SO/RC (NWA) Capt. Joe T. Copeland

~ IN MEMORY ~

SO/RC (NWA) Capt. Joe T. Copeland

March 9, 1925 ~ July 7, 2015

 

As noted in the recent October issue of the Air Line Pilot magazine's In Memoriam column..... 

belated notification with the passing of NWA pilot Captain Joe Thomas Copeland, age 90.  Captain Copeland's obituary indicates his commercial aviation career began with Southern Airways.  He would have retired with Republic Airlines prior to their merging with Northwest Airlines.  Captain Copeland was widowed in December 2004 with the passing of his wife Florence.  Both obituaries appear below, or to view the obituary online please visit http://memphis-mg-poplar.tributes.com/dignitymemorial/obituary/Joe-T.-Copeland-102647447 

Arrangements were entrusted to Memphis Funeral Home of Memphis, Tennessee.

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN  

Obituary....................................

Joe Thomas Copeland, 90, of Collierville, TN, passed away July 7, 2015. He was a WW II veteran of the United States Army. His service to his country led him to his passion of flying; and he later became a commercial pilot with Southern Airways / Republic Airlines, retiring after a 34 year career.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Icie Henderson Copeland; his wife Florence Killingsworth Copeland; two sons, Jeffrey Copeland and Freddie Copeland; two grandchildren, Jeff Copeland and Tony Chessor.
He is survived by three daughters, Jill Copeland, Crystal Copeland and Kathy (Tim) Coates; two sons, Tommy (Carolyn) Copeland and Jock (Jhoni) Copeland; eight grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Monday, July 13 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM with funeral services following at 2:00 PM; all in the chapel of Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN.   The family requests memorials to be made to Germantown Baptist Church Worship Arts Ministry.

---------------------------

Florence K. Copeland
Florence K. Copeland, 75, of Memphis, TN, formerly of Aliceville, AL, passed away on December 22, 2004 in Memphis.

Mrs. Copeland was a homemaker and a member of Ridgeway Baptist Church in Memphis.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 27, 2004 at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel, with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

She is survived by her husband, Joe T. Copeland; her daughter, Jill T. Copeland of Memphis, TN; her son, Jock R. Copeland of Cordova, TN; two sisters, Mildred Stewart of Spring Hill, FL and Dorothy McCool of Virginia Beach, VA; one brother, Willard Woodrow Killingsworth of Oceanside, CA; and her grandson, Colby Copeland of Cordova, TN.

She is preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey T. Copeland.

The family requests memorial contributions in her honor be made to the Ridgeway Baptist Church or the Alzheimer's Association. Memphis Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements (901) 725-0100.

NWA Capt. Neil E. Potts

additional story item:  

Neil Potts, Pilot and family man 41-year NWA pilot was steady presence in the air, at home

Neil Potts' family keeps memories of their father and husband tucked inside a jar. In the little stories, typed on strips of colored paper, lives the calm, patient man and pilot who adored his wife of 70 years and instilled the values of hard work and responsibility in his three children.

Potts revisited those memories before he died of emphysema on Oct. 6, at home in the presence of his family. He was 93. His daughter Carol Werket, of Hastings, now holds onto the jar of memories.

Potts, born in Illinois to two teachers, was a pilot who kept his family grounded. He flew for Northwest Airlines for 41 years and during World War II worked as a training pilot in the U.S. Navy Air Corps.

During cadet training, he met his wife-to-be, Lorraine. He had first met her in high school; when they met again in 1942, Potts wrote her a letter that said he was going to marry her.

They moved to Richfield from Boston in 1949. While flying for Northwest, Potts flew pregnant cows to Thailand, his wife said. He also worked as director of 747 training.

Potts' passion for flying extended to his personal life. He, his wife and children traveled around the world together, making yearly trips to Europe. He later took his grandchildren on trips, as well.

In 1982, at age 60, Potts was required to retire from Northwest, but he did not want to stop flying. So he and other pilots sued the airline and won. He went back to work until 1990 as a second officer.

Even his second retirement did not stop him from spending time at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Along with his wife, he volunteered for Travelers Assistance for 25 years until he was 91.

When Potts and his wife moved from Richfield to their house on Valley View Road in Eden Prairie, they created decorative gardens in their front yard. Passersby would stop to compliment them.

Werket said her parents had a relationship to look up to. "I don't think I've met two people who got along as well as they did," she said.

