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___ PCN FLIGHT WEST is sponsored by the Pilot Communication Network and is a service of the PCN provided for the Delta Pilot Retired family of pilot groups. Flight West was started and is maintained to accomplish two main goals. After we become aware of a colleague who has Flown West, 1. We aim to produce a “timely” notice sent to our community that allows for support and interaction from our group toward the grieving family of our friend and colleague. 2. Then, we aim to “archive” that notice on our Flown West Blogspot as a lasting accessible place of Dignity and Honor of our colleague for family legacy and posterity. Contributor contact info is generally removed before posting (unless requested otherwise).

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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

DL Capt. George Truett Flynt Sr.

~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. George Truett Flynt Sr.
August 7, 1927 ~ July 20, 2016
Notification with the passing of Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta pilot Captain George T. 'Catfish' Flynt, age 88.  Captain Flynt joined Delta Air Lines 09-02-1952 and retired in 1987, based Atlanta.  Captain Flynt was widowed just eight months ago with the passing of his wife Donna.
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?n=George-Truett-Flynt&pid=180762954   The Flynts had most recently resided at 
111 Royal Garden Terrace ,  Madison  MS 39110-7635.
Services for Captain Flynt will be held July 25th in Madison, Mississippi...please see obituary for details.
            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN 
Obituary...................
Mr. George Truett Flynt, Sr., age 88, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2016 surrounded by his sons at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM Monday, July 25, 2016 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Madison with a memorial service to follow at 10:00 AM.
Mr. Flynt was born in Mount Olive, MS to Delia Harrington and Eldry Thomas Flynt on August 7, 1927. George grew up in Mount Olive, where he attended Mount Olive High School, playing football and graduating in 1948. After serving in the Army, he went to Spartan School of Aeronautics in Miami, OK where he received all his pilot training and ratings. George initially owned and operated a crop dusting business before joining Delta Airlines in 1952. He retired as a Captain from Delta in 1987 after 34 years of service.
He is survived by his sons, George Richard (Stephanie Paige), Scott Roper Flynt, George Truett, Jr. and Wesley Wade Flynt (Christy); brother, John A. Flynt (Janice); three grandsons, one great grandson and one great granddaughter.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Donna Flynt, in which they were married for 57 years.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be sent to the Baptist Children's Village in Ridgeland, MS.
    Funeral Home : Natchez Trace Cemetery Funeral Home & Crematory
        759 Hwy 51 Madison, MS 39110  ...  (601) 898-8565
.Published in Clarion Ledger on July 24, 2016
===========================

~ IN MEMORY ~
Donna Roper Flynt, wife of DL Capt. George T. Flynt
May 29, 1934 ~ November 26, 2015

DL Capt. Carlos Edward Emmons

~ IN MEMORY ~
DL pilot Carlos Edward Emmons
August 13, 1958  ~  July 18, 2016
 
 
Notification with the passing of Delta pilot Carlos Edward Emmons, age 57.  Captain Emmons joined Delta Air Lines 03-18-1991 and was based ATL.  He is survived by his wife Susan.
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral home website at http://www.almonfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1829950 
The online obituary may also be viewed at http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Carlos-Edward-Emmons-103778184 
Personal condolences may be sent to the family at
2385 Battle Drive , Villa Rica, GA 30180-8012  ...  (770) 830-9778.
            Thank you,
                ~ Carol for the PCN 
 
Obituary......................

Mr. Carlos Edward Emmons, age 57 of Villa Rica, Georgia passed away Monday, July 18, 2016.
Mr. Emmons was born in Bogota Colombia, South America on August 13, 1958, the son of the late Harry Irving Emmons and
Margarita Venegas Emmons. He was a loving husband and father who loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, flying and horseback
riding as well as watching Colombia and USA soccer. He was a pilot for Delta Airlines for 25 years. He received his Bachelor Degree in
Electrical Engineering at The Ohio State University and he attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Susan A. Emmons; daughter, Chelsea Emmons and son, Jack Emmons all of Villa Rica; several
nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family in Colombia, South America. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his half
brothers, Robert and Harry Emmons.
The family will receive friends at Almon Funeral Home on Friday from 10 a.m. until the service hour.
Memorial service will be Friday, July 22, 2016 at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Almon Funeral Home.
Inurnment will be in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Candler Field Flying Club, 349 Jonathan's Roost Road, Williamson, GA 32566.

