Biography Early life: 1914–1934 Marvel Whiteside Parsons was born on October 2, 1914, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. His parents, Ruth Virginia Whiteside (c. 1893–1952) and Marvel H. Parsons (c. 1894–1947), had moved to California from Massachusetts the previous year, purchasing a house on Scarff Street in downtown Los Angeles. Their son was his father's namesake, but was known in the household as Jack. The marriage broke down soon after Jack's birth, when Ruth discovered that her husband was sexually involved with a prostitute. Ruth filed for divorce in March 1915. Jack's father returned to Massachusetts after being exposed as an adulterer, with Ruth forbidding him from having any contact with his infant son. Marvel Parsons later joined the U.S. Armed Forces, reaching the rank of major, and married a woman with whom he had a son, Charles, a half-brother Jack only met once. Although she retained her ex-husband's surname, Ruth started calling her son John, but many friends throughout his life knew him as Jack.
Biography Early life 1914–1934 Marvel Whiteside Parsons was born on October 2 1914 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles His parents Ruth Virginia Whiteside (c 1893–1952) and Marvel H Parsons (c 1894–1947) had moved to California from Massachusetts the previous year purchasing a house on Scarff Street in downtown Los Angeles Their son was his father's namesake but was known in the household as Jack The marriage broke down soon after Jack's birth when Ruth discovered that her husband was sexually involved with a prostitute Ruth filed for divorce in March 1915 Jack's father returned to Massachusetts after being exposed as an adulterer with Ruth forbidding him from having any contact with his infant son Marvel Parsons later joined the US Armed Forces reaching the rank of major and married a woman with whom he had a son Charles a half-brother Jack only met once Although she retained her ex-husband's surname Ruth started calling her son John but many friends throughout his life knew him as Jack