Potts' life did not come without turbulence. His son, Randy, now of Eden Prairie, was disabled in a car accident. He spent 15 days in a coma with his dad by his side telling him that he was going to be OK.

"You felt so good in his presence," Lorraine Potts said. "You always felt like everything would be taken care of."

She said before her husband died, he thanked her for their life together. "We've had a wonderful life of 70 years," he said.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Av. S., Edina, with visitation at 2 p.m. In addition to his wife, his son, Randy, and his daughter Carol, he is survived by another daughter, Becky Potts of Boxford, Mass., two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707

Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) - Wednesday, October 21, 2015

CITE THIS RECORD   "Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities",

======================================== 

~ IN MEMORY ~

WWII veteran, NWA Capt. Neil E. Potts
September 19, 1922 - October 6, 2015

Word has been received with the passing of RNPA member retired Northwest pilot Captain Neil Edwin Potts, age 93.  Captain Potts joined Northwest Airlines 06-27-1949.  He is survived by his wife Lorraine.  Captain and Mrs Potts had most recently resided in Eden Prairie and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

To view the online obituary please visit http://cremationsocietyofmn.com/obituaries/neil-potts/    Perhaps the best contact for personal condolences and to share your memories with the family would be in c/o daughter Becky at  bpotts@carhartt.com 

Becky writes that a Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 22nd at the Cremation Society of Minnesota located in Edina MN with visitation one hour prior to start of service.  

Military honors will be conducted on Friday, October 23rd, Ft. Snelling National Cemetery ....please see obituary below for information.

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN 

From: Becky Potts    Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 8:18 PM   Subject: Obituary for Neil Potts

Hello PCN Flew West, 

It’s with great sadness that I send you an obituary for my father, Neil Potts, former Captain and Director of 747 Training for NWA. He was truly a great man and respected and admired by his co-workers and friends. We invite you to attend his services and share your stories!

 Thank you,

Becky Potts

PO Box 186 , West Boxford, MA 01885  ...  (978) 994-1469 cell   ... (313) 253-1256 fax  ...  bpotts@carhartt.com   Carhartt Cust. Svc./800-358-3825

 Obituary.................................
Neil Potts, 93, died at home with his family on October 6, 2015. Born in 1922 in Patoka, IL, he was a semi-perfect child, (maybe a tipped outhouse here or there) and high school basketball star who later enlisted in the Naval Air Corp. Through friends, he met his dreamboat, Lorraine in Chicago and after the first date vowed he would marry her. After he was awarded his naval aviator wings, he asked her and she accepted! They had a wonderful, loving and adventurous 70 years together!
Neil loved his 41 years of flying with NWA as a highly respected Captain and Director of 747 Training. For 25 years post-retirement, you could find him at his Travelers Assistance desk at MSP on Thursdays and Saturdays helping lost souls in the airport. He retired from that position at 91!
Neil was a quiet, strong, loving man who commanded attention when he spoke….albeit, which wasn’t often! He loved the kids, grandkids & greats, the garden, fishing, traveling, sweets and vacuuming.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Eva Potts and brother Dick Potts. Neil is survived by his beautiful wife, Lorraine; their three children: Randy Potts of Eden Prairie, Becky (Glendon Ayer) Potts of Boxford, MA and Carol (Jim) Werket of Hastings, MN; sister-in-Law, Winnie Potts of Effingham, IL; grandkids, Neil (Rebecca) Werket and daughter Zoe, all of Cherry Hill, NJ and Eric (McKinze) Werket and sons Carter & Mason, all of Eagan, MN.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, October 22 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Ave. S., Edina. Visitation 2:00pm and memorial Service 3:00pm. On Friday, October 23rd, you are invited to honor Neil’s service in WW2 with Military Honor Guard Ceremony and flag presentation, followed by interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Ceremony begins promptly at 12:30pm, assembly area number 3.

PNA/WAL Capt. Virgil C. Fey

~ IN MEMORY ~

PNA/WAL Capt. Virgil C. Fey

August 16, 1929 ~ October 3, 2015

 

Notification with the passing of retired PNA/WAL pilot Captain Virgil Clarence Fey, age 86.  Captain Fey joined Pacific Northern Airlines 03-20-1957 and retired with Western Airlines in 1985, based SFO.  He was widowed in June of 2013 with the passing of his wife Bertha Mae Fey. 

Captain Fey had most recently resided at 
211 Timothy Lane , Sequim  WA 98382-8365   ...  (360) 681-2455

To view the online obituary please visit http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=virgil-c-fey&pid=176040404 

Online condolences may be viewed/shared at http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/adn/virgil-c-fey-condolences/176040404?cid=gbsrchres 

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN

 

Obituary......................................