NWA Capt. Bernard R. Phillips (Mandelkern)

~ IN MEMORY ~
NWA Capt. Bernard R. Phillips (Mandelkern)
July 18, 1941 ~ June 12, 2016
 


Word has been received with the passing of RNPA member retired Northwest pilot Captain Bernard Richard Phillips, age 75.  Captain Phillips joined Northwest Airlines 05-27-1987.  (note... Capt. Phillips changed his last name from Mandelkern to Phillips during his time at NWA)  
Captain Phillips obituary may be viewed online at http://www.aspentimes.com/news/obituaries/22918236-113/bernard-richard-phillips  which indicates a date of death as June 12, 2016. 
Celebratory memorial services will be held August 15th in Aspen, Colorado...please see obituary for details.   
            Thank you,
                ~ Carol for the PCN   


Bernard Richard Phillips, 74, died Sunday, June 12, 2016, following a brief illness. Raised in Buffalo, New York, Bernard attended Park School and subsequently received a B.A. degree in Mathematics from the University of New York at Buffalo. After additional studies at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, Bernard Joined the Coast Guard where he was deployed for a year to Antarctica as a celestial cartographer. He then transitioned to a position as a pilot with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA), National Hurricane Center, until his retirement as a Lt. Commander. However, his love of flying remained unabated; he quickly secured employment as a commercial pilot with Northwest Airlines where he retired as Captain.

From: William Day [mailto:wlday@comcast.net]  Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 9:53 AM
Subject: Retired NWA pilot Bernard Phillips (Mandelkern) has flown west

Retired NWA captain Bernard Phillips (Mandelkern), age 75 passed away on July 12, 2016 in Aspen Colorado. Bernard was hired by NWA on May 27, 1987 after retired a US Coast Guard Lt./CMDR serving as an aircraft pilot with NOAA. He is survived by his sister Susan Mandelkern.
Raised in Buffalo, New York, Bernard attended Park School and subsequently received a B.A. degree in Mathematics from the University of New York at Buffalo. After additional studies at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, Bernard Joined the Coast Guard where he was deployed for a year to Antarctica as a celestial cartographer. He then transitioned to a position as a pilot with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA), National Hurricane Center, until his retirement as a Lt. Commander. However, his love of flying remained unabated; he quickly secured employment as a commercial pilot with Northwest Airlines where he retired as Captain.
Bernard was a worldwide traveler and relished an active lifestyle. An avid skier and ski instructor, he could often be seen on the Vail and Aspen slopes. When not on the slopes, he pursued his other passion, music. He played the cello throughout his adult life, participating in numerous chamber groups and orchestras. He was most recently a member of Symphony in the Valley and High Country Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra. As all who knew him could attest, Bernard had an intense love of life and treasured the Aspen community. He is survived by his sister, Susan Mandelkern. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Mandelkern; his parents Bernard and Rivka Mandelkern; both parents were former violinists with the Buffalo Philharmonic.
A celebratory memorial will be held on Monday, August 15, 2016 at 4:00 P.M., at the Mountain Chalet, 333 East Durant Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611. Contributions can be made to the Amyloidosis Foundation. In addition, the Bernard Phillips Fund has been established through the Episcopal Church of Christ, 536 W. North Street, Aspen, CO 81611. The Church houses Music in the West End. Donations may be made to the Christ Episcopal Church with a designation on the memo “Bernard Phillips Memorial Concert Fund.”

DL Capt. John Ray Bunnell

~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. John Ray Bunnell
January 4, 1956 ~ July 24, 2016

Notification with the passing of Delta pilot Captain John Ray Bunnell, age 60, son of Delta pilot Captain E. Raymond Bunnell.  Captain John Bunnell joined Delta Air Lines 07-06-1979.  John's father Ray joined Delta Air Lines 08-01-1942.
Please note Celebration of Life services on July 30th at 2:00 p.m., Roswell Funeral Home of Roswell, Georgia with visitation the evening prior. 
Interment will follow services on July 30th, Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, Georgia.
To the best of my knowledge, the home address for personal condolences would be
140 Harper Cove Drive ,  Roswell  GA 30075-3349
            Thank you,
                ~ Carol for the PCN  
Obituary...................................

