Edward James Parnell

1951 - 2025

Edward James Parnell

September 18, 1951 - October 27, 2025

Edward James Parnell, of Bon Air, passed away on Monday, October 27, 2025, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He faced this terrible disease for more than a decade with the same character traits of humor, intellect and integrity by which he lived his life.

Ed was preceded in death by his brother, William B. Parnell of Derry, NH; his parents, William P. Parnell and Patricia Jones Parnell, of Stratham, NH; his grandparents, Ruth and Dr. Basil B Jones, of Richmond; and his aunt, Ruth Herrink, of King George, Va.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Green Parnell his daughters, Kate Parnell and Rachel Siddall (Peyton), and granddaughters, Ruth and Juniper Siddall. Ed is also survived by brothers, Lawrence Parnell (Janice), Howard Parnell (Mary) and their families; and several cousins, including Sarah Ailey, Beverly Klunk, and Jessica Herrink along with their families.

Ed was born in Buffalo, NY on September 18,1951. A few years later his family moved to Falls Church, VA. where he graduated from George Mason H.S. (now Meridian H.S.). He was a philosophy major (B.A., Beloit College) who drove Yellow cabs, who became a VW mechanic in Madison, WI, who became a substance abuse counselor (M.S., Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond, who later became an Analyst/Programmer with Henrico County, VA.

Ed met Ellen, a recent grad of Beloit College, when she returned to campus visiting her sister and friends in late fall 1972. She was looking for someone to help her get back to California in a "drive-away car" and as fortune would have it a crazy 2,000-plus mile first date brought the two of them together for nearly 53 years. Ed was no stranger to the open road in his youth, having hitch-hiked out to Seattle, up and down the West Coast and in Ireland during his college years.

In 1972, Ellen's job as a public librarian brought them to Richmond, where they raised their daughters and enjoyed being near family. Ed cherished the years he had living near his grandparents. A visit to their home would always feature Ed standing in the vegetable garden sharing his latest jokes with Grandpa Jones.

Much of Ed's free time revolved around water. He spent childhood summers at the family New Kent lake cottage, fished Wisconsin lake shores, and the Chesapeake Bay, vacationed at the Outer Banks, NC, and Plum Island, Ma., enjoyed offshore charter boat trips and swam thousands and thousands of yards at his much loved Bon Air Community Association pool. Ed shared his enthusiasms with both of his daughters. Kate shared early morning drives with her dad on their way to go fishing in the Bay. And he happily timed races and travelled around the state to Rachel's swim meets for over a decade. He could also be found grilling thousands of hot dogs and hamburgers to feed swimmers and their families at the Bon Air grill over many years.

Ed cared for his Crestwood Farms neighborhood, devoting many hours tending its picnic areas and for many years organized the yearly fish fry. He was a frequent sight walking the neighborhood hills with his adored dog, Pippi.

Retirement years brought time to travel. He and Ellen explored one of Ed's interests since childhood by visiting numerous Civil War battlefields throughout the East.

Ed was an excellent father and grandfather, a wonderful husband, and a loyal friend. According to Kate he was a guy who believed in fair play, who did his part and then some and taught her how to work hard and take pride in it. To both daughters, he was a guy who made excellent Thanksgiving gravy. He was never happier than being in his own backyard surrounded by his family at the fire pit or grill with maybe a great sunset visible through the pine trees. He meant the whole world to his wife, his daughters, and his granddaughters. He will be sorely missed.

The family would like to express our gratitude to the staff at Bickford of Chesterfield, particularly those staff members working in the Memory Care unit who truly embraced Ed like family, as he did them.

The Crater Hospice helped Ed and his family when the end was near and for that we are also grateful.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 1 p.m. at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave., Richmond, VA. 23221.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Nature Conservancy or your favorite charity.