DL F/O John Clinton Upshaw

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

DL F/O John Clinton Upshaw

June 15, 1965 ~ November 1, 2026

He started flying at 14 and made it his career, flying for Delta Air Lines from 1997 as a first officer on the Boeing 767ER on international routes.................

John joined Delta Air Lines 11-06-1997 and was based Atlanta.  He is survived by his wife Julie, and by his children and their families.

Services to honor John will be held November 9th in Atlanta...please see obituary below for details.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-upshaw-obituary?id=62907209 

John Upshaw Obituary

Groce Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Patton Avenue

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of John Clinton Upshaw of Highlands, NC, on November 1, 2026. John was 61 and deeply loved by his family and friends. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his kindness, and the many ways he made others laugh.

John was born in Atlanta, GA, and graduated from Pace Academy in 1984 and Purdue University in 1988. He started flying at 14 and made it his career, flying for Delta Air Lines from 1997 as a first officer on the Boeing 767ER on international routes. He loved having family and friends on board, and over the years they flew with him all over Europe. He was a longtime fan of Jimmy Stewart, a fellow pilot. He could recite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show word for word, and he loved Seinfeld. Being a grandaddy to Isla was one of the great joys of his life, especially the cuddling.

John is survived by his wife, Julie Upshaw; his daughter and son-in-law, Abigail and Martin Endicott; his son and daughter-in-law, Mason and Autumn Upshaw; his son, Jake Upshaw; his granddaughter, Isla; his mother, Robbie Upshaw; his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Maria Upshaw; his sisters and their husbands, Elizabeth and Sam Chambliss, Carol and Scott Swayze, and Ellen and Sandy Allison; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Calvin Upshaw.

A service to honor John's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 9, at The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, with a reception to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Pisgah Legal Services, P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802, or online at pisgahlegal.org.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.