Delta Air Lines Captain John Ray Bunnell, 60, of Marietta, GA passed away on July 24, 2016. A lifelong resident of the Atlanta area, he was born in East Point on January 4, 1956 to Captain Ray Bunnell and Meta Inman Bunnell. He attended Briarwood High School and graduated from Auburn University in 1978 with a degree in Aviation Management. He followed in his father's footsteps becoming a Delta Air Lines pilot. John served as a Delta pilot for 37 years and his father flew for Delta for 37 ½ years for combined continuous "Bunnell" service of 74 years. His passions were aviation, music, sports, travel and cruising with the love of his life, his wife Cheryl J. Bunnell.
His spirit continues through his wife Cheryl, his sister Kristen Baker and brother-in-law Jim Baker of Woodstock, a nephew John Brian Gibson of Villa Rica and his wife Jaqui Gibson, niece Jennifer Gibson Miller of Woodstock and her fiancé John Thorsen, a great-niece Katherine Gibson, and a great-nephew JP Miller. He will be missed by family and friends of whom he had many.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Roswell Funeral Home at 950 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA. Services will be at the same location on Saturday, July 30, at 2:00 p.m. followed by interment at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway NW. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John's memory to the Delta Flight Museum at http://www.deltamuseum.org.support 

NWA Capt. George E. Stevenson

~ IN MEMORY ~
WWII veteran, NWA Capt. George E. Stevenson
October 21, 1924 ~ July 19, 2016
 
To sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral home website at
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN 

From: RNPA News Sent: Monday, July 25, 2016 5:27 PM  Subject:  George Stevenson Has Flown West.


I regret to report that NWA pilot and RNPA member George Stevenson has passed away at age 91. There will be a memorial service Wednesday, July 27th, at 11AM at Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 147th & Garrett in Apple Valley. Visitation will be ½ hour before the service. More details can be found in the St. Paul Pioneer Press obituary at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=george-e-stevenson&pid=180764775&fhid=12852


George E. STEVENSON


1924 - 2016 Obituary Condolences



Age 91, WWII Veteran, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2016. Preceded in death by wife, Rosemary; parents, Glenn and Linda Stevenson; sister, Florence Boughton; and brother, William "Bill". Survived by children, Chris Anderson and Judy Canepa; grandchildren, Tracey Costales, Derek (Amanda) Sanft, Erin (Keith) Martin, Nicolle (Joe) Marx, Annie Anderson and DJ Anderson; and great-grandchildren, Allison, Tyson, Luke, Colton, Emma and Emily. George graduated from John Marshall Sr. High in 1942. In December of that year, he began his aviation career by enlisting in the Army Air Corps where he entered the aviation cadet pilot training program and became an aircraft commander with the 529th Bomb Squad, 380th Bomb Group and 5th AF. He joined Northwest Airlines in 1947 as a ground agent and then began his 36 year commercial flying career in 1948. After retirement at age 60, he enjoyed building and flying experimental aircraft. Memorial service Wednesday 11 AM at Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 147th & Garrett, Apple Valley with visitation 1/2 hour before. Interment Fort Snelling. Memorials to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, PO Box 23827, Tampa, FL 33623-3827. Henry W. Anderson 952-432-2331 www.HenryWAnderson.com
Published in Pioneer Press on July 24, 2016
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=george-e-stevenson&pid=180764775&fhid=12852#sthash.fIK2ICa4.dpuf

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Death of Millie the Stewardess, wife of DL Pilot John McDonald, ret.



  ~~In Memory~~
Millie the Stewardess 
Mildred McDonald
Aug 20, 1929 -- Jul 8, 2016



 I wish to thank Susan, Millie's daughter, for passing along the sad news of Millie's passing just before her 87th birthday.  Note: I will forward more information including  addresses if shared.




