~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Ronald E. Riel
March 23, 1938 ~ September 10, 2017
We have received news with the passing of RNPA member retired
Northwest pilot Captain Ronald Eugene Riel, age 79. Captain Riel first
joined Northwest Airlines 11-06-1967. He is survived by his
wife Kathie, their children and grandchildren. The online obituary may be
viewed at
Condolences and memories may be shared by mailing the
family at
5302 South Best Lane, Spokane WA 99206 or Kathron2@comcast.net ... (509)
922-8914)
Services for Captain Riel were held last Thursday in Spokane Valley,
Washington.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Ronald Eugene Riel died
peacefully in his home on September 10, 2017 in Spokane Valley, WA at the age of
79.
Ronald is survived by the love of
his life, wife, Kathie Riel; five children and their spouses Ron Riel (Terry),
Cherie Wall (Dave), Laurie Gilstrap (Kerry), David Riel (Barbara) and Michele
Haus (Al); 16 grandchildren; Alex and Natalie Riel, Ryan and Nick (Tara) Wall,
Nicole (Kasey Folsom), Justin, Jaclyn, and Joseph Gilstrap, Darren and Ethan
Cheatham, Devin and Jennifer Riel, Brandon, Ashley, Emily and Maria Haus; and
four great grandchildren, Makenna Wall, Lincoln Wall, Kasey and Brentin Folsom;
sister Jan Martin, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by
his parents Ronald Joseph and Alice Agnes Riel.
Ron was born on March 23, 1938 in
Yakima, WA. He grew up on the family hop farm in Wapato, WA where he learned to
operate heavy equipment. His love of flying started at an early age and he
achieved his pilot’s license in high school. He graduated from Marquette High
School in 1956 and from Gonzaga University in 1962 with a degree in Marketing.
While at Gonzaga, he was a member of the ROTC, and of the renowned Gonzaga Glee
Club. He married Kathie Acher, his college sweetheart, in 1962. They recently
celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a family gathering in
Minnesota. Immediately after graduating from Gonzaga, he entered the Navy as an
Ensign and moved to Milton, Florida to attend Navy Flight School. After several
years of training, he was deployed overseas multiple times in support of the
Vietnam War where he flew P2V patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. After
his military service, he was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines as a pilot.
Over the next 10 years, Ron and Kathie happily welcomed their five children into
their home. His children remember him as a hard-working father who encouraged
them to pursue their goals and was always there to share his wisdom. Frequent
camping and motorhome trips throughout their childhood will be cherished
memories. Though a pilot strike caused him to work at various jobs for a few
years, eventually, he was recalled to work at Northwest, and returned to his
true calling and enjoyed a rewarding career as a pilot. During his career with
Northwest, he was privileged to fly many different types of aircraft and retired
as a B-747-400 Captain.
Upon retirement, Ron and Kathie returned to the Pacific
Northwest, settling in the Spokane Valley. Ron was very active during
retirement. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Mary’s Catholic
Church, holding several officer positions. He was also an active member of the
Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club where he volunteered and served in numerous
capacities and was honored to ultimately preside as Lieutenant Governor of
Division 46 of the Pacific Northwest District. He was a dedicated member of St.
Mary’s Catholic Church in Spokane Valley where he served as a Eucharistic
Minister. Ron was a lifelong Gonzaga Basketball fan, attending both the men’s
and women’s games for many years. Ron could frequently be found working in his
yard on his tractor or indoors enjoying a fine novel. Ron always had a passion
for fishing and enjoyed his last fishing trip on Father’s Day with one of his
sons and a granddaughter.
A funeral is scheduled for 14 September 2017 at
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the Spokane Valley with a reception to
follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ronald Riel's life.
------------------------------
From:
RNPA News Sent:
Tuesday, September 12, 2017 4:37 PM Subject:
RNPA News: Ron Riel Has Flown West.
Bob Kunold
writes:
Ron Riel passed away Sept
10. I'll forward an e-mail from Martin Wilcox M.D. our flight
surgeon......
It is
with a sense of great sadness that I must share with you that Ron Riel passed
away quietly at home in the Spokane Valley earlier today. I had talked with Ron
several times over the past two months. It was apparent that he was weakening
but he had tried to hold his own. Kathie called last Thursday and said he was
not eating and had lost a great deal of weight. She sounded well considering
the circumstances and the family members were coming for what turned out to be
their final visit. Hospice came in to assist during what was felt to be his
final days but Ron decided to depart before they were ready for
him.
I
remember Ron for a great number of things. He was one of two squadron members
who participated in the infamous Flying A formation in August of 1966. I was a
newby flight surgeon and had gone down to Ault Field because I had been informed
that I would soon become VP-1s flight surgeon. Shortly after their current
flight surgeon departed, I went down to be introduced to the squadron. I
learned years later that there were two pilots overjoyed to see (view) me. Ron
and Ernie Perkins. Seems they had a bit of trouble adhering to the Navy’s
stringent weight restrictions for pilots. Both were delighted to see that the
new flight surgeon suffered from the same malady. Maybe there as some slack
coming.
Then there will always be the legend of his farewell party as he
departed the Navy for commercial aviation. That was conducted at the O club at
NAS Sangley Point. Seems there was a problem with his shot record and he would
not be allowed back in the continental United States unless he received 5-cc
(that is a hell of a big shot) of gamma globulin. Finally convinced, and in
typical Ron Riel style, he dropped his drawers in front of all those assembled
and I administered 5 cc of saline. It turns out that there was no actual requirement for a GG shot
but now I had my payback for some of the pranks he had pulled on me. For years
he would bemoan the fact that he had the most miserable trip home sitting on
that lump in his derrière. It was only when I roasted him when he was inducted
as President of the Spokane Valley Kiwanis that I shared the truth with him. He
threatened to never speak to me again. But he
did.
As a
pilot, he was a perfectionist. And I think his children bore the brunt of some
of that perfection. But Ron was a very caring man who was greatly loved by his
family and friends and he left a legacy of service. He was always a member of
the “Work Party” for the VP-1 Reunions for that era. Kathie, you are a
saint!
And he
could be so very, very funny. Like his self-extraction of his entire body from
his car on a ferry between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island during one of our
reunions. They had parked him very close to a pillar and he was either going to
stay in the car or squeeze himself out. Out he wriggled. Like a tube of
toothpaste. It was hilarious. And then he went back into the car by the same
route. Those who had seen the initial extrication were waiting with
cameras.
Fair
Winds and Following Seas my friend. You have earned your
rest.
I am
sure the family would love to hear your favorite Ron Riel
story(ies).
Kathie Riel
5302 South Best Lane
Spokane, WA
99206
(509) 922-8914
Martin
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