DL Capt. David W. Smith

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF, DL Capt. David W. Smith

March 23, 1937 ~ June 16, 2026

 

From family comes word with the passing of Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta Air Lines pilot Captain David Windsor Smith, age 89.  Please see obituary information below that has been provided by the family …..

PCN memorial site

 

David or "Capt'n Dave" as he was known by his friends and family, joined Delta Airlines on 9/30/1963 and was based in Atlanta his entire career with the exception of a short time in Los Angeles where he flew the MD-11. 

 

He is survived by his longtime partner Susanne and his daughter Elizabeth and her family.  Preceding him in death was his son Aaron, a Captain with ASA and later a pilot with American Airlines. 

 

He most recently resided in Sarasota, FL.  His final earthly resting place will be in the Sarasota National Cemetery.

DL Flt Ops agent Dick Steele

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

ATL DL Flt Ops agent Richard "Dick" David Steele

July 21, 1940 ~  June 18, 2026

 

R.I.P. RICHARD STEELE ( DICK)

DELTA ATL Flight Control

One of the really great guys.

Suffered a stroke a few years ago.

Many rounds of golf in PTC.

JoAn Adamson Steele you are in our prayers.

 

PCN memorial site

https://www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Richard-Dick-David-Steele?obId=48821292

Obituary

Richard David Steele (Dick) age 85, of Griffin, Georgia passed away Thursday, June 18, 2026.

 

Dick was born in Watertown, New York on July 21, 1940. His parents David James Steele and Olive Myrtle Horton Steele, and siblings, Raymond Steele, Howard Steele, and Patty Steele Harrison all preceded him in death. Dick lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his Aunt Myrth and Uncle Pete Pietro.

 

Dick was a veteran of the United States Air Force before he joined Delta Airlines. He loved his job at Delta in Flight Control and retired after 34 years. After retirement, Dick worked in the real estate community as a loan officer in a local mortgage company.

 

Those left to cherish his memories are his loving wife of 41 years, JoAn Adamson Steele; sons: Richard David Steele II (Candace), Bryan Scott (Jamie), and Randy Scott. Grandchildren: Tripp Steele, King Steele Sailor Steele, Randall Scott, Sarah Scott Fleming, Mason Scott and Emily Scott, Sisters Mary Steele Newbanks (Mike) and Patti Snyder (Warren). Sisters-in-law Sandra Howard and Brenda Allen (James) Brother-in-law, James Allen and Joe Adamson. He is known as Uncle Dickie by many nieces and nephews as well as many great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.

 

Dick was a pilot and joint owner with friends of a private plane for many years. He was an avid golfer, loved airplanes, flying and traveling. He loved people and his outgoing, generous, fun-loving nature shined daily with anyone that crossed his path. His love of life was contagious! He never met a stranger, was tender hearted, loved animals (neighbors dogs knew where the treats were at the Steele house)!

 

The family finds comfort in knowing we will be together again. He was a member of Harps Crossing Baptist church and was baptized on March 13, 2005. His memorial service will be Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Conner Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road., Griffin, Georgia 30223. Family will welcome friends at 1:00-2:00, and the memorial service will be at 2:00 in the funeral home chapel.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations to Harps Crossing Baptist Church, 1183 Highway 92, Fayetteville, GA 30215 or Akins Ministry, P.O. Box 142639, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

DL Capt. Robert K. Brubaker, and wife Carol

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF, DL Capt. Robert K. Brubaker

June 9, 1937 ~ February 19, 2026

Carol Yvonne Brubaker

         September 23, 1938 ~ June 14, 2026

 

Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta pilot Captain Robert “Bob” Kinsey Brubaker joined Delta Air Lines 09-13-1965 and was based Atlanta.  Just four months after Bob’s passing, his wife Carol passed.  The Brubakers are survived by their two sons, and by their grandchildren.

A shared celebration of life service will be held for Bob and Carol on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 2PM,  at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell, Georgia.

 

To date, I’ve not been able to locate an online obituary for Bob, and the funeral home did not have one either.  However, they were able to provide me with the date of Bob’s passing. 

Should we receive more information I will then pass it along.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN    

 

PCN memorial site  

 

https://www.northsidechapel.com/obituaries/?filter=brubaker

Obituary for Carol Yvonne Brubaker

Carol Yvonne Brubaker, 87, of Milton, Georgia was raised in Wooster, Ohio. She attended the College of Wooster and graduated from Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Western Reserve University. After graduation, Carol worked as a Registered Nurse at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

Her love for her college sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Kinsey Brubaker who was now a pilot in the US Air Force stationed in Columbus, led to a marriage of 64 years producing their two beloved sons, Bobby and Bret. In 1965 after Bob was honorably discharged from the US Air Force, the family moved to Atlanta, Georgia for Bob’s new career as a Delta Air Lines Pilot. While in Atlanta, Carol began to reflect on her farm girl roots and her absolute love of animals and the dreams of one day owning a farm of her own. Bob and Carol found that farm in Milton and proceeded to raise horses, cows, goats, chickens, turkeys, goats, dogs, cats and two wide - open kids. The lives of many animals were blessed from Carol’s love of God’s creatures.

