Type=image;ImageID=2052;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Ira Parsonage at his 105th birthday party;TitleClass=strong;
Ira Parsonage, who was born in 18 September 1907 and had lived at Nelson Mandela House in Pendeford for the last 6 years, died peacefully in hospital on Tuesday 27 August, 2013.
Kathleen Kane, Assistant Residential Care Manager at Nelson Mandela House, said: "Ira was much loved by everyone at Nelson Mandela House and he will be very sadly missed."
"He was a very pleasant individual - hugely popular with staff, residents and visitors - and was still very mobile even at the grand old age of 105.
"He had some wonderful times with us, and he was the life and soul of the party. He would always join in with activities and he particularly enjoyed our music nights - he would love to tap his feet to music of all styles, from rock 'n' roll and jazz right through to the pop music of today.
"He put his long and happy life down to keeping himself active and not allowing himself to get worried about anything. He was a happy go lucky gentleman who will be much missed by staff and residents alike."
Though Mr Parsonage didn't have children of his own, he acquired a whole new family tree through his marriage to Sarah Ann in 1947. She already had 4 children of her own and he went on to have 21 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, 51 great great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-great-grandchildren.
Black Country born and bred, Mr Parsonage lived in Coseley until his marriage. He and Sarah Ann settled in Wolverhampton and were happily married until she sadly passed away in 1987.
Mr Parsonage worked at Black Country boilers-to-vehicle parts manufacturer John Thompson's for more than 50 years and after his retirement he did casual work for a local builder before tending people's gardens, which he continued up to the grand old age of 95.
Great granddaughter Sally Clayton said: "My great grandfather was a fantastic man. He used to do gardening for what he called the 'old folk' - even though he was actually older than most of them!
"He worked on people's gardens until he was about 95 and also kept an allotment until the same time. He loved gardening and you would often see him in the greenhouse with his seedlings and tomatoes. His garden was full of roses and you could often see him walking the streets with his wheel barrow."
Mr Parsonage passed away at New Cross Hospital after his health deteriorated, and his funeral will be held on 18 September, which would have been his 106th birthday.
- released: Wednesday 4 September, 2013