Arnold E. Velander

Arnold Velander Obituary

Arnold E. Velander, 84, of Ocala, FL, passed away on October 6, 2008.

A native of Worcester, he graduated from Commerce High School, Worcester (Class of 1942A). Arnold moved to Ocala nearly 25 years ago from Plymouth, MA and was also a former resident of Cape Cod. Mr. Velander was retired from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of Major, serving as a pilot during WWII and the Korean War. Arnold was a member of the following Mason Lodges: Morning Star Lodge, Worcester; Joseph Warren Royal Arch Chapter, Wellfleet; Cape Cod Council of Super-Excellent Master, Hyannis and Sutton Commandery No.16 of Knights Templar, New Bedford. He loved to travel and just this past week, while on a cruise, he was honored with a standing ovation for his service to his country from a contingent of National Guard troops on the same cruise vacation he was enjoying.

Mr. Velander is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Beverly A. Crawford of Worcester; stepson Gary M. Thompson of Rutland, VT; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, the late Cecelia M. Velander, in 2003.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Oct. 11, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Arnold Velander

12 Entries

Angela Rushford

October 6, 2009

My grandfather's memory will neer be forgotten. His spirit still is strong as his personality. I remember this day like it was yesterday and will go on with the happy moments that he shared with all. I love and will always love the man who tought me "hat it was mind over matter".

Eileen Harper

December 19, 2008

Mrs. Crawford and family---I just found out your Dad passed in October. I, unfortunately, never had the opportunity to meet him in person, but we spoke on the phone often. He always brightened my day. Whenever he called the office, I'd be happy to hear him on the other end of the phone. Always cheerful, making me laugh.

After reading the messages of others, I wish even more I had the opportunity to meet him in person. I am thankful for his service to our country and I am most thankful for the little bit of time I did get to share with him. I pray I will be blessed enough to be so full of life the rest of my life and leave my family, friends, and acquaintances with as many happy memories as "Arnie Vee" has left all of us.

He was a very special man, I'm sure you're proud and hope you are comforted by that.

Shelby Meadows

October 28, 2008

Hi Beverly
I really miss Mr. Venlander and if you need anything please contact me.

Angela Rushford

October 23, 2008

Words can not express the man that my gradfather was. Kind, sweet, empathetic, knowledgable, resilliant, debonair.....the list could go on. Growing up I remember something he once told me "if you think it is hot, then it will be". As well as "if you think it is cold then it will be. A lesson learned mind over matter, something he taught all of us. This is just one example of how my grandfather lived life. His mind was full of wisdom and throughout his life he shared this with others. The experiences that he encountered in life touched the lives of so many. So his journey in life still continues traveling from the heavens above with my grandma. May they both continue a beautiful journey togehter once again.

GLENDA HOUCK

October 22, 2008

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY. HE IS AT PEACE NOW.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING AT ALL, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU.

Helen Wilmers

October 22, 2008

Rest in peace my friend. We only met once when you were on your way to Mass. but corresponded very, very often using our Webtv's.

We always had interesting conversations, and we helped each other in learning the new fangled Webtv.

Even though, we only met in person once, I feel as though I knew you and your family through our continuous Instant Messenging and talking on the phone.

Bob Lenagar

October 21, 2008

My fondest memories go back to our lives as Pilots in WW!! in Bremen, Germany thru the Good Times and Bad.
Goodbye, Swede, and GOD BLESS

Susan and Marty Shealey

October 21, 2008

He lived his time to the fullest, a long part of it spent with my Aunt Sis enjoying the adventure of this life. I loved him and so admire his courage.

Thomas Nordseth

October 21, 2008

My dear friend!

I am so sad to hear that you passed away. I have never met a person like you and you are a true inspiration to me. Your Norwegian friends, me, Kenneth and Øyvind, was hoping you would come and visit us in Norway this summer. But sadly you will not be making the trip.

Thank you for welcoming us, when we stayed with you in 2004.
Thank you for all the funny stories, we are still laughing about.
Thank you for calling me and asking about my life when I was studying in SF, and calling me in Norway for christmas.
Thank you for being you!

I will never forget you Vee.
My condolances to your family.