Virgil Clarence Fey, 86, of Sequim, Wash., passed away on Oct. 3, 2015. Born in Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 16, 1929, his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1947, and he graduated from Anchorage High School in 1948. He met and married his wife, Bertha Mae Fey, in Anchorage at age 20, and they married on Aug. 16, 1950. The Fey's moved to Bellevue, Wash., in 1971, where they raised their two children: Julie and Gerald Fey. They resided in Bellevue for many years before retiring to Carefree, Ariz., and then moving to Sequim in 1999. Dad flew many aircraft for PNA and Western Airlines and retired from Western Airlines in 1985. Throughout the years Dad and Mom had many adventures by land, sea and air. He loved to travel the Alaska Highway and would take friends and family along whenever he had a chance. Dad belonged to the Queen City Yacht Club, Masons, Shriners, Sequim Valley Car Club and the Quiet Birdmen. He is loved and survived by his daughter, Julie Fey; son, Gerald Fey and his wife Melissa Fey; and six grandchildren, Michael, Lisa, Tori, Jordan, Lilly and Allison; and one great-grandchild, Zander. He was the pillar of our family and will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha Mae Fey; and parents, Clarence and Winifred Fey.

.Published in Alaska Dispatch News on Oct. 8, 2015

---------------------------------

BERTHA MAE FEY
Dec. 12, 1930 ~ June 26, 2013

 

 Bertha Mae Fey, 82, of Sequim passed away on June 26, 2013.

 Born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 12, 1930, her family moved to Anchorage, AK in 1946 and she graduated from Anchorage High School in 1949.

 She met and married her husband, Virgil Fey, in Anchorage at age 19 and they were married August 16, 1950.

 The Fey's moved to Bellevue, WA in 1971 where they raised their two children, Julie and Gerald Fey. They resided in Bellevue for many years before moving to Sequim in 1999.

 Bertha Mae was a homemaker who took great pride in caring for her husband, children and grandchildren. Over the years, Virgil and Bertha Mae enjoyed flying, boating, RV'ing, touring in classic cars along with numerous Shriner events.   Bertha Mae was the 1st Lady at Queen City Yacht Club in 1983 and was active in boating for many years.

 She is survived by her husband, Virgil Fey, daughter Julie Fey-Emard, son Gerald Fey and his wife Melissa Fey and 6 grandchildren, Michael, Lisa, Tori, Jordan, Lilly and Allison. She was the foundation of our family and will be dearly missed.  Bertha Mae was preceded in death by her parents Morris and Dovie Killen.

WA/DL Capt. William J. McKeown

~ IN MEMORY ~

WA/DL Capt. William 'Bill' McKeown

June 23, 1936 ~ September 16, 2015

 

News has been received with the passing of retired WA/DL pilot Captain William John McKeown, age 79.  Captain McKeown joined Western Airlines 01-15-1968 and retired with Delta Air Lines (1995?).  Captain McKeown's obituary may still be viewed online at http://www.hiers-baxley.com/obituaries/William-Mckeown-2/#!/Obituary  ... also at  http://www.villages-news.com/william-john-bill-mckeown/  He is survived by his wife Barbara Lacey McKeown.  

Whitepages lists their residence address as
738 Hammond Place ,  Lady Lake  FL  32162-8744  ...   (352) 750-8042 

Services for Captain McKeown were held in Florida last month September 25th.....arrangements were entrusted to Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services of Ocala, Florida.    

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for he PCN 

 

Obituary for William John “Bill” McKeown ..........................................
William John “Bill” McKeown passed away at home on 16 September 2015 after a short bout with pancreatic cancer. He was born on Long Island, NY, but moved to the Panama Canal Zone with his family in 1939. His grandfather went to Panama during the canal construction days and Bill’s father, one of 11 children, was raised there. Bill went through the Canal Zone school system until ninth grade and then attended St. Leo College Preparatory School in Florida through the 12th grade. After graduating at St. Leo, Bill returned to Panama and attended Canal Zone Junior College where he excelled in sports. After JC, Bill attended Mississippi Southern and graduated in August 1959.