Mildred  McDonald
August 20, 1929 – July 8, 2016



            Mildred McDonald, beloved wife, mother and sister, passed away Friday July 8 at the age of 86. 
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she was a first generation American, the second of six children of Andrew and Marie Pilch.  Millie was a graduate of Wright Junior College and worked several years as a secretary for a bank inside Chicago's “Loop”.
            In 1952 on a visit to the Chicago airport, she talked her way into an impromptu interview with a Delta Airlines recruiter and was hired as a stewardess.  Against family advice, she moved south to Atlanta, Georgia, and traveled throughout the southern United States in Delta's fleet of DC-3 airplanes.    It was a job she loved, and one which took full advantage of Millie's smile and outgoing personality.
She married John McDonald, a graduate of Georgia Tech and native of Ashburn, Georgia, in 1953.  They spent their early married life in Detroit, Michigan, where John worked for the Chrysler Corporation, but moved back (happily) to Atlanta in 1957, when he was hired as a pilot for Delta Airlines.
            As a wife and career homemaker, Millie raised four daughters and took an active role in their lives, serving many times as room mother or field-trip volunteer in their schools.  She was also an accomplished seamstress, producing not only dozens of outfits for herself and her daughters, but also several sets of sparkling majorette uniforms.  Millie and John lived for over 40 years in the Lake Spivey community south of Atlanta and were members of the Jonesboro United Methodist Church.  They both loved to travel and visited locations in Europe and Asia by air, plus many destinations throughout North America in their RV after John retired.  In 2007, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and settled in the Hampton Cove neighborhood.  In April of this year John and Millie celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary.
            Millie leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband John, her daughter Susan and husband Carlos Carvajal (Huntsville, AL), her daughter Karen and husband Robert Nash (Jonesboro, GA), her daughter Janet (Atlanta, GA), her daughter Lisa and husband David McNamee (Oldsmar, FL), plus six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  The family plans a Celebration of Life gathering for family and friends in Jonesboro, GA, on August 20, which would have been her eighty-seventh birthday.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Millie's memory to the Huntsville Botanical Garden or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (nationalmssociety.org).
            (The August 20 gathering will be from 4-8pm at Bob and Karen's house)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Mark Sztanyo, PCN Dir
death@pilotcommunication.net

Monday, July 18, 2016

NWA Capt. Garrett L. Redeske

~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Garrett L. Redeske
February 18, 1941 ~ July 12, 2016
 
 


Notification with the passing of RNPA member retired Northwest pilot Captain Garrett Lynn Redeske, age 75.  Captain Redeske joined Northwest Airlines 09-09-1968.  He is survived by his wife Lesia.

Services for Captain Redeske will be conducted Thursday July 21st in Florida....please see obituary below. 
Personal condolences may be sent to the family at
12514 Clendenning Drive , Tampa  FL 33618-8707
            Thank you,
                ~ Carol for the PCN
 
Memorial Service : Thursday, July 21, 2016 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church , 2902 W Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33618
 
Committal Service : Thursday, July 21, 2016 | 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Florida National Cemetery , 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513
 
Obituary : REDESKE, Garrett Lynn, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 12, 2016. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy in June 1959. From there, he began his college career at the University of Minnesota in September 1959. His engineering courses in Chemistry, Math and Physics as well as Biostatistics from the U of M Medical School helped Garrett obtain his job with Pillsbury Flour Mills in 1962, whose world headquarters was in Minneapolis, setting up statistical quality control procedures for Pillsbury world-wide.
 
In June 1963, with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, with minors in math and nuclear physics and part of his master’s in biostatistics, he began working for Eastman Kodak Co. in the Rochester, NY research laboratories, setting up statistical computerized experimental designs for research. Using these designs, he solved a six year old problem with the “Recordak Reader Printer” in just eight weeks.
 
In June 1964, with the Viet Nam War expanding, he had his critical skill deferment from Kodak, but joined the US Air Force to become a pilot. Garrett went to Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. After graduation he was sent to Moody AFB, GA for fifty three weeks of pilot training. He began in T-37 subsonic jets, and with only eight hours of jet time, he soloed. But future echoes of his aviation career happened. On Garrett's original solo, the right engine exploded, taking part of the wing with it as it left the plane and fell into the swamp. By the time he landed this cripple at Moody, the whole base, including the base commander were there. They later found the engine and found the turbine shaft had seized causing the failure.
 
Graduating to T-38 aircraft, the same supersonic aircraft today’s Astronauts fly, he was assigned to fly supersonic chase on the Atlas rocket with the Aegena payload from Patrick AFB, at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Immediately upon graduation Garrett was assigned to Cannon AFB, New Mexico for combat training in the F-100 Super Sabre, the first aircraft in the world capable of level sustained supersonic flight. At the White Sands Missile and Bombing Range, he practiced many air to air “dogfights”, air to ground ordinance delivery, including rockets, bombs CBU (cluster bomb units) and strafing with our 20MM cannons putting 6,000 rounds a minute. Garrett also practiced very low altitude nuclear weapons delivery. The F-100 could deliver a 1.4 megaton yield hydrogen bomb, about 140 times the blast force of the Hiroshima bomb.
 
