~ IN MEMORY ~
USAF veteran, DL Capt. Charles “Chuck” Lawrence Roedema
November 19, 1942 – November 26, 2025
In 1970, after leaving the Air Force as a captain,
he began a 30-year career as a pilot with Delta Air Lines. Starting in Miami
and later moving to Dallas–Fort Worth……………..
Chuck joined Delta Air Lines 04-17-1970. Widowed in March of 2024, Chuck is survived
by his daughter and son-in-law, along with many dear friends and colleagues.
PCN memorial site
https://www.wadefamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/charles-roedema
Charles Lawrence Roedema obituary :
He lived a life of adventure, service, and love.
From humble beginnings to soaring thousands of feet above the earth, his
journey was marked by courage, curiosity, and devotion to family. Whether
flying missions across the globe, tracing his Dutch heritage in Holland, or
enjoying a summer evening at a ballgame, he embraced life fully and left a
legacy of integrity and kindness.
Chuck Roedema, 83, passed away on November 26,
2025.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1942, he grew up
as the oldest of six children in a hardworking family. Determined to rise above
poverty, he became the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree
in chemistry with a minor in biology from Montclair State College. He worked
his way through school at local businesses and even spent a summer as a
lifeguard in Wanaque. During those years, he bought his first car, a 1949 Ford,
for $50 from a college friend, paying $10 a month for five months.
After college, with the Vietnam War escalating, he
joined the U.S. Air Force in November 1964. Following Officer Training School
in San Antonio, he earned his wings in March 1966 and began flying B-52 bombers
with the Strategic Air Command. He served with distinction, completing 141
combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia and earning seven Air Medals
and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His longest mission lasted nearly 29 hours,
a testament to his skill and endurance.
In 1970, after leaving the Air Force as a captain,
he began a 30-year career as a pilot with Delta Air Lines. Starting in Miami
and later moving to Dallas–Fort Worth, he flew countless passengers safely
across the country and around the world. Aviation was not just his profession;
it was his passion.
He was an accomplished aviator who flew the T-37,
T-38, and B-52 during his Air Force career, and later piloted the DC-8, DC-9,
L-1011, and B-727 with Delta Air Lines. In his final three years, he mastered
the MD-11, and upon retiring from Delta, his last flight was a memorable
journey to Paris, France, accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law.
He and his wife settled in Denton, Texas, in 1975,
where they built a life together in the same home for 44 years. He loved the
sense of community, the beautiful old courthouse on the square, and watching
the town grow while still feeling like a small town. He enjoyed family dinners
and baseball games, even when the Rangers lost, as well as cooler summer
evenings marked by rainbows after the rain. He disliked the Texas heat but
loved gardening and working outdoors whenever he could.
Proud of his Dutch heritage, he traced his family
roots to Friesland and Ouddorp in Holland. He traveled to the Netherlands to
meet relatives and learn about his ancestors who crossed the Atlantic on the
Ryndam in 1905. He cherished those connections and shared stories of family
traditions, dikes, and ship captains, perhaps where his adventurous spirit came
from.
In his later years, after the passing of his
beloved wife, he found love again with a faithful companion who remained by his
side until the end. Through that love, he welcomed her children as his own, and
his family grew.
He will be deeply missed for his zest for life. He
was a teacher, a combat veteran, a skilled pilot, a devoted husband and father,
and a loyal friend to many around the world. He had a soft spot for bloodhounds
and loved all animals, dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, and especially his
favorite, the mighty bison.
…………………………………
~ IN MEMORY ~
Eleanor “Trixie” May Roedema, wife of DL Capt.
Chuck Roedema
May 6, 1935 – Mar 11, 2024
PCN memorial site https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/03/eleanor-may-trixie-roedema-wife-of-dl.html
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