RC/NWA/DL pilot & instructor David C. Johnson

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

RC/NWA/DL pilot & instructor David C. Johnson 

February 2, 1955  -  November 4, 2026

Dave became a flight instructor, from there Dave flew for Bemidji Airlines, then Mesaba Airlines, and then his dream job, flying Convair 580s and DC-9s for Republic Airlines............

After his mandatory government retirement at age 65, Dave enjoyed immensely instructing new students and active pilots for Delta Airlines in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, until May of this year, shortly after turning age 71............................

Dave is survived by his wife Tenley, and by his sons Tim and Tom and their families.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/david-johnson-obituary?id=62945673 

https://www.grandstrandfh.com/obituaries/David-C-Johnson?obId=50114394#/obituaryInfo   

David Johnson Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Grandstrand Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Lindstrom on Nov. 9, 2026.

David Joined our son, brother and uncle Andrew in heaven on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, due to prostate cancer. For almost six years Dave fought hard, and the family fought hard with him, with love. He never gave up. What a reunion that was between those two in heaven – it brings us tears of joy!

Dave was born February 2, 1955 in Racine, Wisconsin to Clarence and Jean Johnson. Dave knew at age three that aviation was in his blood. He would sit oni the floor with an oscillating fan in between his legs pretending it was the prop of an airplane.

Football was part of his years at Horlick High School in Racine. He then attended and played football at Golden Valley Lutheran College in Golden Valley, MN. That's where he met Tenley Pavek, and they were married in 1976 in her hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota. We just celebrated 50 years of marriage this last July.

It was that year, 1976, when Dave took his first introductory flight at Thunderbird Aviation, and his aviation dream began. Every week we'd go to MSP, walk the concourses, watch airplanes pull up to their gate, and watch the pilots. Dave would dream of having their job. We worked HARD, achieving each rating, when Dave became a flight instructor there. From there Dave flew for Bemidji Airlines, then Mesaba Airlines, and then his dream job, flying Convair 580s and DC-9s for Republic Airlines. That was his ultimate. He knew he made his goal then.

During those career steps Dave was a volunteer fire fighter in Ham Lake, MN, where he felt even more fulfilled serving the public. Moving then to Chisago City, MN, was when Republic Airlines merged with Northwest Airlines, and then a few years later, the merger of Northwest with Delta Airlines happened. Dave took it in stride and always tried to help his crews through their challenges of uncertainties. Going to work was never work for Dave. He enjoyed helping people regardless of the situation. He was an excellent leader inside and outside the cockpit and he remained calm in stressful situations. Dave also enjoyed doing instructing and being check airman during his career.

After his mandatory government retirement at age 65, Dave enjoyed immensely instructing new students and active pilots for Delta Airlines in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, until May of this year, shortly after turning age 71. Continuing instructing for Delta Airlines helped him mentally get through his cancer treatments, kept his mind sharp and focused, and he was still sharing his love of aviation.

He lived the best role model as a father and grandfather. He taught his sons (Tom, Andrew, and Tim), how to live a meaningful and honest life. He wants them to be happy and honest no matter what they decide to do in life.

Dave found time to coach the boys' baseball teams throughout their entire baseball years and he looked forward to filming the Chisago Lake High School football games on Friday nights, for many years.

On top of that, he was the master leader and teacher for our family keeping up the routine maintenance duties on our hobby farm and anything with an engine. As the boys and granddaughters have said, "Pops can fix anything!" To final weeks, Dave enjoyed general aviation flights with his boys.

His greatest joys were moments with God in silence, his favorite prayer being "The Lord's Prayer". He verbalized, "It is complete but you must say it slowly to truly take it all in." Other joys were family, immediate and extended. And OH, his precious granddaughters, Piper, Jade, and Reese. THEY BROUGHT HIS TRUE JOY. When times were stressful, their visits and voices brought him peace and enjoyment. Even if it was just cuddling in a blanket. He attended as many of their activities as he possibly could. In our household we often talk about ALL of our blessings from God and try to remain positive with prayers of THANKSGIVING for all of our gifts bestowed.

