PNA/WA Capt. Roy G. Utter

http://homernews.com/homer-town-crier/obituaries/2015-02-18/roy-g-%E2%80%98skip%E2%80%99-utter 

Roy G. ‘Skip’ Utter
April 12, 1924-Jan. 12, 2015

 

Posted: February 18, 2015 - 1:36pm
Roy G. “Skip” Utter died peacefully Jan. 12, 2015, in Murrieta, Calif.

 

Skip was born April 12,1924, to parents Leonard and Alice Utter in Big Pine, Calif., and grew up there with brothers Bud and Dick on beautiful ranch land in the Owens Valley. The freedom of a boy’s life growing up in those times set forth a foundation of adventure that Skip was happily able to pursue for all of his life.

 

California history forced the family to move south, to Los Angeles, but not before an extraordinary encounter with actor Wallace Berry, who was filming a movie in the Black Hills area of the Southern Owens valley. Wallace was a pilot, and in 1934 flew into the valley close to where Skip and a friend were playing. Upon landing, he saw the boys, and asked if they wanted to go for a ride. Skip jumped at the chance, while his buddy fled for home.

 

On this day, Skip found the passion for flying that would stay with him all the rest of his life. From that point on Skip dedicated his life to flying aircraft of all kinds, and during World War II, his advanced skills put him in a position to instruct many young pilots. After the war, he found his way to Alaska, where he had his own flying school and an operation flying in the Alaska bush. In 1951 he was hired by the young and fledging airline, Pacific Northern, thus ushering in his participation in the modern commercial airline industry. P.N. Air became Western Airlines in 1967, and Western became Delta Airlines.

 

After accumulating more than 35,000 hours of career flight, Skip retired on his 60th birthday in 1982.

 

Skip was a homesteader and longtime resident of Homer, along with his beloved wife, Helen. Alaska, and in particular, Homer, most duplicated the boyhood freedom he experienced growing up in the Owens Valley. He loved Alaska, and all his friends and neighbors in Homer.

 

Skip was preceded in death by Helen, and is survived by his brothers Bud and wife Billy, and their wonderful families, and Dick and his family; his life friend Mary Oldham, and George and Jimi Wilson.

 

Contributions in memory of Skip’s incredible life can be donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation, P.O. Box 50008, Studio City CA 91614-5001, or garysinisefoundation.com 

----------------------------------------------

~ IN MEMORY ~

WWII veteran, PNA/WA Capt. Roy 'Skip' Utter

April 12, 1924 ~ January 12, 2015

Please forgive this late posting with news of the passing of PNA/Western retired pilot Captain Roy Gorden Utter, age 90.  I was not able to locate an online obituary or guestbook but did find some family information online.  Roy was the middle child of three sons born/raised in California to parents Alice and Leonard Utter :   ..............  

    "Roy Gorden Utter comes into the family on April 12, 1924. Both sons enjoy playing and using their imaginations around the farm. They would  make wooden airplanes and get in them and try to fly them off the house's roof. During the hot summer time down in the valley the family would set up camp on Big Pine creek 12 miles up the mountain where it was cooler. Here they would fish, hike the trails and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Leonard helped work on the aqueduct that was to bring water into the Los Angeles area. As the great depression was coming disaster hit the Utters. The banker in Bishop had left town with all their savings. Times were hard so they sold their land and moved the family to the big city of Los Angeles sometime in 1928. In a small town and part of the LA area called Hawthorne is where the made their new start. Land was cheap so Leonard bought a couple of lots. Now a third son was born..........Roy Gorden Utter was also called into service and served in the Army Air Corp. After the war Roy continued flying airplanes and was a bush pilot in Alaska and then a commercial airline pilot. He married Helen Jane Smeigh December 8, 1952 in Anchorage, Alaska."  http://cagenweb.com/inyo/pdf-files/UtterFam.pdf   

Captain Utter was widowed in November of 1997 with the passing of his wife Helen.  Perhaps the best contact for personal condolences would be c/o daughter-in-law Jimi (George) Wilson at (509) 763-3445.   Whitepages lists the Wilson address as   15440 Cedar Brae Road ,  Leavenworth  WA 98826-8725.  Please see information below for a celebration of his life planned for February 22nd in Murrieta CA.

Should we hear more we will be sure to pass along the information.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN

---

 From: Ssserval@aol.com    Sent: Friday, January 16, 2015 8:56 AM

Subject: : Passing of PNA/WA/Delta Captain Roy "Skip" Utter, age 90

 We're sorry to report to the passing of retired PNA/Western/Delta captain Roy "Skip" Utter. Skip died January 12, 2015, in Murrieta, California. He had retired from Delta in April of 1984 and had homes in Homer, Alaska, and Valley Center, CA. Skip was the first line Captain to be appointed to the Board of Directors of a major airline, serving on the board of Western Airlines.   

A gathering to remember Skip will be held 11:30AM to 3PM on Sunday, February 22nd, at the Clubhouse at The Colony on Jackson Avenue in Murrieta. To get there: Take I-15 to Murrieta, take the California Oaks exit, drive East on Califonia Oaks about 1/2 mile, turn left on Jackson Avenue and the Colony is on your right about 1/4 mile ahead.  

Jimi Wilson, daughter-in-law to Skip

Telephone 509-763-3445