DL Capt. Stephen Marcus Gunn

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Navy veteran, DL Capt. Stephen Marcus Gunn

DECEMBER 25, 1946 – DECEMBER 16, 2022

 

From friends we learn of the passing of retired Delta pilot Captain Steve Gunn, nearing his 76^th birthday.  Steve joined Delta Air Lines  08-15-1977.  He is survived by his wife Patti and by his children and grandchildren.

Obituary information is available online at

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/stephen-gunn-11073286

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

IN THE CARE OF :   El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

 Stephen Gunn

 Born December 25, 1946 in Portland, Oregon. Steve’s family lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon where he grew up and attended High school. He played on the school basketball team, pole vaulted for the track team, and was a member of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol.  When Steve was a young boy; his parents took him to the Portland International airport. The airport at that time had an outdoor "viewing deck" where people could go up and watch aircraft operations. Steve's parents took him up there, and he witnessed a jet fighter taking off from the Portland Air National Guard with a deafening roar and fire breathing from its tail.  It accelerated down the runway and went straight up after takeoff. Steve looked up at his parents and said: "That's what I want to do".

 ...and the rest is history.

 After high school Steve attended the University of Oregon where he met his beautiful future wife Patti Powell. After graduating from Oregon; Steve began his lifelong goal to fly fighters for the US Military. He began his quest in Pensacola Florida, the home of Naval Aviation, and began his flight training in the summer of 1969. After primary flight training he called his college sweetheart Patti and asked her if she wanted to join him on this great adventure. She said yes, and they were subsequently married on December 26, 1969.

 

 Following their wedding, they packed up their car and headed back to Pensacola. The Navy flight program took 18 months to complete, and took this new couple from Pensacola to Meridian Mississippi, Beeville Texas and finally to Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, called "fighter town USA" where Steve would fly fighters for the next 16 years, including aircraft carrier operations flying the F-8 Crusader in the South China Sea and elsewhere. Steve was a proud graduate of the Navy Fighter weapons school also called "Topgun" and retired from the Navy reserves with the rank of Commander.

 Steve and Patti met many lifelong friends in the military and had 2 wonderful kids paid for by Uncle Sam. While flying for the Navy Reserves in San Diego, Steve was fortunate enough to get hired by Delta Airlines and subsequently moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia where they lived for the next 10 years. When Delta opened a base at LAX, Steve moved his family back to San Diego to complete his Delta career. Steve flew most of the jets Delta operated at that time including the Boeing 727, 757, 767 and L-1011 throughout Delta's domestic and international route system. The family took many great trips on the Delta system and were very thankful for that time spent together.

 After Delta, Steve continued to fly for another 15 years working for a startup Thai Airline, Las Vegas Sands Corporation and Northrop Grumman, dropping rockets off their Tristar aircraft that sent satellites into space and test firing hypersonic weapons. Steve continued to fly the Tristar until age 75.,

 Steve was blessed with a wonderful supportive wife and a son and daughter, Mike and Lisa, who brought incredible joy to his life as did his 4 grandkids Gunner, Riley, Connor, and Colin.

 He enjoyed many things in his life including water skiing trips with his family, snow skiing, golfing, and fishing in Alaska and Montana and hanging out with his extended family and friends. Steve also went to great lengths to execute elaborate practical jokes on friends and family. His unique and hilarious sense of humor was one of a kind and enjoyed by all.

 His flying achievements and life as a loving and supportive father/grandfather were second to none..but what really made Steve special was his huge kind heart and constant acts of selflessness.

 Steve is survived by his wife of 53 Years Patricia Gunn, his children Lisa Eubanks, Michael Gunn and his wife Christine Gunn, his 4 grandchildren: Gunner, Riley, Connor, and Colin,  his brother David Gunn and his wife Annie Gunn, in-laws, nieces, nephews and many life-long friends.