Dave was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Thomas Johnson, a sister-in-law (Lori), his parents (Clarence & Jean), and his parents in-law, (Merle & Lydia Pavek).

Dave's loving survivors are his wife Tenley, son, Tim, and son Tom (Becca), sister (Carol), brother-in-law Tim (Kathleen) Pavek, sister-in-law Carmia (Ron), sister-in-law Peggy (Bob). Also, his precious grand-daughters, Piper, Jade and Reese. Dave has many nieces and nephews as well.

NWA Capt. Duval F. Moss III

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Duval F. Moss III

June 11, 1945 - October 16, 2026

He retired as a Commander from the Navy and then took his aviation skills to Northwest Airlines where he flew another 17 years commercially..................

Duval joined Northwest Airlines 03-03-1989 and retired with Northwest in 2005.  He is survived by his wife Debbie, and by his children and their families.

https://www.reisfamilymortuary.net/obituaries/duval-moss/#!/Obituary 

Obituary for Duval F. Moss III

Born in Mexico City on June 11, 1945, to Margaret (née Louise Shedwick) and Duval F Moss II.

He spent the first 12 years of his life in Mexico City, Puebla, and Vera Cruz. The family, which included his younger brother Roger, then moved to Dallas where he finished middle and high school.

Duval graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in business and soon after entered Navy

Officer Candidate School. He served 20 years in the Navy as an aviator flying A4’s, T2’s, T39’s, among other aircraft and served 2 tours on the USS Coral Sea where he was the “yellow shirt” launching and catching the planes. He was stationed in San Diego, Whidbey Island, Beeville Texas, Subic Bay, and Norfolk. He retired as a Commander from the Navy and then took his aviation skills to Northwest Airlines where he flew another 17 years commercially until mandated retirement at 60.

Duval was an avid fly fisherman from an early age. Even while living in Dallas he figured out ways to fish the local creeks and lakes using artificial lures and flies with rudimentary

equipment. At one point he pursued graduate work in fisheries studies, but it was advanced studies in fly fishing that he was truly after. His mind was always on the stream and the next trout he could land.

He spent his retirement at the family home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a place where he truly loved life. His days were filled with the things he enjoyed most—fly fishing in the streams with friends, snowshoeing, biking, and cross-country skiing. He had a lifelong love of the outdoors and found so much happiness in being surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and rivers. He especially loved sharing those adventures with his black lab Hank.

His other passion was a 1963 Porsche 356B (banana slug yellow) that he used as a regular

driver for many years and kept with him during his many moves. This car represented a joyous and adventurous period of his life which he reminisced about often.

He was preceded by his first wife Heather, and his dog Hank. He is survived by his two children from the first marriage April and Robb, his two children from the second marriage Sam and Julia, his second wife Debbie, his brother Roger, his in-law daughters Aleksandra and Lily, his in-law sons Tyler and Rob, and his grandsons Konrad and Sebastian.

We love you Pop. Hope the bugs are hatching and the fish are biting.

WA/DL Capt. Kent Tekrony

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL Capt. Kent Tekrony

August 12, 1940 ~ October 30, 2026

From friends and family we have learned of the passing of Captain Kent Tekrony.....

Following his military service, Kent David Tekrony joined Western Airlines 04-22-1968.  Kent is survived by his wife Jeanine.

Arrangements are not yet known....should more information be received, we will pass it along.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN

PCN memorial site

WA/DL Capt. Ron Gilbert

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL Capt. Ron Gilbert

June 05, 1935 - Oct. 28, 2026

Following his military service, Captain RONALD GENE GILBERT joined Western Airlines 01-15-1968 and retired with Delta Air Lines based SLC.  Widowed in 2023, Ron is survived by his daughters and their families.

