Walter Parr

Rev. Walter Robinson Parr (May 3, 1871 – March 24, 1922) was an English-born preacher and author.

The son of Alexander and Matilda (Richards) Parr, Walter Parr was born in Liverpool, England, and graduated from the Beloit Academy in 1891, from Beloit College in 1895 and from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1898.

He was ordained to the Congregational ministry in Clifton, Illinois, on June 16, 1898. While serving in Chicago, Parr befriended Elias Disney, who named his youngest son, Walt, after him.

Pastorates:

• Cragin Church, Chicago, 1895-1898
• Clifton, Illinois, 1897-1900
• St. Paul Church, Chicago 1900-1905
• Whetstone Church, Anderson, Indiana, 1905-1908
• Union Church, Granite Falls, Washington, 1908-1915
• Pilgrim Church and Orchard Church, Lewiston, Idaho, 1921-1922

Writing

He wrote Unrest, which was published in 1915.

Family

He was married on August 9, 1898 to Mary H. Weasel.

Death

He died on March 24, 1922, aged 50, at Lewiston, Idaho, of influenza and pneumonia, survived by his wife and seven children.

Other

See Catherine Parr for family history.

Trivia

At St. Paul's Congregational Church in Chicago, he befriended Elias Disney, who named his youngest son, Walter Elias Disney, after the Rev. Parr.