Regards

Thomas from Norway

Christy Boaz Diller

October 12, 2008

Hi Arnold,

I know this message will not reach you as you’ve gone on to heaven to join your beautiful bride. I just needed to write down these thoughts in my head. Last week was so wonderful and having the opportunity to meet you and spend time with you aboard the Carnival Fascination cruise ship made a deep and lasting impact on my life. I think of you every day and I know now that you were an angel gracing us all with your smile, charm and amazing stories.

I am at a difficult place in my life and you reminded me to cherish life and keep a smile on my face. I never heard you complain and your smile was like a breath of Spring. I will cherish the memories of you forever “Vee”. I hope to meet your daughter and tell her what a special man her father is and how you impacted my life. I’m sure she already knows that you are amazing, but I will tell her anyway. Many people come and go out of our lives, but I will never ever forget you. Rest peacefully now. Thank you for spreading joy to me and to so many others.

I promise to pass along to my son and others the stories you shared with me. I promise to remember your words of wisdom and advice. I promise to be the best mom I can be. I promise to “let the boys call me”. I promise to always remember your smile and one of the last things you said to me after the song I sang to you… “I’m as happy as Hell”. I will always be grateful for the stories, for the dance and for the song I was able to sing to you. I will keep singing if you will keep dancing. Yes, you are just about the BEST dancer EVER!!! God bless you Arnold “Vee” Velander.

Love always,
Christy Boaz Diller
"Austin's mom"
Beaufort, SC

Andrea Coble

October 11, 2008

Arnold,
You are my inspiration to dance for the next 40 plus years! Thank you for taking such good care of me from Sept 29 thru Oct 4th while aboard the Carnival Cruise Line Fascination. It was no mistake that my wonderful friend, Wendy Snider, found you and brought you to our fabulous group. I'll never forget how you first grabbed my palm and read it. You said I had strong knuckles and one weak one (the pinky knuckle) that indicated that I cried during sad movies. How right you are! You also said that since I had two parallel lines in my palm, I had two great loves. I didn't understand that until now.

I enjoyed walking the breezy promenade, arm in arm, with you -hearing about your beautiful family and your incredible war stories. Eight O'clock p.m was our late dinner hour and a time that will never go by without thinking of you sitting patiently on the end of your bed with your door open, waiting for me to pick you up. Most of all, I am deeply honored to have had one of your last dances. You are forever in my mind the most graceful man I have ever met. I am sorry you never made it to Virginia to meet my wonderful husband and children but please know that in spirtit you live on within my heart. You are my model of a human being. I want to start an "Arnold Vee the Swede" club and hear more incredible stories about you.

This Air Force Spouse, know to you as "Dimples" will never forget how beautiful you made me feel in spirit.

Your beautiful daughter, Beverly, whom I look forward to meeting soon, as well as your other children, are welcome to call me anytime to hear about their father's last glorious days aboard the Fascination. Your dad cracked me up so many times with some of the funny things he said. Too many to list here. On a serious note, he loved you all so much and spoke nothing but how proud and honored he was to be your father.

Arnold lived a life we all hope to accomplish. I watched him sip lobster bisque (soup) and drink warm saki with the same enthusiasm of a baby tasting ice cream for the very first time. All of his senses were heightened and he admitted to feeling like a "new man" aboard that enchanted cruise ship.

I'll never forget how proud he was to show me that he put on his shoes for the first time in over a year just so that he could fox trot with all his new friends. He danced almost every night ...sometimes until midnight! Angels took hold of his arms and allowed him to temporarily float across the dance floor. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Everynight when I returned him to his room, he would look at me with those incredible steely blue eyes and say, "God has blessed me with a million new memories, the guys back home are not going to believe this!"

I am here for all of you. Please understand that your father was a gift that I really needed during this time in my life as well as for some of the men and women of the armed forces that just returned from a trying 18 months in Afganistan. Your dad was meant to pass something great onto the next generation. He had us all at "Hello" and taught us how to love our country. I can only imagine how you wish you could have all been there with him. Please find peace in knowing that God makes no mistakes. Your dad changed more lives for the better in those few crazy days aboard the Fascination.

God bless you all during this time of sorrow and celebration. Arnold is dancing right now with the angels and his loved ones that have happily joined him on the otherside.

He will forever live on in our memories and most importantly, OUR ACTIONS!

God bless,
Love,
Andrea Coble USAF RET SPOUSE
AKA "DIMPLES"