~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA/DL Capt. Timothy Joseph O’Laughlin USN (Ret.)
November 1, 1946 - October 31, 2019
Belated notification….and as noted in February’s issue of
the ALPA magazine, the passing of retired Northwest/Delta pilot Captain Timothy
Joseph O’Laughlin, USNR, Ret. Captain O’Laughlin
joined Northwest Airlines 11-24-1989 and retired with Delta Air Lines in
2011. He is survived by his wife Peggie, their son
Aaron plus many other extended family members.
Obituary information may be viewed online at
A news article and
obituary information is also available at
“Timothy Joseph O’Laughlin died when his single engine
aircraft that he was piloting inexplicably crashed on the evening before his
73rd birthday. Tim was an avid pilot since his days as a teenager in
Waynesville, Ohio, learning to fly at Red Stewart Airfield.He served as a Naval
Aviator for over a quarter of a century, flying the T2 Buckeye, F9 Cougar, A-6
Intruder, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and C-9 Skytrain. He retired as a
Captain in 1997. His fellow aviators gave him the call sign, “Timo.” In 1978, Timo
realized his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot when he was hired by
Eastern Airlines, beginning a career with the airline industry that would last
33 years. In 2011, he retired from Delta Airlines with over 20,000 hours of
flight time……….”
To the best of my knowledge and as noted in whitepages,
Captain O’Laughlin had most recently resided at
2469 Henley Rd., Green
Cove Springs, FL 32043
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary……………….. Timothy Joseph O’Laughlin - “TIMO”
Timothy Joseph O’Laughlin was born in Dayton; Ohio; and;
during his early childhood; he lived almost directly in the flight path of
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The rumbling jets overhead inspired a passion
for aviation that lasted throughout his life. At the age of ten; his parents
moved a few miles south to Waynesville; Ohio. At his new school; Tim quickly
made friends with Cub Stewart; the son of Red Stewart; the local airfield
owner. Soon he was on his way to obtaining a private pilot’s license; with a
dream to become a commercial airline pilot. In that pursuit; he accumulated
flight hours at Red Stewart Airfield; then as high school drew to a close; he
applied to Morehead State University in Kentucky.;
While in college; Tim would come home to Waynesville on
weekends and holidays to visit friends and family; and to get more flight hours
at the airfield; paying for them by working as a parts delivery man; apprentice
electrician; and other odd jobs. One weekend in 1964; at a local dance in
Waynesville; the then college freshmen asked Peggie Quillen; a high school
sophomore; for a dance. They began going on dates in an airplane; flying to
local airports; grabbing a burger and Coke; keeping their dates simple so Tim
could save money to put toward flight hours.
In 1968; Tim and Peggie were married; and their son Jeffrey
was born in 1969.;
After graduating from Morehead State University; with the
Vietnam War draft looming; Tim weighed his options and joined the US Navy. He was
designated a Naval Aviator in 1970; first assigned to Attack Squadron 42 (VA
42) at NAS Oceana; Virginia. His fellow aviators gave him the call sign;
“Timo.”;
During his active duty in the 1970s; Timo made 362 carrier
landings and piloted a variety of planes; including the T2 Buckeye; F9 Cougar;
A-6 Intruder; A-4 Skyhawk and A-7 Corsair II. From 1971 to 1974; he was
assigned to Medium Attack Squadron VA-34; based aboard the USS John F. Kennedy
(CVA-67). During this time; he and Peggie; had their second son; Christopher.;
In 1974; two months after he and Peggie’s third son; Aaron; was born; he moved
to the Jacksonville; Florida area where they would reside for the rest of his
life. Timo continued on active duty as a training officer for the Naval Air Reserves;
served as a Program Manager for VA 1074; then an Operations/Aircraft Division
Officer; Division Lead and NATOPS Officer in Light Attack Reserve Squadron
VA-203.;
In 1978; Timo realized his dream of becoming a commercial
airline pilot when he was hired by Eastern Airlines; beginning a career with
the airline industry that would last 33 years.;
Throughout the 1980s and 90s; Timo continued his work with
the Navy in the reserves. He flew the C9 Skytrain all over the world in Fleet
Logistics Support Squadron VR-58. As Executive Officer of VTU 7474; he helped
ease the assimilation of Naval reservists back into the civilian community
after their service in Operation Desert Storm. In the last years of his Naval
career; he provided support and ran Joint Service Reserve programs for the
National Defense University. He retired from the Navy on April 1; 1997; as a
Captain.; Timo continued flying for Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. In
addition; around the start of the new millennium; with a family adventure in
need; Timo and Peggie purchased a motor home and began traveling the country;
seeing “America the Beautiful; ” making new friends; and of course making stops
at Lakeland’s Sun ‘n’ Fun Air Show and the Experimental Aircraft Association’s
AirVenture Oshkosh.;
In early 2011; Timo retired from Delta Airlines on the
Airbus A330; bringing a close to an airline career with over 20; 000 hours of
flight time.; After retiring; he decided to get closer to his roots; actively
became a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association; and purchased a small
single engine aircraft; a Van’s RV-4. In addition to recreational flying; Timo
and other former military pilots performed missing man formations for Veterans’
memorial services and other military functions when called upon.; Timo
purchased and; with help from his friends and family renovated; a hangar at
Haller Airpark in Green Cove Springs. When one of the airpark neighbors
designed his own homebuilt aircraft;
Timo; looking for a new adventure; bought the kit and began
construction. He completed the Sport Performance Aviation Panther; a single
seat; low wing plane; in early 2019. He flew both planes; the RV-4 and the
Panther; regularly. On October 31st; 2019 he took the RV-4 for what turned out
to be his last flight.; Timo endeared himself to others with his humor;
straight forward manner; love; and contagious zest for life. Always with a look
of mischief in his eye; he loved to make you laugh and everyone in his company
was enriched by the experience. To Timo; nobody was a stranger but was just a
friend he had not yet met. He touched many lives; and everyone who knew him
will cherish his memory forever.;
Timo was a great American; husband; father; and friend. He
is survived by Peggie; his wife of fifty-one years; son Aaron; many aunts;
uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his mother and father; Agnes and
Joseph O’Laughlin; and his sons Jeffrey and Christopher.
In lieu of flowers the family requests you donate to EAA
Young Eagles https://www.eaa.org/eaa/apps/donations/donationform or Rodeheaver
Boys Ranch; Palatka Florida. http://rbr.org/donations/
No comments:
Post a Comment