Kenneth John Parry

Kenneth John Parry, after a life well lived and in his 94th year, passed away peacefully at his home in Surrey BC, on Sept. 10, 2016.

Born and raised in Vancouver,  Ken attended King Edward High School and upon graduation began work as an apprentice with Boeing Aircraft wing shop located in what was known as 'the flats' area in Vancouver.  It was at this time that he, with the help of his sister Babe, constructed a home built Pietenpol Sky Scout in his father's garage.  Thus began his lifelong love of aviation. 

Joining the war effort, Ken enlisted in the RCAF in 1943 as an air-gunner later transferring to the RCA Artillery.  In Dec. 1944 he married his high-school sweetheart Elizabeth (Betty) Brooks.  Following the end of the war Ken and Betty returned to Vancouver where Ken earned a Masters degree in physics from UBC.  Embarking on his career, he joined the National Research Council and he and Betty re-located to Ottawa.  With the discovery of the Leduc oilfield in Alberta and the emergence of the use of seismic as a discovery tool, Ken left the NRC and began employment as a geophysicist. 

This marked the beginning of a 48 year long career in the energy industry commencing with Western Geophysical in Calgary followed by Petrobras in Brazil.  Living in Rio de Janeiro with 2 small children and a third on the way, Betty, as CEO of the family, decided it was time to return to Canada where Ken began employment with Sun Oil Company, the forerunner of Suncor Energy.  Ken worked for many years exploring for oil and gas in western Canada, the Canadian Arctic and later off the east coast of Newfoundland.  His time with Suncor took him to Philadelphia for 5 years and then back to Calgary for the remainder of his career.  

Ken retired from Suncor in 1983, marking the occasion by riding his bicycle from Calgary to Vancouver in 7 days.  Following his retirement, he and Betty moved back to the west coast settling into their home on what remained of the 'Brooks Farm' on Pike Road in Surrey where Betty had been raised.  In 1988, they re-located to their beloved 'Camelot' property in Surrey where Ken lived until his passing.   Ken was an active pilot earning his private license in 1963 and co-founding, with his son David, Langley Flying School which operated successfully out of Langley Airport for 21 years prior to its sale in October of 2015. 

Ken had a wide circle of friends but was always happiest when surrounded by his family,  preparing his special chicken cacciatore (he was very proud of his Italian heritage) preceded, always, by a martini or two.  He leaves behind the love of his life and best friend Elizabeth (Betty) Parry (nee Brooks) and will be greatly missed by his devoted sister Margherita (Babe) Leech, and his loving sons John (Lynda Achen),  Kenneth and David (Alison Thompson).  He is also survived by his grandchildren Sterling, Keanna (Felix and Rocco),  Annie, Zoa, David, and Keagan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  Ken was predeceased by his parents John and Mary Parry (Zinini) and his brother Ross Parry.   Rest in Peace Dad, you will be missed.  A family celebration of Ken's life will be held in Surrey, BC over the Thanksgiving weekend.  

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.