 

Carol passed peacefully at home at her beloved farm on Sunday June 14, 2026. Carol was preceded in death only four months earlier by her husband Bob. Carol will be immeasurably missed by all those that knew her, especially her two sons, grandchildren, Cole and Owen, and members of the Stout, Cessna, Gubernath, Burke and Brubaker Family.

 

A shared celebration of life service has been arranged for Robert Kinsey and Carol Yvonne on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 2pm at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell, Georgia.

 

DL Capt. Archibald Kennedy

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Navy veteran, DL Capt. Archibald Kennedy

September 10, 1935 – June 12, 2026

 

Archibald Donaldson "Arch" Kennedy, Jr., known as Don in his youth, was born on September 10, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky…………………..

He and his wife, Penny, a dedicated flight attendant, were married for 39 years and lovingly known as "Sky King and Penny." Penny preceded him in death in 2025……………..

A Delta Golden Wings member and retired Delta pilot, Captain Kennedy joined Delta Air Lines 12-18-1962.  He is survived by his daughters and his stepchildren and their families.

PCN memorial site

 

https://www.legacy.com/legacy/archibald-kennedy-jr

Archibald Donaldson "Arch" Kennedy, Jr., known as Don in his youth, was born on September 10, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Dr. Archibald Donaldson Kennedy and Louise Kennedy.

After graduating from Atherton High School, he attended Centre College, where he was a proud brother of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Initially setting his sights on medical school, life took him higher—soaring 10,000 feet above, as he began his distinguished journey in aviation.

A U.S. Navy pilot, he trained on the T-28 and landed on aircraft carriers in the S2F. Later, he joined Delta Air Lines, where for 35 years he flew both domestically and abroad, training countless pilots and becoming a beloved figure in the Delta community. His final Delta flight was on the L-1011 from Ireland to Atlanta in 1995.

He and his wife, Penny, a dedicated flight attendant, were married for 39 years and lovingly known as "Sky King and Penny." Penny preceded him in death in 2025.

Arch is survived by his daughters, Kimberley (Kent) Ellsbree, Kathleen (Joe) Ferguson, and son Arch Kennedy III, as well as his stepchildren Colonel Mike (Cathy) Butler and Michelle (Tim) Martin, three grandchildren, Reed (David) Lemasters, Joey and Ryan Ferguson, and great-grandson, John Lemasters.

He was a devoted member of Peachtree Road Methodist Church and an active participant in the Blazers. In his spare time, Arch worked with therapeutic horsemanship at Chastain Park, bringing joy to children and adults with disabilities.

Arch spent a career in the clouds and, as Mark Twain once said, "The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be?—it is the same the angels breathe." And now he soars on that bracing wind, held close by Christ in the purest peace of heaven.

A celebration of Arch's life will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 4:00 p.m. at his cherished church home, Peachtree Road Methodist Church, with a reception following in Grace Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Arch's honor to Peachtree Road Methodist Church.

Arch's laughter, charming sense of humor, his sky-high dreams, and his boundless love for his family will forever lift our hearts.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/penny-kennedy-obituary?id=58833202

Penny Kennedy Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jul. 10, 2025.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Penelope Lynn (Andrews) Kennedy, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who passed away at the age of 83 in Atlanta, Georgia. Penny departed this life to join her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on July 3, 2025.

Born in Sylacauga, Alabama, on April 2, 1942, Penny lived a life marked by service, creativity, and unwavering faith. She found great joy in her early career as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines and later with Evergreen International, where she was especially proud to support U.S. service members by transporting them to the Middle East and Africa………………

DL's Endeavor Air F/O Dave Fiji

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

DL’s regional carrier/Endeavor Air F/O Dave Fiji

December 14, 2000  -  May 29, 2026

 

https://www.wagesfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Dave-Fiji?obId=48573108

Service times are below, please keep this family in your thoughts and check back for complete obituary.

 

Dave Fiji, age 25 of Snellville, Georgia, passed away Friday, May 29, 2026.

 

A going home wake service will be held at Praise Community Church in Lawrenceville from 5pm – 10pm on Friday, June 5, 2026. The going home service will be held the following day, on Saturday, June 6th from 9:30am until 12:30pm at the church. Burial will follow at Gwinnett Memorial Park in Lawrenceville, GA.

 

Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com   Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, A Heritage Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8XTFj8BZ1A 

Dave Fiji and a helicopter pilot died Friday night when a Robinson R66 crashed near the Dawsonville wedding venue where Fiji had just married his wife, Jesni.

 

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indian-kerala-origin-delta-pilot-dave-fiji-killed-in-us-chopper-crash-hours-after-wedding-11573996

According to his father, Dave Fiji, a first officer for Delta Air Lines, had concerns about the weather before the takeoff.

 

https://x.com/aviationbrk/status/2061460318346199115

NEW: A Delta Air Lines regional pilot has been killed on his wedding day after the helicopter taking him and his wife to their honeymoon crashed in bad weather.

 

Dave Fiji, 25, was tragically killed on his wedding day after the Robinson R66 carrying the groom and his wife, Jesni, ar Dawsonville, Georgia.

 

Endeavour Air, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, said in a statement: 'The loss of a colleague and friend is deeply felt, and we know this news may be especially difficult for those who knew and worked alongside him.'

 

According to the airline, First Officer Fiji had joined Endeavour in March 2025.

 

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. The helicopter belonged to Prestige Helicopters, which operates out of Peachtree-DeKalb airport.