Services honoring Ron have been held privately in Arizona.

Interment : National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/326852973/ronald-gene-gilbert 

More photos are available for viewing at the Veterans Legacy memorial site : 

  https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/RONALDGENEGILBERT/adedd4 

https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/04/janis-jan-gilbert-wife-of-wadl-capt-ron.html 

Janis "Jan" Gilbert, wife of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Ron Gilbert

March 21, 1936 ~ November 30, 2023

Ronald Gene Gilbert and Janis Lea O’Dell were married in Illinois on August 31, 1957.

NWA Capt. Revedy C. Ray III

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Revedy C. Ray III

December 30, 1939 - December 3, 2025

Following his military service, Revedy Cuthbert "RC" Ray III joined Northwest Airlines 08-05-1968 and retired with Northwest in 1999.  RC is survived by his wife Susan, and by his children and their families.

https://www.legacy.com/legacy/revedy-ray-iii 

Revedy C. Ray III's Obituary

Revedy C. Ray III (R.C.) Class of 1961, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Rosemary Durst Ray and R.C. Ray, Jr.  R.C. was raised in Little Rock and carried a fondness for his hometown with him throughout a life defined by service, adventure, and a love of the outdoors.

R.C. attended Texas A&M University as a member of the Corps of Cadets where he formed lifelong bonds and developed skills that would continue to guide him. His love for his alma mater never faded, and he remained devoted to Texas A&M, proudly supporting the next generations of Aggies through the Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Foundation. While an undergraduate, he was selected to be a member of the Ross Volunteer Company, the official military honor guard for the Governor of Texas and the oldest student organization at Texas A&M University. He joined the United States Marine Corps, completing the Platoon Leaders Course as Battalion Honor Man. Following commissioning, he attended The Basic School and upon graduation entered flight training, receiving his Wings of Gold in 1963. R.C. was qualified to fly the T-34, TF-9J, F-11, and the A-4. As an A-4 pilot, he bravely flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, a testament to his courage, skill, and dedication to his fellow Marines and his country. His time in the cockpit fueled an interest in aviation that took him from military service to a distinguished 31-year career for Northwest Airlines. He was qualified to fly many airframes for Northwest that included the B727, B757, B767, and B747. His airframe qualifications also included a Cessna 185 seaplane and a Learjet.

R.C. found his peace and joy in the great outdoors. He had a deep love of hunting and fishing, passions he thoroughly enjoyed sharing with family and friends, creating many memories in the woods and on the water. He also loved cross-country and downhill skiing, running, and playing tennis, activities he shared with his children. He was a competitive and highly rated USTA tennis player, and at the peak of his running days, he completed a marathon.

He was a devoted husband to his wife, Susan, sharing a lifetime of memories through their many adventures together. Growing up and throughout his entire life, he remained close to his sisters, Margaret and Martha, sharing a bond of love and laughter.

R.C.’s legacy lives through his four loving children: John (Hue) Ray; Bill (Valicia) Ray; Andy (Liz) Ray; and Maria Ray (Hill) Goodspeed. He was a proud Grandpa to eleven grandchildren: Emma Ray, Sara Ray, Hunter (Elise) Vickrey Rebecca Ray (Joe) Muhitch, Alex Ray, Chloe Ray, Katie Ray (Sam) Goecke, Andrew Ray, Connor Goodspeed, Jackson (Claire) Goodspeed, Anna Goodspeed, and great-grandchild, Peter Ambrose Goecke. He also leaves behind brother-in-law Richard (Martha) Brooks, sisters-in-law Paula (Dave) Skelton and Gina (John) Hernandez and several nieces and nephews.

His steady manner, quiet strength, and easy smile will be missed by family and friends. The family celebrated his life by holding a private ceremony surrounded by the peaceful sounds of rushing waters and birdsong.

Published on Legacy.com November 06, 2026