Garrett went to Homestead AFB, south Florida and sat alert in my F-100 with an armed 1.4 megaton hydrogen bomb, destination…Cuba. Later, He was sent to Viet Nam, where he fought through “TET” and raids to the north. He was part of the “Mistys”, decoys for the SAMs for the F-105 aircraft out of Thailand. As the SAMs fired at them, they radioed the bearing and distance from our F-100s back to the F-105s so they would destroy the SAM sites for the B-52 bombers. They lost 40% of the pilots, killed in action, in his squadron during the first 60 days in Viet Nam. Major George “Bud” Day, a holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor, became now Senator John McCain’s cellmate in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton”.
 
Garrett flew his last mission in Viet Nam on August 21, 1968, and began his pilot career on September 9, 1968, with Northwest Airlines in Boeing 727 aircraft. In December 1969, he began checking out in the new Boeing 747. Beginning in 1970, Garrett had more B-747 flight simulator time than any other pilot and was training flight instructors in the B-747 simulator operation.
 
In May 1974, Garrett was selected by Northwest Airlines to be one of three pilots to crew the aircraft flying Queen Elizabeth of England’s sister, Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord of Snowdon, during their tour of the United States. Through the years and several “unique” emergency situations occurred, and his conduct of the in-flight emergencies were adopted into part of the emergency section of the aircraft operating manuals.
 
During his career at Northwest Airlines, he was fortunate enough to fly to every continent on earth, except the Antarctica, he didn’t get along with penguins! He enjoyed the land, the people, and their customs. He never found anything that he couldn’t like. Garrett was based in places like Honolulu, HI, Anchorage, AK, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, Mpls, MN, Detroit, MI, New York, NY, and Boston, MA. I flew to all the cities people read and dream about such as Paris, London, Oslo, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Tokyo Beijing, Manila, Singapore to name just a few. He snow skied in the Swiss Alps, Vermont, New York, Aspen Colorado, Lake Tahoe and Mauna Kea in Hawaii. he also scuba dived at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Red Sea at Elat’, Israel, Florida, Cancun, and Honomma Bay and Waikiki Hawaii. He hiked over glaciers in Alaska to along the spouting lava rim of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. Garrett retired from Northwest Airlines in 1995.
 
Garret is survived by his loving wife of 16 years, Lesia; children, Tom Redeske and his wife, Nickie, Nels Redeske, Tiffany Goff, Brandi Goff, Billy Goff and three grandchildren, Abby, E.J, and Jayden.
 

A memorial service will be held 11am, Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church with Military Honors rendered 2:30pm at the Florida National Cemetery.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Death of Mr Hollis L. Harris, Former DL President and COO

       ~~ In Memory ~~
       Hollis Loyd Harris
November 25, 1931 - July 14, 2016

I wish to thank Sue Zino and others who have informed the PCN of the sad news about Mr. Hollis Harris.  One of Delta's most outstanding leaders and always a friend to the pilot group, Hollis will be dearly missed.  Please see below for sending condolences of service information.  





From: Sue Zino
Date: 7/15/2016 10:30:57 AM
To:  Mark Sztanyo; 
Subject: Passing of Hollis Harris                                                 
We sadly report the passing of Hollis Harris on July 14th.  Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Address for the Harris Family: The Harris Family, c/o Patti Ayers, 608 Wingspread, Peachtree City, GA 30269-3363

Online condolences: www.mowellfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?page=documents&user_id=1828024&MAIN_EVENT=MEMSOL&SUB_EVENT=SIGN_GUESTBOOK

Posted by Hollis' son, Jeff, on Facebook.
Hollis Loyd Harris - (November 25, 1931 - July 14, 2016)  
Visitation: Sunday, July 17 between 4pm-7pm at C.J. Mowell Funeral Home in Peachtree City (200 Robinson Rd., Peachtree City, GA 30269 | (770) 487.3959).

Funeral Service: Monday, July 18 at 1:00pm at Peachtree City First Presbyterian Church (206 Willowbend Rd., Peachtree City, GA 30269 | (770) 487.7757.  Reception at the Church from 2pm-4pm.  Graveside 4pm.

