Parrish was born Ruby Joyce Wilbar on October 21, 1940 in Middlesboro, Kentucky to william Robert "Bob" Wilbar (1913-1988) and Gladys Wilbar (nee Gladys Marie Webb, 1911-1998). She had five younger siblings, sisters Barbara, Janice, and Liza and brothers James and Robert. She spent her early years in Lake City, Tennessee (now Rocky Top, Tennessee), before moving to Tecumseh, Michigan at age 11. There she graduated from high school. Parrish then attended a modeling school in Toledo, Ohio. She won a national contest for "Young Model of The Year" at a modeling school chain.