~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, DL Capt. Guy Gerard
February 3, 1955 ~ June 11, 2023
Notice of passing…..retired Delta Air Lines pilot
Captain Guy Rondell Gerard, age 68. Guy
joined Delta Air Lines 03-06-1987.
To send condolences, whitepages lists the family’s
most recent mailing address as
302 HOLLY ST.,
DESTIN FL 32541-2616
Interment will be held at a later date…..as is noted
in obituary below.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mcphersonsentinel/name/guy-gerard-obituary?id=52347664
GUY GERARD Obituary
Guy Rondell Gerard, was born in Salina, Kansas to
Helen Lorriane Gans and Donald Edward Gerard on February 3, 1955. His brother
Mark preceded his birth by four years.
Guy started his higher education at McPherson High
School where he excelled in sports and academics. This along with his Eagle
Scout badge contributed to securing a spot at the Coast Guard Academy in May
1973 in New London Connecticut. That summer was spent sailing on the Coast
Guard flagship "The Bark Eagle" to Europe. His competitive nature
drove him to compete for a highly sought after degree in oceanography. He
graduated in May 1977, packed his bags, and set off for his first assignment in
Ketchikan, Alaska.
At this time, he got engaged to Laura C Basile
whom he later married. A buoy ender, "The Laurel", was his home for
the next year where he got to revisit his past dream of becoming a Forest
Ranger; hiking, fishing and communing with nature. During his year in Alaska,
he applied for flight school status and was accepted for a class date of
January 2, 1979 at Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station. He flew in the Coast
Guard for the next 10 years on the C130 and Falcon Jet, first in Elizabeth City
North Carolina and second in Mobile Alabama where he was chosen among many to
head up the education and training for the new jet, "The Falcon",
acquired by the Coast Guard to assist the C130 fleet in search and rescue
missions as well as drug enforcement. One of these search and rescue missions
led to recommendation by Guy and his crew to start a swimmers in the water
program to save more lives. The program was later implemented and called Rescue
Swimmers and has been adapted for a movie starring Kevin Costner called The
Guardian. Guy continued with the Coast Guard in the reserves, retiring with 20
years in.
In March of
1984 Guy decided to change careers and joined the Delta Airlines team where he
thrived flying international for thirty two years, retiring as a captain on
February 3, 2020. At this time he moved to Destin, Florida from Manhattan, New
York. After traveling for so many years in so many countries he came home to
the Panhandle where he started and ended his formal flight career.
Guy died at home on June 11, 2023 at age 68 and
will be interred at Arlington Cemetery at a future, undetermined date.
Capt Garard
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