Charles "CAP" Allen Parlier II
July 6, 1948 ~ January 19, 2026
Charles Allen Parlier, II, “CAP,” son of Doris and Charles Parlier, older brother of Jonathan and Melissa, was born on July 6, 1948, in Reedley, California. He received his nickname, CAP, an acronym of his initials from his mother. In his early years he developed a love of sports, playing football in school for a future NFL hall of fame coach, Dick Vermeil. He was also a 4-year varsity All-American swimmer in High School. In 1966 Cap was accepted to and attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Upon his graduation he joined a Reconnaissance unit with the Marine Corps and also flew Cobra helicopters.
In 1981, Cap transitioned to the Reserves and became a Hughes Helicopters test pilot for the Apache, which is where he met his love, Jeanne Loe. Cap and Jeanne were married in Fountain Hills, Arizona on June 14, 1984. Together they traveled to many places living in Arizona, Kansas, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
After a fifteen-year battle with Cancer, Cap passed peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Cap is preceded in death by his beloved mother, father, and brother.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; four children, Jacy (Tracy), Courtney, Tyson (Melissa), and Taylor (Sherri); seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild with a second expected soon.
Though no services are planned, his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
Arrangements in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
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I knew Cap professionally, as a test pilot. He was a great guy, a true professional in a very demanding field. The Apache helicopter is as good as it is because of Cap and his peers at Hughes (now Boeing). But perhaps Cap’s best achievement was how he rallied many of us in an attempt to save the life of a Russian test pilot who was injured by radiation at Chernobyl. Anatoly Grischenko was very sick with cancer, the result of flying helicopters that sealed the reactor and covered the radiation that threatened the world back in the 1980’s. Cap came up with the idea and raised the money from many of us in the US to bring him here for advanced therapy. Google “Chernobyl victim in U.S. for surgery” for a Tampa Bay Times article that discusses the events. Cap was a true prince, in my book.
Jeanne, you and Cap are dear friends and we are so very very sad that Cap has passed. You both are so very talented and creative. I loved working with you buying and selling homes. A Wonderful couple❣️❣️ Cap was truly an amazing guy with so many talents, from piloting to writing interesting and delightful books. It was always fun to visit with him. I usually learned something new each time. I can not even imagine your grief Jeanne, but I pray God gives you courage, strength, and hope. Love you 🥰🥰Peggy and Tom Church
Cap was another of those great pilots that I worked with from Hughes to Boeing. Without those like Cap the Apache never would have been the great helicopter that it is today. It is sad to see him leave so early in life.
Jeanne,
My sincerest condolences to you and your family! I have wonderful memories of Cap at the Naval Academy … our career paths took us in opposite directions but I always thought of him as a true friend and classmate! May God bless you and your family in the days ahead!
Charlie Young
Jeanne and all the family,
Sara, Bob, and I send our thoughts, prayers, and love and celebration of so many wonderful memories. Cap and I interacted so many times throughout our careers, as Marines at Pax River through TPS and on the AH-1T, bringing Cap out of the USMC to Hughes to share many flights in the YAH-64 and AH-64A testing, apartment roommates in Yuma testing Apache and getting to know Jeanne, Cap sharing one of our bedrooms when we moved to Yuma, helping Bob in Yuma in scouting and before going to USNA, classified work over many years, your family moving to Wichita to join Beech, sending Cap to the UK as my most trusted executive, helping him go to Emery Riddle as President in Prescott, convincing y’all to come to Italy with Piaggio, advice from Cap on writing my first book and on and on. I was so fortunate to have talked to CAP the Thursday before his passing sharing about the power of prayer, and we relived some of those memories. Semper Fi and Rest in peace my friend! You will be missed.
May you find comfort in the love you and Cap shared and the memories you made. Sending prayers at this sad time.