Dale Paul Parnell
July 16, 1928 to April 20, 2017

Leading founder of the Oregon Community College system, Dr. Dale Paul Parnell, was welcomed into the house of the Lord on April 20, 2017 at 88 years of age.

Born in Monmouth, Oregon on July 16, 1928 to Archie and Hattie Parnell, he spent his childhood in the Salem area, eventually settling on the property now home to the Capital Manor retirement community.

Dale attended West Salem Elementary School, Leslie Junior High and Salem High School until his sophomore year when his parents moved to Pasadena, California where he graduated at the age of 16 from Pasadena Academy.

Dale attended Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California), then migrated north to graduate from Willamette University in 1951. He received his advanced degrees (M.Ed., 1956, D.Ed., 1964) from the University of Oregon.

Dale met his life’s love, Beverly Lush, at the age of 13 during a chance meeting at Twin Rocks Summer Camp on the Oregon Coast. Dale often reminisced on their first meeting, recalling how he bragged at camp, “See that girl over there? I want to marry someone like that.” Dale and Beverly married in 1947. Together they raised five children, instilling in each a love for Christ and family.

Dale began his career in education, encouraging students as both a teacher and coach for two years at Salem Academy. The family then moved in 1951 to Springfield, Oregon where he continued to teach and coach, later serving as Vice Principal and Principal of Springfield High School respectively. In 1960 he became Lane County Superintendent of Schools. During that time he worked tirelessly to advocate for the development of Community Colleges in Oregon, becoming the founding President of Lane Community College in 1964.

Governor Tom McCall appointed Dale State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1968, where he served for six years bettering the Oregon education system. In 1974 Dale served as the Chancellor of San Diego Community College and became the President of San Joaquin Delta Community College in 1976.

He was appointed as the President of the American Association of Community Colleges with offices in Washington D.C. in 1981, representing the nation’s community, technical and junior colleges, along with a collection of international institutions.

Dale served under five United States presidents, working closest with President George Bush Sr. on multiple occasions as an advisor on education issues. He served as President of the American Association of Community Colleges for 10 years before moving back to Oregon in 1991. During his time in Washington he wrote the book “The Neglected Majority” reflecting on the neglected students in the American education system.

After his time in Washington D.C., Dale joined the Oregon State University faculty helping to establish the Western Center for Community College Development. Upon retirement in 1997, Dale spent two years as a visiting professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

In 1999 Dale and Beverly moved to Eagle Crest in Central Oregon before making their final move to Capital Manor in Salem in 2003. They were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Salem.

To his 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grand children Dale was known as Papa. He is survived by his daughters Susan Shields and Teresa Parnell, and his sons Paul Parnell, Steven Parnell and Timothy Parnell.

Dale will be remembered not only as a visionary in the educational community, but as a loving patriarch who inspired and touched the lives of all who knew him.

Dale’s love Beverly preceded him in death on November 23, 2016. A joint celebration of life in remembrance of Dale and Beverly will be held on May 13, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Capital Manor. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Capital Manor Foundation, 1955 Dallas Highway NW, Salem, Oregon. Arrangements and internment are at the Restlawn Funeral Home in West Salem.