, Jr. She is survived by her daughter Lucille V. Pate, two grandsons, Phillip V. Brady and Robert M. Balding, and granddaughter Dawn B. Pate. She is also survived by four great-granddaughters Allston Pate, Emerson Pate, Margaret Balding and Sara Balding, all of Georgetown, SC. In addition, she is survived by her sister Emily Parsons Ridgway of Short Hills, NJ and a step-sister Mrs. Horace Bailey.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Island Health Project, PO Box 344, Fishers Island, NY 06390.
