NWA/DL, USAF ret. Lt. Col. Kenneth L. Silas Sr.

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA/DL, USAF ret. Lt. Col. Kenneth L. Silas Sr.

November 30, 1952 ~ August 13, 2021

 

Notification with the passing of Northwest/Delta pilot USAF retired Lt. Col. Kenneth Lutrell Silas Sr., age 68.  Captain Silas joined Northwest Airlines 07-07-1995 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Irma, his son and his daughter.  Obituary information for Captain Silas can be found online at

https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/birmingham/name/lieutenant-colonel-silas-obituary?pid=199796230 

also at https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/22019005/kenneth-lutrell-silas 

Visitation and services will be held August 19th and 20th at Rosewood Funeral Home in Atascocita, 17404 W Lake Houston Parkway, Humble, TX 77346.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

Obituary : Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth L. Silas, US Air Force retired pilot received his heavenly wings on August 13, 2021. Earthly flights included Captain for NW and Captain for Delta airlines. He was a native of Lakeland Florida, born November 30, 1952. He was a graduate of Alabama State University '74 and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He is survived by son Kenneth L. Silas, Jr. & daughter Sydney Silas. Services celebrating his life will be August 20, 2021 in Humble, TX and interment in Texas National Cemetery.

 

Full obituary at :  https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/22019005/kenneth-lutrell-silas

Obituary for Kenneth Lutrell Silas in Humble , Texas

A very special gift from God has been called home, Kenneth L Silas, or more commonly known as Husband, Father, Brother, Friend, and Florida Red, will forever live in our hearts. Just as his mother “Gerry” showed Ken how to accept all of life’s highs and lows, Ken soldiered on and always repeated the mantra of “keep your eyes on the prize.”

Ken, a fifth generation Floridian, was born on November 30, 1952. Kenneth was the fourth and last child born to the union of Harold G. Silas and Geraldine Whitaker-Silas in Bartow, Florida. Following the untimely passing of Harold G. Silas, Geraldine moved the family to Lakeland, Florida to begin a new life.

Ken attended Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida, where he excelled both in academics and athletics. During his senior year, Ken was offered an athletic scholarship to play football at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. Ken accepted the scholarship and started his college career on August 15, 1970.

In 1972 Ken joined the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which started his many years of community service. Ken loved building and flying model aircraft. He would often fly them around his parent’s home frequently breaking things, but it didn’t deter his love for flying. In 1972, Ken joined the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) Program Detachment 019 at Alabama State University, and in 1974 Ken was one of the first 13 cadets to receive a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF from Alabama State University.

With his college degree, and Commission in hand, Ken embarked on his military career. In 1974 Ken completed Aircraft Avionics Officers School at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado. After serving as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer for several years, Ken applied and was accepted into the United States Air Force’s Undergraduate Pilot Training Program. Ken completed his USAF pilot training which led to a 21-year flying career. Along the way Ken held a plethora of jobs including Undergraduate Pilot Training instructor in the T-37 Aircraft, Instructor in the C-141 Aircraft, and Instructor in the C-9 aircraft.

Ken retired from the USAF at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and moved on to his second career as a Professional Airline Pilot starting with Northwest Airlines and then Delta Airlines. During his years as an Airline Pilot, Captain Silas flew the A330, A320/319 Airbus family of aircraft, Boeing 757 300/200 models, Boeing 717 and the MacDonnell Douglas DC-9-10/30/40/50 family of aircraft.

Kenneth’s legacy is one filled with a myriad of accomplishments and deep seeded relationships with friends and family.

On August 13th, 2021, the angels came to take Ken. Now Ken belongs to the Lord. Ken was proceeded in death by his father Harold G. Silas, his mother Geraldine Silas-Tillmon, sisters Jacqueline Martin and Laroilyn V. Silas, and brother Harold L. Silas.

Kenneth leaves behind his loving wife Irma Silas, son Kenneth Silas Jr., daughter Sydney Silas, nephews Kyle Martin and Aaron Silas, nieces Christy Martin and Vanessa Silas, many other relatives, and a plethora of devoted friends.

Visitation will be held from 3-4 pm for immediate family and from 4-7 pm for the public on Thursday, August 19th, 2021, at Rosewood Funeral Home in Atascocita. The service will be held on Friday, August 20, 2021, at 2 pm at Rosewood Funeral Home in Atascocita. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the American Red Cross and handwritten Memory Cards.