Dad passed peacefully this morning in his sleep.  Thank you for all the wonderful acknowledgements, comments and shares.  RIP Dad.  You are free from the bonds of this earth and now at peace with Mom once again.  God speed!  
"HIGH FLIGHT" John Magee, Jr.
"Oh!  I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of. --Wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.  Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air...Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue.  I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace where never lark or even eagle flew - and while with silent lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand, and touched the face of God."  Amen

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Piedmont Fayette Cancer Wellness in honor of Hollis Harris, 2001 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30309.  Donations may also be made on the following website ... https://donate.piedmont.org.  See instructions below





Delta remembers Hollis Harris, respected Delta executive and industry leader
Posted on DeltaNet 07/14/2016
Hollis Harris, Delta's former President and Chief Operating Officer and a legendary figure in the airline industry, passed away Wednesday.  He was 84.

His airline career began at Delta in 1954 while he was taking classes in aeronautical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  He earned his bachelor's degree in 1961 while working for Delta's engineering department and rose through the airline's ranks.  In 1987 he was named President and COO and a member of Delta's board.

"Hollis was a beloved leader at Delta and one of the people whose shoulders we stand proudly on," Ed said.  "We all will miss him, and the thoughts and prayers of the entire Delta family are with Hollis' family today."

During his time as President, Harris launched Delta's first flight to Seoul, South Korea, just ahead of the 1988 Summer Olympics there.

In 1990 he joined Continental Airlines as President and CEO.  Two years later he was named Chairman, President and CEO of Air Canada.  He later returned to Continental to serve on their board of directors, and helped restructure that airline in bankruptcy.

Prior to joining the airline industry, Harris served as battery commander in Germany during the Korean War.

He was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.

A native of Carrollton, GA, Harris was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12 but fully recovered, an event that inspired his father to become a Methodist minister.  He has lived in Peachtree City, GA, since 1969.

He was married to Joyce Dolores Entrekin, who died in 2011.  He has three children, Patricia, David and Jeffrey.

Visitation is at 4pm - 7pm on Sunday, July 17 at C.J. Mowell Funeral Home in Peachtree City, GA.  The funeral service will be 1pm on Monday, July 18 at Peachtree City First Presbyterian Church.

Thank you to Rainey DeLotell for sending us the following photo collage







Tuesday, July 12, 2016

DL Capt. John William Richards Jr.

AJC news article:  

John Richards, 81: Delta pilot’s favorite place was in the clouds

 5:41 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2016

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-obituaries/john-richards-81-delta-pilots-favorite-place-was-i/nr6jR/



John Richards, 81: Delta pilot’s favorite place was in the clouds
 5:41 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2016 | Filed in: Local News
 
He loved flying. In his spare time, he built a Christen Eagle stunt biplane in his basement. Anything involving aviation, John Richards could not get enough of it.
 
It was because of his passion that he had a lot of wonderful experiences in his life. It drew him closer to the people and places he wanted to be. He spent 35 years as a career pilot with Delta Airlines, and also spent nine years as an instructor in the training department.
 
John Richards died July 10. His memorial service was held July 14 at Roswell Funeral Home, and his funeral service July at St. Andrews Catholic Church.
 
John Richards, 81: Delta pilot’s favorite place was in the clouds photo
After he built this Christen Eagle in his basement, for an owner in Oregon, John Richards and wife Bernadette flew it across the country.
When his wife Bernadette met John, she was intrigued by his intellectual curiosity about planes. That’s all he seemed to talk about, she remembers. “Because he was so interested in flying at the time, I think that’s what attracted me to him,” she said.
 
“I think he saw a movie with John Wayne, and it just went to his heart,” Bernadette said about why John loved flying so much.
 
One experience Bernadette said she won’t forget is flying across the country in the Christen Eagle that John had built in the basement. The plane was being built for an owner in Oregon, so after he finished it, John and Bernadette flew it there.
 
John Richards, 81: Delta pilot’s favorite place was in the clouds photo
John Richards
“We had a bird’s eye view of the United States going over the Rockies,” she said.
 
His daughter, Lisa Vogt, said, “He took aerobatic lessons, and before my mom agreed to fly across the country with him, she was able to learn how to land the plan. She never got her flying license, per se,” but learned how to land it “just in case anything happened to dad.”
 
John had some stunt-pilot friends who flew with Blue Angels. Sometimes he would get the opportunity to fly with them, and one day John invited Bernadetta to ride along.
 
