Walter Norman Pirie, Col Retired

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of RCAF Col (retired) Walter Norman Pirie, age 83, on October 12th, 2025. Walt will be missed by his family and his many friends, both old and new.

He is survived by his loving wife Marjorie, daughter Catherine, son-in-law David, grandson Mark, sister Sharron Scott, nieces, nephews and their children on both sides of the family. He was predeceased by his parents George and Evelyn Pirie, and his brother Grant Pirie.

Military Life

Walt was born in Halifax, NS, November 3, 1941. He grew up next to the forests surrounding northeast Halifax and spent a great deal of his youth in the woods, becoming the youngest Queen Scout in Canada.

After graduating high school, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 17.

He flew F86 Sabres with 427 Sqn at the Zweibrücken NATO Air Base in West Germany (1961–63) and with 441 Sqn at RCAF Station Marville in France until Sep 1963.

Walt moved back to Canada as a flight instructor at Centralia, ON and Portage La Prairie, MB (1963–69), followed by 3 years as a Canadian Forces Recruiting Officer in Halifax, NS and training in CFB Cold Lake.

He returned to Germany as a CF104 Starfighter pilot with 439 Sqn at CFB Baden Soellingen (1973–75) and a Staff Officer at 1 CAG Headquarters in Lahr, Germany, (1975–77) where he was a member of Canada’s winning team flying the CF104 as part of 4ATAF’s team at the 1976 Allied Tactical Air Meet.

Walt returned to Canada as a CF104 Instructor with 417 Sqn in Cold Lake, AB, (1977–80). He then graduated from the Canadian Forces Staff College in Toronto, ON (1980–81).

He returned to Germany, as Deputy Operations Officer and Flight Safety Officer at CFB Baden Soellingen, Germany (1981–86) and continued to fly the CF104. He joined the 4^th Allied Tactical Air Force headquarters, Heidelburg, Germany until his return to the National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa in 1986.

Walt was Head of the Canada / United States Section of the Directorate of Military Plans Coordination (1986–89). He completed his military duty as a Career Manager for Lieutenant Colonel Pilots, Navigators, Air Traffic Controllers, Air Weapons Controllers, & Aerospace Engineers (1990–93).

Walt transferred to the Air Force Primary Reserves and served as Air Command’s Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel Liaison at NDHQ (1993–96) and as Air Command’s Director of Personnel during the transition of the Air Command from Winnipeg to Ottawa (1996–97).

Col Walt Pirie retired from the Canadian Air Force with 38 years of service in November 1997.

After retirement, Walt was contracted by the Canadian Air force to serve as the Air Force representative to the Canadian Forces Y2K Operational Readiness Program as the Canadian lead for Canada / United States bilateral readiness (1998–2000). He served as Special Advisor to the Chief of the Air Staff / Commander of AIR Command (2001–04), where he was responsible, among other things, for the coordination of the Air Force Honourary Colonel Program.

Walt was a member of the Executive of the 427 Squadron Association from 2013.

Walt was proud to be the Chairman of the Sabre Pilots Association of the Air Division Squadrons (SPAADS) from 2009 until his death. He was honoured to participate in many reunions, events and ceremonies commemorating the RCAF and celebrating his colleagues. 

Walt appreciated the opportunities the RCAF gave him and his family. “I was part of the RCAF’s Golden Age when we flew leading-edge fighter jets and defending against a global nuclear war was a priority.”

Family Life

While stationed at RCAF Centralia, ON after his first overseas posting, Walt, the dashing young pilot from Halifax, met Marjorie Lane, a classy, red-headed interior designer, also from Halifax. The relationship blossomed and Walt married the love of his life six months later. A few years later, they welcomed a baby girl, Catherine.

Thanks to Walt’s many military postings, the family had the opportunity to experience Canada from their hometown on the Atlantic coast to bustling Ontario cities, the Manitoba prairies and the lakes and wilderness of Northern Alberta, crossing the country many times by car or train.

During their multiple postings in Germany, the family toured Europe, pulling a trailer through cobblestone streets, skiing in the Alps, visiting famous cities and landmarks and making memories and lifelong friends. They brought the food and traditions of the Schwarzwald and Alsace regions home to Canada.

Retirement

During retirement, Walt and Marj enjoyed travelling with family and friends along the Atlantic coast and visiting his mother, sister and her family in Calgary. Golfing became a priority for them, with Walt organizing or joining many golfing trips with his buddies.

They turned their backyard into an outdoor oasis and were always ready to host friends and neighbours with a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Walt was a true family man. He supported Marj’s lifelong pursuits of art and design. He was proud of his daughter, Catherine, an industrial designer and entrepreneur. He celebrated her marriage to David, a software developer from England. Walt loved spending holidays and milestones with his family at the cottage, swimming in the lake and skiing in the surrounding hills.

The highlight of Walt’s retirement years was the arrival of his grandson Mark. He enjoyed sharing stories about flying and talking to Mark’s class about living and working in Europe during the Cold War. One of his proudest moments was watching Mark play the saxophone in the school band at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, underneath the planes he flew, to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the RCAF.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hall of Colours at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, located at 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa. The interment will take place at 1 p.m. at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces, within Beechwood Cemetery. A reception and Celebration of Life will follow at Beechwood until 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Air Cadet League of Canada or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.