Sunday, June 21, 2020

PNA/WA/DL Capt. William Peter Gerrior


~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, PNA/WA/DL Capt. William Peter Gerrior
December 5, 1938 – June 3, 2020


Notification with the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain William Peter Gerrior, age 81.  Captain Gerrior joined PNA/Western Airlines 01-16-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines in September 2000, based 030/LAX.  He is survived by his wife Karen, his son and his grandson.  Obituary information is available online at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=william-peter-gerrior&pid=196372962
For those who may wish to send a personal note, whitepages lists the residence address as
12625 SW Cemetery Rd.,  Vashon WA 98070.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN 

Obituary……………….. William Peter Gerrior

Creative, irreverent & generous, Willie was a pilot, a fisherman, and a winemaker, and it was clear he never met a stranger.

Will Gerrior was born in Boston on December 5, 1938 and died at home on Vashon on June 3, 2020. He was diagnosed a few weeks earlier with advanced pancreatic cancer, and spent his last days with his loving family on his farm on Vashon.

At the age of 18 he joined the Air Force as a mechanic, but learned to fly at a private flight school. He turned a part-time gig flying crop-dusters into a career with the airlines, retiring in 2000 as Captain with Delta Airlines. In 1986 he and his wife Karen started Vashon Winery, which they sold after 25 years, having won several awards for their Washington grown wines. He met Karen in 1968, when he was flying the Alaska-Seattle route for PNA, and running a somewhat illegal side-gig of bringing frozen crab in on his flights and selling it - just to friends, of course. She agreed to look the other way if he would supply her with a box, and he was smitten.

Fly-fishing was among his many passions, and he stocked a trout pond on his property where he taught countless children how to fish. He was a volunteer fire fighter and EMT, past President of the Vashon Sportsman's Club, and was an airport Commissioner for the Vashon Municipal airport.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his son Chance (Lisa), grandson Gerald, sister Marianne, brother Gerald, and many nieces and nephews. We will miss his stories at family gatherings, wondering how he managed to survive his childhood. Just when you thought you'd heard them all, he'd surprise you with a new one.

No formal services will be at this time but donations can be made to the Vashon Sportsmen Education Association or to your favorite outdoor organization.

Please sign William's online guestbook at www.Legacy.com

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