Edward Dippolt Parsons Jr's Obituary
Edward Dippolt Parsons, Jr passed on April 7 at the age of 95. He was the son of Edward Dippolt Parsons Sr and Margaret Parsons, (née Neelands).
Ed was born in Trenton, NJ on July 17, 1928. He spent a great deal of his childhood in his beloved Adirondack Mountains at the Lake Placid Club. Throughout his life he was passionate about the great outdoors. He was an avid skier and loved scuba diving, biking, horse riding and especially hiking. He was a proud “46er”, having climbed all 46 peaks in the Adirondacks over 4,000 ft. He received the award for taking the longest time to complete the challenge: 54 years! He started with Mt. Marcy at age 10 and finished with his wife and good friends on Colden at age 64.
He was married to Nell Rogers Parsons from 1956 to 1980. They had three children: Margo, Deanna and Edward III. In 1987, he married Meredith Mills McElroy and he became a father to her two children, Morrey and Tamara.
He attended Lehigh University before joining the Air Force in 1952. As part of the Strategic Air Command, Ed captained the KC-97 Stratotanker, refueling jets in mid-air. After serving his country with honor, he joined Capital Airlines, soon to be acquired by United Airlines, as a First Officer and then Captain. Ed flew for United for 32 years. He loved flying and loved his job; often saying he would have done it for free.
He enjoyed excellent health during his 35 years of retirement from United. With his wife, Meredith, he traveled the world, always eager for a new adventure. He was a loving, engaged father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren, Derek, Sol, Tai, Collin, Henry and Rye, introducing them to the wonders of nature. Winters were spent in Tucson, AZ while summers found him at his beloved home, Red Rock, at Crater Club on Lake Champlain in Essex, NY. There, family and friends gathered every year to join him in sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing. He led weekly hikes in the Adirondacks for the Crater Club Youth Group for many years. In his later years, he was a familiar sight riding his recumbent trike along the lake and backroads of Essex and on the Tucson bike path.
He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Lindsey Parsons. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Meredith Parsons; his children, Margo Schaffer, Deanna Parsons, Edward D. Parsons III and his wife, Larissa Wilberschied, Morrey McElroy, Tamara McElroy; his grandchildren, Derek Schaffer, Sol Melendy, Tai Melendy, Collin Parsons, Henry Hazlett, Rye Hazlett; great grandson Sean Hook, nieces, Elizabeth Bram, Katherine VonSund, grand nephew Charles VonSund and grandniece, Amelie Bram. He is also survived by his niece and nephew by marriage, Vanessa Martin Rosengarten and Barry Martin and son-in-law, John Hazlett.
A life well lived.
The Adirondack Mts. were dear to Ed’s heart. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Ed may be made to the Adirondack Mt. Club or the Essex Community Fund (ECF) at Adirondack Foundation .
A service will be held this summer at the Crater Club, Essex, NY.
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