William A. “Bill” Parlee, 86, of Castleton, VT, formerly of North Attleboro and Melrose, MA, passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at home. He was the beloved husband of the late Ruth A. (Dawe) Parlee. Born on March 3, 1937, in Malden, MA, he was a loving son of the late William B. Parlee and Katherine (Bridges) Parlee.
Bill grew up in Malden and was a graduate of the Greater Boston Academy in Malden. He furthered his education, earning his Associate's Degree in Architecture from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. A proud United States Air Force veteran, Bill served his country for four years having been honorably discharged in 1959 with the rank of airman second class. He was a longtime employee of the John Hancock Insurance Company, working out of the Melrose and Attleboro offices respectively.
Bill was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons since moving to Vermont over 25 years ago. He enjoyed motorcycles and was a member of the Shriners Motorcycle Club. An avid golfer with a handicap in the low 80s, Bill also enjoyed playing poker, engaging in spirited debates, and was an avid reader and Boston sports fan, particularly rooting for the Bruins and the Red Sox. A true outdoorsman, he loved fishing and hunting, frequently embarking on hunting trips to Canada. Bill was a skilled handyman who enjoyed home improvement projects.
Most importantly, he was a dedicated family man and a proud grandfather, often boasting about the forty-two members of his family. His favorite times were spent in the company of his adoring family.
Bill is survived by his devoted children: Elizabeth Root and her husband Stephen of North Attleboro, MA, David Parlee and his wife Claire of Cumberland, RI, Douglas Parlee of North Attleboro, Cynthia Arnold-Vajgart and her husband Scott of Wareham, MA, and Charles Parlee and his fiancée Michele Choiniere of Attleboro. He was the cherished grandfather of Amanda Thistle and her husband Jason, Matthew Root, Candice Machado and her husband Christopher, Alyssa Parlee and her companion Joseph Choiniere, David Parlee and his wife Kelly, Katelyn Dube, Lauren Kostaras and her husband Nicholas, Samantha Nelson, Sarah Medeiros and her husband Zak, Andrew Arnold, Nicholas Parlee, and Nathan Parlee. Bill was the great-grandfather of 11 great-grandchildren.
He was the dear brother of Heather J. Parlee of Reading, MA, and the late Deanna Frost.
Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend his funeral on Friday, January 12, 2024, beginning with a time for visitation from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro, MA, followed by a funeral service in celebration of Bill's life at 12:00 PM in the funeral home. The Reverend Bernard Hinckley will officiate, and Masonic funeral rites will be performed.
Interment with United States Air Force honors will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 2:30 PM in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 185 Lake Street, Peabody, MA, where Bill will be laid to rest with his late wife, Ruth.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Bill's name may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children by mailing a check to Shriners Children's, Attn: Shriners Children's, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394, or online by visiting www.shrinerschildrens.org.