DL Capt. Frank Eugene Raines

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Navy veteran, DL Capt. Frank Eugene Raines

October 27, 1950 - December 31, 2022

 

Notice with the passing of retired Delta pilot Captain Frank Eugene Raines, age 72.  Captain Raines joined Delta Air Lines 09-26-1980 and was based 030/ATL.  He is survived by his wife Darla plus many more close friends and dear family members.

To view the obituary and share memories online please visit

https://www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Frank-Raines/#!/Obituary 

For those who wish to send a personal note, I see the family’s address listed in whitepages as

114 NW 116th Way

Gainesville, FL 32607

 

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

Obituary :  Frank Eugene Raines

Frank E. Raines, 72, of Gainesville, Florida passed away in Gainesville on December 31,

2022 after a long battle with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Frank was born in 1950 in

DeWitt, Arkansas to Ella and Milburn Raines.

He graduated from DeWitt High School in 1968 and attended Arkansas State University

where he received a BS in Accounting in 1974 and was a very active member Pi Kappa

Alpha fraternity.

His military service began in June of 1974 when he entered Aviation Officers Candidate

School in Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned in October of 1974 and designated a

Naval Aviator in November of 1976.

Upon completion of flight training, Frank was assigned to Patrol Squadron One, located at

Barbers Point, Hawaii, flying the P-3B Orion. He participated in deployments to NAS Cubi

Point, Republic of the Philippines, and NAS Agana, Guam. While attached to VP-1, Frank

performed the duties of the Squadron Legal Officer and various Maintenance Branch

Officer positions. He was designated a Patrol Plane Commander and Patrol Plane Mission

Commander.

In October of 1979, Frank reported to Training Squadron Twenty-Eight, NAS Corpus

Christi, Texas, where he was designated an Advanced Multi-engine Instructor in the T-44

aircraft. Completing his active-duty commitment, he departed VT-28 and the Active Duty

Navy in November of 1980 for a job with Delta Airlines. Frank was awarded three Navy

Commendation Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Battle "E" Ribbons, two

National Defense Medals, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, a Reserve Deployment

Ribbon and two Navy Reserve Medals. Frank was an avid duck hunter, golfer,

backpacker, hiker and long-range target shooter. In his civilian career Frank was a Captain

with Delta Air Lines, flying the MacDonald Douglas MD-88, Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767 and

the 777. He retired as an International Captain from Delta after 35 years of service. It was

during his Delta career that he met the love of his life, Darla Skipper. They were married

for 37 years.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents. His is survived by his wife Darla, two sisters:

Margaret Davis and JoAnn Wallace, three sisters-in-law: Susan Crowley, Leslie Skipper

and Janet Sussenbach (Jim) and many nephews and nieces and grandnephews and

grandnieces. Also, very special to Frank were his many Navy and civilian friends.

A Memorial Service with military honors will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at

10:00AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL. with

Reverends Catherine and Steve Price officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Godfrey Thomas

Foundation, Inc, c/o Mary Botts Carr, Hwy 152, Hagan-Carr Lane, Humphrey, Arkansas

72072. This loan fund - established in 1967 - made college possible for Frank and other

DeWitt, Arkansas students in need.

Memorial Service   JAN 11. 10:00 AM (ET)

Trinity United Methodist Church Chapel

4000 NW 53rd Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32653