USNR ret., WCA/RW/NWA Capt. Ronald G. Gelineau

Reminder:  A committal service with US Navy military honors will begin at

11:00 hours on Monday, July 25, 2016

Tahoma National Cemetery

18600 SE 240th Street

Kent, WA 98042-4868

http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/tahoma.asp

~ IN MEMORY ~

USNR ret., NWA Capt. Ronald Gregory Gelineau

July 25, 1931 ~ February 6, 2016

I've noticed some errors in the funeral home's posting of the online obituary....see below...note that the newspaper reports Captain Gelineau's death as February 6, 2016.  As noted below, "a celebration of Ron’s life will be held in the summer of 2016.  A committal service with US Navy military honors will begin at 11am on Monday, July 25, 2016 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868".  Captain Gelineau joined West Coast Airlines 01-06-1958, made the various mergers with Air West/Hughes Airwest, and retired with Northwest Airlines.  He is survived by his wife Shannon Richmond Gelineau.  Whitepages lists their contact as 

1200 Forster Blvd SW  ,  North Bend WA 98045-7938

Additional information/corrections are always appreciated and we can then update our memorial site at

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN

Obituary................. http://www.memorialobituaries.com/memorials/memorials.cgi?action=Obit&memid=215684&clientid=flint 

Captain Ronald G. Gelineau, USNR (RET)
July 25, 2016 - February 02, 2016 
Birthplace:   Duluth, MN
Resided In:   North Bend, WA
Service:   Pending
Cemetery:   Tahoma National Cemetery

Ronald G. Gelineau a resident of North Bend, WA for 23 years.

Ron was born on July 25, 1931 in Duluth, Minnesota to Bert and Ruth (Zuehlke) Gelineau.  He graduated from high school in Duluth, and later attended the University of Minnesota before beginning his military career.

The following is the Military Vitae highlighting his career:
Captain Ronald G. Gelineau, USNR (RET) is a native of Duluth, MN. He attended the University of Minnesota (Duluth) and enlisted as a Naval Aviation Cadet in November 1951. Completing Flight Training in TBM aircraft, he was commissioned Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1953. He reported to COMNAVAIRPAC and was assigned to VS-23, the first VS Squadron to transition from TBM to S2F aircraft and deploy to WESTPAC aboard the CVS-37, USS PRINCETON. Returning to CONUS, he was transferred to VU-7 and flew fleet support missions in JD-1, and F9F-5 aircraft until receiving orders as a TAR to NAS Seattle in April 1956. Assigned as VS Assistant Flight Training Officer, he accepted the first S2F aircraft for the Seattle Naval Air Reserve in June 1956 and   was instrumental in transitioning single engine AF and AD Weekend Warriors (Pilots and Aircrew) to the twin engine S2. Released to Inactive in December 1957, he began a career with first West Coast Airlines, and with mergers and acquisitions, Air West, Hughes Airwest, Republic and Northwest Airlines. He accumulated close to 27,000 accident free flight hours in 33 years of airline flying in DC-3, F-27, and DC-9 aircraft. Captain Gelineau retired from Northwest Airlines at the mandatory age of 60 in July 1991. He continued his parallel Naval Air Reserve affiliation for a total of 26 years and 3550 accident free Navy flight hours, flying SNJ, TBM, S2F, JD, F9F, SNB, AF, and T-34 aircraft. Recalled to active duty on 1October 1961, he was released to Inactive Duty in August 1962 (Berlin Wall Crisis). He served on two Reserve Officer Selection Boards, and as C.O. of VS-35T3 and VS-68T2.

Upon his retirement, Ron spent over 20 years farming and ranching – raising cattle and alfalfa in the Sunnyside, WA area.  He married his beloved wife Shannon L. Richmond on May 6, 1988 in Burbank, California.  They moved to North Bend in 1993, where they have remained residents until Ronald’s passing on February 6, 2016 at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah, WA.

Ron was a great story teller and thrived on regaling the listener with stories of his Naval and airline careers.  He was a member of the North West Naval Aviation Rendezvous for 50 years, a member of The Tailhook (Aviation) Association and the Naval Aviation Museum.  Ron loved the television show, “JAG” and at the conclusion of every episode he would dramatically standup at attention and exclaim, “Where do I sign-up?”

Ron is survived by his wife Shannon, his son Grant (wife Amy) Gelineau of Mt Vernon, WA, five grandchildren and one great child.  He is preceded in death by his parents and two children.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held in the summer of 2016.  A committal service with US Navy military honors will begin at 11am on Monday, July 25, 2016 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868.

Friends are invited to share memories, view service details and sign the family’s on-line guest book at: www.flintofts.com.  Arrangements by Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home and Crematory 425-392-6444.

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Death notice Seattle paper:  Gelineau, Ronald Gregory, 84 , of North Bend, Feb. 06. 

.Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) - Thursday, February 11, 2016

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From: Ray Dahl    Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 7:03 PM   Subject: Captain Ron Gelineau 

Subject: Captain Ron Gelineau   WCA and more... 

Ron passed away last night (February 7) at Swedish Hospital.  (SEA)   I will forward details as I receive them.