 

In September 1959 Bill entered naval flight training in Pensacola and was a naval aviator until leaving the service in December of 1967 as a Lieutenant Commander. During his career with the Navy, Bill had the opportunity to do and see many interesting things. He was stationed in Corpus Christi, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Roosevelt Roads, PR; Johnsonville, PA; and aboard the aircraft carrier Kearsarge in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. Some of the more memorable experiences he had were flying with the South African Air Force out of Capetown and being in Mercury Control during one of Scott Carpenter’s space missions. He also met most of the Mercury and many of the Gemini astronauts and flew with some of them while stationed at the Naval Air Development Center.

 

In January of 1968, Bill hired on with Western Airlines as a commercial pilot and flew for the next 17 years. During that time he was based in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. Bill continued flying after Western Airlines merged with Delta and then retired from flying in 1985 as a Delta captain.

 

Settling in Florida, Bill spent his retirement living in the cities of Seminole, Largo and ultimately The Villages. He enjoyed golfing and his golfing buddies as well as dinking around on the computer. He was an active member of the Madeira Beach American Legion, the Panama Canal Society and the Panama Canal Museum.

 

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Barbara Lacey from Seattle WA, daughters Kathleen Tevis, Corbin, KY and Patty Supnet, Covington, WA, son Michael McKeown, Vonore, TN, stepson Scott Dorn, Seattle, WA, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

 

A memorial Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Timothy of The Villages at 8:30 AM on Friday September 25, 2015. In lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite charity in memory of Bill would be appreciated.

NWA Capt. Gerald 'Jerry' L. Baker

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. Gerald 'Jerry' Baker

May 9, 1944 ~ September 24, 2015

 

News with the passing of retired NWA pilot Captain Gerald L. Baker has reached us.  Born in 1944, Captain Baker was 71 years of age at the time of his passing.  Captain Baker joined Northwest Airlines 11-07-1966.  He is survived by his wife Janet.  Captain Baker's obituary indicates that a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, more information to be advised when known.

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN    

 

To view the family photo gallery and to sign the online guestbook please visit  www.never-gone.com
  or  http://www.never-gone.com/Memorials/default.aspx?m=9fW2fyAIfG0jyD%2bK1S0K7Q%3d%3d   

 

IN LOVING MEMORY OF GERALD (JERRY) BAKER  

5/9/1944 - 9/24/2015
Location: East Wenatchee, Washington

 

This memorial was created in honor of Gerald "Jerry" Baker of East Wenatchee, Washington. Gerald was born on May 9, 1944 in Seattle and passed on September 24, 2015. Jerry grew up in West Seattle eventually becoming a stand out athlete for West Seattle High School. Following graduation, he attended Washington State University receiving scholarships for both football and baseball. He then continued his pitching career with a New York Yankee farm team in Sarasota, Florida. Following his baseball career, he was hired as a pilot for Northwest Airlines. Jerry flew for NWA for 38 years reaching the pinnacle of his aviation career as a 747-200 captain....................................

 

--------------------------------------------------
From: "William Day" <wlday@comcast.net>   Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2015 7:11 PM  Subject: Death of NWA pilot Jerry Baker

 

 Washington newspapers report that Delta/NWA pilot Jerry Baker of East
 Wenatchee, WA passed away on September 24, 2015. Further details at:
 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=jerry-baker&pid=176010959

Jerry Baker, of East Wenatchee, WA, passed away on September 24, 2015 at age  71. Jerry grew up in West Seattle, WA eventually becoming a stand out  athlete in both football and baseball for West Seattle High School. Post  graduation, he attended Washington State University receiving scholarships  for both football and baseball. He then continued his pitching career with a  New York Yankee farm team in Florida. Following his baseball career, Jerry  was hired as a pilot for Northwest Airlines. He flew for NWA for 38 years reaching the pinnacle of his aviation career as a 747-200 captain. In  retirement, Jerry enjoyed boating on Lake Chelan, playing softball, golfing, and spending time with those he loved. Jerry is survived by his wife Janet, son Scott Baker (Kathy), daughter Kelly Switzer (Steve), stepchildren Jennifer and Curtis Upshaw and four grandchildren- Ethan, Alec, Brendan and Heidi. Jerry is also survived by his brother Dick Baker (Gwen), sisters Judy McGough (Paul) and Patti Hewitt (Lance- deceased) and many nieces and nephews. His brother Ricky (Darlene) and his parents, Eric and Flora Baker, preceded him in death. The family plans a private celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart
Association . 
Sign Jerry's online guest book at: www.never-gone.com
 .Published in The Seattle Times on Oct. 4, 2015

Report by: Bill Day wlday@comcast.net