Eileen E. (Meikle) Parkinson

Naugatuck-Eileen E. (Meikle) Parkinson, born June 30, 1922 in Brisbane, Australia, passed away on Monday February 23, 2015 in Brooksville, FL.

Eileen was  the widow of John E. Parkinson, and is survived by her three children, Eileen E. Williams, Kathleen L. Donovan and Bonnie J. Parkinson; her seven grandchildren, Jeremy Dallaire, Rhianna Syvertsen, Keeley E. Phipps, Daniel Ballek, Katelyn J. Donovan, Kellie A. Donovan, Julia Ballek; five great grandchildren, Colton D. Phipps, Thomas Syvertsen, Emily Dallaire, Alex Dallaire and Veronica Dallaire; as well as her twin brother Robert Meikle of Australia; and over 30 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews in Australia.

Eillen married John September 30, 1945 in Brisbane, Australia after a short courtship.  She met John in Brisbane when he served as an MP in the U.S. Army.  He was stationed at General MacArthur’s Headquarters in Brisbane, and Eileen worked for the national manpower workforce for the American military training film office of General MacArthur, then the Dutch military and British military.

After their wedding, John returned to his hometown of Naugatuck in November 1945 after being discharged from the Army.  Eileen waited six months to join him in Naugatuck.  She traveled to the U.S. on the war bride ship Mariposa on a 28 day journey arriving in San Francisco on May 5, 1946, and the traveled by train to New York and joined her husband in Naugatuck where they made their home for 35 years and raised their three daughters.

Eileen worked for Peter Paul Co., Uniroyal, and then the Travelers Insurance Company where she developed her 15 year career as general office manager for a staff of over 100 workers.  She was active in the Insurance Woman’s Organization and was recognized in 1974 as Insurance Woman of the year.  Eileen mentored local high school students by providing them part time work to learn skills in the data processing field at Travelers Insurance.  She was an active member of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck.

Eileen and John were avid golfers at Hop Brook Country Club, playing in many of the local leagues.  In 1980, Eileen and John retired to Florida where they enjoyed golfing and traveling for over 30 years.

Her funeral will be held on Friday February 27, 2015 at 10:30a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street, Naugatuck to the Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division Street, Naugatuck for services at 11:00a.m. Burial will follow in Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown. Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 9:30a.m. to10:30a.m. at the funeral home. To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com

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