AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Henry Robert Parent, 78, died Monday, March 5, in Auburndale, Fla. He passed away peacefully with his loving children at his bedside. He was formerly of Rumford.

He was born in Quincy, Mass., Sept. 3, 1933, and raised in Rumford, the son of Henry and Rosalie (Morris) Parent. He was a graduate of Stephens High School and attended Bowdoin College, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1956 as a member of the medic corps. He owned and operated Parent’s Clothing Store and Bradley’s Shoe store in Rumford. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Rumford, the Robert Shand Post 1641 VFW, the LeParesseux Snowshoe Club and the Napoleon Ouellette Post 24 American Legion, serving as commander in 1993. He was president of Rumford Area Rotary Club from 1967 to 1968. He also participated in community theater productions including “Camelot,” “The Fiddler on the Roof” and “Guys and Dolls.”

Bob was tremendously proud of his service to his country during the Korean War. While living in Rumford, he was always eager to participate in Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day activities.

He will be remembered for his gregarious personality and his generosity toward strangers in need. His children will remember his love of reading and collecting books. They will also remember his love of music (especially the way he sang songs such as “Mademoiselle from Armentiers” to them while driving in the car) and the pleasure he got from spending time at “the camp” at Roxbury pond.

Survivors include three daughters, Lisa Whitis and her husband, Blain, of Gorham, Sarah Beliveau and her husband, John, of Falmouth and Joyce Parent and her family of South Berwick; two sons, Timothy Parent and his wife, Ruth, of Orono and James Parent of Portland; seven grandchildren, Ellen, Christopher, Iain, Noah, Colin, Aidan and Pascale; and his caregiver, Janice Smith and her family of Kathleen, Fla.

Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.