Maud was a school teacher.

Walter was a farmer and school teacher. He and Maud lived in Munster Township, Cambria Co., Pa. They were both killed after their automobile was struck by an eastbound freight train at the Bald Eagle Street railroad crossing in Lock Haven, Pa., at 9:30 AM. Maud died instantly. Every bone in her body was broken except for the hand that was holding the rosary that she was saying at the time of the collision - not a bead was broken. There was a blinding snowstorm, and Walter was heard to say repeatedly that the railroad safety light did not come on. He died later that day at Lock Haven Hospital. The couple was attempting to pick up their daughter Lorraine at Lock Haven Teacher’s College, to bring her home for the Christmas holiday. “A family reunion had been planned for the Parrish home [for] Christmas, but instead the day was spent in completing funeral arrangements for the parents.” The surviving daughter Jeanne never got over the tragedy and was always fretful when anyone in the family was on the road.