~ IN MEMORY ~
USAF veteran, NAL/PAA/DL pilot Francis Xavier Pignone Jr.
August 21, 1939 ~ August 25, 2019
Notification with the passing of retired National/Pan Am/Delta
pilot Francis Xavier Pignone Jr., age 80.
I believe F/O Pignone began his commercial flying in September 1969 and was
based NYC/031 with Delta Air Lines at time of retirement.
Obituary information may be viewed online at
Also at
Arrangements were entrusted to Woodlawn Memorial Park &
Funeral Home of Gotha, Florida.
The obituary notes that a celebration of life service will
be held on August 31 at Church of the Ascension in Orlando, Florida with reception
to follow. If more is learned we will be
sure to update our memorial site.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary………… Francis Xavier Pignone Jr.
Frank Pignone, 80, died August 25, 2019 after a brief
illness. Frank was born August 21, 1939 in Washington, D.C., at Georgetown
University Hospital to Francis X. Pignone and Jessie Grace Moore. He attended
elementary school at St. Mary's in Alexandria, Virginia before moving to
Orlando in 1950.
He graduated from Edgewater High School in 1957 and the
Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel) in 1962. Following pilot
training in Del Rio, Texas, Frank served as an officer in the United States Air
Force at Pease AFB, New Hampshire, Pope AFB, North Carolina and Ching Chuan
Kang Air Base in Taichung, Taiwan during the conflict in Vietnam, flying the
C-130 Hercules.
Following his service in the United States Air Force, he
returned to Orlando and began a career in commercial aviation in 1969, first
for National Airlines, followed by Pan American Airlines and Delta Airlines and
was a proud member of the Airline Pilots Association. He retired from flying in
2003. In his career as a pilot, he had many opportunities to travel around the
world and carry many interesting passengers from Mother Teresa to Dusty Rhodes.
Frank pursued a number of other interests throughout his
life in addition to aviation, many in the area of community service. He was
elected as a member of the Orange County School Board in the mid-1970's, and he
served on the State of Florida Housing Finance Authority as an appointee of
Governor Bob Graham. He also pursued several business interests including
serving as a founder of Commercial State Bank, and owning a series of
publishing ventures. He loved to watch sports, keep up with the news, and was a
strong advocate for the less fortunate.
Frank is survived by his wife Nancy Kirtley Pignone; his son
Michael and Michael's wife Lisa; grandchildren Kevin and Kaley; sisters
Patricia, Theresa, Barbara, and Priscilla. He is preceded in death by his
sister Joan and by his beloved son, Scott.
He is also survived by the mother of his children, Frances
Sharp Pignone.
"Mr. Frank" was delighted to join a large extended
Kirtley family, including 4 children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and
seven great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday,
August 31, 2019 at 11:00 am at Church of the Ascension, 4950 S Apopka Vineland
Rd, Orlando, FL 32819. A reception will follow the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be
made to Foundation for Fighting Blindness or the Central Florida YMCA.
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