“I was sitting up in the front,” she recalls. “All of a sudden, I lost the other airplane.” She asked John, “Where is he?” John told her to look up.
 
She saw a maneuver that looked like it was pulled right out of the movie “Top Gun.” “And I looked up, and he was upside down,” she said. “We were right-side-up. It quite unnerved me.”
 
John’s love for flying inspired his whole family, and some of his extended family, to find work in the aviation industry. Bernadette was a flight attendant. His son is a pilot. Lisa was flight attendant. Their cousin, who did the eulogy at the funeral, is Navy pilot and was also an aircraft carrier commander. In addition to being a pilot, John modelled for a Delta ad and was later approached to do some more airplane-based publication modeling.
 
Since the family were all on similar flight-time, they would get together at their lake house and and relax on their days off. “We were used to being off for days at a time and having the whole lake to ourselves,” Lisa said.
 
During his off time, John was an avid fan of sailing on the lake, and enjoyed playing golf.
 
Hans Damp, a friend from Cherokee Town and Country Club, said, “He always was easygoing and enjoyed himself on the golf course.” And he stayed in shape: Some say he was still beating much younger racquetball players well into his 70s.
 
Damp remembers John loved to tell him stories about flying to Europe, specifically Germany, where Damp was from. He said John seemed to enjoy himself wherever he went. “He made us laugh a lot,” he said.
 
Survivors include his wife, Bernadette Richards; daughter Lisa Vogt (John); son, John W. Richards, III; grandchildren Allison and Jack Vogt, Sarah, Charlotte and Liam Richards; and brother Paul Richards (Judy). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Visiting Nurse, Hospice Atlanta Center. www.vnhs.org 


Obituary ..................
In Memory of John William Richards
July 23, 1934 - July 10, 2016
John W. Richards, age 81, a resident of Sandy Springs, Georgia passed away on July 10, 2016.
John was born in Merrick, New York. Flying was his passion. He had a 35-year career as a pilot with Delta Airlines and for fun, he built a Christen Eagle stunt bi-plane in his basement which he and Bernadette, his wife and love of 55 years flew across the country. A member of Cherokee Town and Country Club, John was an avid golfer, loved to sail and was beating much younger racquetball players well into his 70's.
Preceded in death by his parents, John and Victoria Richards and sister, Fran McNamee.
Survivors include: Loving wife, Bernadette Richards, Daughter, Lisa Vogt (John), Son, John W. Richards, III, grandchildren, Allison and Jack Vogt, Sarah, Charlotte and Liam Richards, brother, Paul Richards (Judy)
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076. Funeral Service is scheduled for 10:30 A.M. on Friday, July 15, 2016 at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 675 Riverside Road, Roswell, Georgia 30075.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Visiting Nurse, Hospice Atlanta Center. www.vnhs.org 
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~ IN MEMORY ~
DL Capt. John William Richards Jr.
July 23, 1934 - July 10, 2016

 
News has reached our group with the passing of Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta pilot Captain John William Richards Jr., nearing his 82nd birthday at the time of his passing Sunday evening.
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral home website at
Arrangements are under the direction of Roswell Funeral Home of Roswell, Georgia.
    Visitation : Thursday, July 14, 2016 | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road, Roswell GA 30076 | (770) 993-4811
    Funeral Service : Friday, July 15, 2016 | 10:30 am
Saint Andrews Catholic Church, 675 Riverside Rd, Roswell GA 30075
    Committal Service : Friday, July 15, 2016
Green Lawn Cemetery, 950 Mansell Road, Roswell GA 30076
            Thank you,
                ~ Carol for the PCN 

From: David L. Roberts     Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 11:27 AM   Subject:  John Richards passing

Thanks to retired ATL DL Captain John Pilger for sending the sad news of the death of retired ATL DL Captain John W. Richards.  John William Richards, Jr. was born 7/23/1934 and hired by DL 10/9/1959.  He was based in ATL and was in the training department for many years.  He's a member of DGW. 
He and Bernadette live at 9965 Huntcliffe Trace, Sandy Springs, GA 30350-2717.
Dave
.............................

From: "John" <jjpilger@comcast.net>
Subject: John Richards passing
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2016 09:54:55 -0400

Bernie Richards called me late yesterday advising that her husband John died (Sunday evening if I recall).
St Andrews Catholic Church will be the site for services.
Funeral on Friday.
I believe I have all the above correct.
John Pilger