Norvel Edwin Swallie

Norvel Edwin “Ernie” Swallie, age 83, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away on Friday, April 7, 2023. Adventurous, boisterous and larger than life, Ernie’s outgoing nature ensured that he quickly made friends in airports, at events, on cruise ships - truly everywhere he went. Ernie had a punchline for every situation, a quip for every occasion, and a contagious laugh.

Ernie was born in Vernal, Utah on September 21, 1939 to Willetta Wilson and Lester Raymond Swallie. He was born to wander and explore. His father worked as a welder, and the family moved almost continuously throughout his childhood following construction jobs. Ernie attended schools all across the western United States, often attending for only a week or two before moving on. A dauntless child, Ernie was always involved in a project - engineering a DIY gun or constructing homemade swimming flippers. He was obsessed with flight and nurtured a hobby of building and flying gasoline-engine model airplanes.

Ernie’s love of flight inspired him to join the United States Air Force at just 17 years of age. Stationed in Denver, Colorado, Ernie worked on aircraft avionics and as an Air Force target drone pilot. During this time, his intrepid nature led him to rallye racing, a type of automobile competition where he and a navigator raced against other teams, attempting to keep to a predetermined schedule of checkpoints. He also became interested in photography, a hobby he pursued throughout his life. After leaving the Air Force, Ernie continued his career in aircraft avionics in the civil service at Hill Field in Ogden Utah.

In 1963, Ernie was recruited by Sperry Univac, based out of St. Paul Minneapolis. He worked “in the field” on Navy computer systems. Ernie was stationed in Japan, Vietnam, and Hawaii, and worked off of various aircraft carriers. His love of aviation continued, and he was an avid flight club member. While stationed in Hawaii, he received not only his private pilot rating, but his instrument rating, multi-engine rating and flight instructor rating. It was also at this time that he met and married kindred spirit Anne Roney, and the two of them began adventuring together. His career took them around the globe. After 26 years with the company, Ernie retired as the West Coast Director of Sperry Univac/Unisys in San Diego, California.

Even after retirement, Ernie was never content to sit still. Entrepreneurial by nature, he and Anne went on to own and operate hair styling salons, computer network training and internet businesses in California, Washington and Nevada, in addition to a successful second career as a day trader. His love of exploration and photography ensured that they continued traveling extensively for pleasure in Asia, Europe, and North and South America; Ernie’s life reads like a travelog.

After settling in Las Vegas, Ernie grew restless, wanting to take to the skies again. He purchased a light-sport aircraft and was soon operating a thriving flight school. In the last years of his life, Ernie spent nearly every day at the hangar and in the air. He continued taking up flight students until the very end.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Anne Swallie, his daughter Leann (Tory) Thoen, his brother Norman (Nancy) Swallie, his sister Patti (Wendell) Choy, grandchildren Erik, Andrew, Samuel and Megan, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. As he continues on to the next grand adventure, he will be missed by all.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Swallie family.