Arnold W. Parlee

1937 - 2025

BORN

1937

DIED

2025

Arnold Parlee Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Arnold Parlee, husband of Marianne and father of Michael and Christopher. Arnold was a long time fixture at the Victoria International Airport where he worked as a commercial pilot, flight instructor and designated flight test examiner. In retirement, Arnold served his community as a volunteer at the Shoal Center and the Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization. More recently he could be seen daily, rain or shine, riding his scooter into Sidney for morning coffee with friends.

High Flight
BY JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE JR.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,--and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew--
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

No service by Arnold's request.

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Published by Victoria Times Colonist from Jan. 11 to Jan. 13, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Arnold Parlee

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5 Entries

George Sloane

February 22, 2025

Such a great man.Friend,Teacher and Mentor..So sorry to hear of Arnolds passing..Stay blessed all...G.Sloane

Michael Elcock

February 3, 2025

Arnold taught me to fly, way back in 1966. He was my flying instructor at Nanaimo Airport. I've never forgotten him, his patience and his thorough professionalism. He was a lovely man, and I learned much from him back then, when I was twenty-one. My sincere condolences to his family.

Chris Cox

January 16, 2025

Hi Michael, so sorry to hear of Arnold´s, your dad, passing.

Arnold was a good friend and work colleague of mine for many years. Many visits to your Deep Cove home helping your brother Chris with his radio control airplane interests. You were generally somewhere in the house reading

Arnold was the one of my instructors and private pilot flight examiner back in 1972. That was at the Victoria Flying Services. Arnold later began flying the Islander for the Fight Centre/Nav Air. I was working at Transport Canada when I received word that Arnold was going to retire, and I was able to put together a small recognition ceremony for his last flight. I did a rough calculation of how many times and the mileage involved flying between Victoria and Vancouver. We unofficially determined that no one has/had done more flights between Victoria and Vancouver than Arnold. Might not be factual, but I like to think it was.

Fortunately I got to see Arnold last summer when visiting and ran into him at Mary´s restaurant. It was a good visit and old times were remembered.

God bless you Arnold.

Chris Cox

Bill Irvine

January 12, 2025

Dear Parlee family members and close friends.
I was deeply saddened to hear about your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this
difficult time. Here are few of my remembrances of Arnold:

Back in the 70s Arnold was well known at Victoria Airport CYYJ. Rumors were as an airline pilot he once flew B747s. This is unconfirmed to me but he sure knew a lot about airplanes and flying.

Arnold was my first flight instructor when going for my private pilot licence in 1978 at Flight Centre Aviation FBO at CYYJ. He was a bit of a task-master in his teaching methods but perhaps wanted to see right away if a student had the 'right stuff". Not everyone can be taught to fly airplanes; one has to bring
something of themselves to complete the mission.

This flier passed the test and went on to own two airplanes before hanging it up in 1985. Firstly, was a Piper Cherokee PA28-160 then the Mooney M20e Super 21.

Sometime around 1990, my employer wanted me to go to the Ellehammer Industries site in Tumwater, WA to checkout a client's job site. He hired Arnold to fly me there. Arnold was to borrow Bent Reinecker's Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess but when Arnold flashed the twin-engines in the hangar he heard something he didn't like.

He surmised the left engine had a cracked cylinder wall. Bent later confirmed this was the case. We then went over and rented a C172 from the Victoria Flying Club. Arnold got us to KOLM in Tumwater and safely back to CYYJ.

It was well known, Arnold knew a thing-or-two about airplanes!

It turns out Arnold was only 20 days younger than me so I'm aware my time on Earth is also running out. We hope to see Arnold again in Paradise where we'll live forever - throughout Eternity. Amen. RIP

Bill Irvine

Rina Langford-Kimmett

January 11, 2025

My sincere condolences to the family. This is a great picture of him!
Arnold taught my Dad to fly. He spoke with my husband about their love for old Mustangs.
May his memory be a blessing to all who loved him.

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