~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Paul Richard
Pompermayer
January 1, 1932 ~ February 6, 2018
Word has reached us with the passing of RNPA member retired
Northwest pilot Captain Paul Richard Pompermayer, age 86. Captain Pompermayer
joined Northwest Airlines 12-01-1958. He is survived by his wife Rita, their
children, plus many other family members and aviation colleagues.
To view the obituary online please visit http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=paul-richard-pompermayer&pid=188288386 A
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church, 4301
88th Ave SE, Mercer Island WA,
on Friday, March 2nd at 11:00 AM.
If more information is received we will be sure to pass it along.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary............ Paul Richard Pompermayer
Paul flew west on February 6, 2018 surrounded by his loving family during
his final hours. Paul died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.
Born at 12:02 a.m. on January 1, 1932, in Salida, Colorado, Paul would go
through life saying, "I ruined my mother's New Year's Eve." Paul spent his
childhood in La Junta, CO. Raised by his mother, as Paul's father was disabled
and lived in a Veteran's home, Paul began working at a very young age to help
support the family. By age 12, he had a paper route and was buying all of his
own clothing. Upon graduating from La Junta High School in 1950, Paul worked the
3-11 pm shift in a steel mill while attending Pueblo Junior College. Paul would
later say, "Working in the steel mill was the best education I ever received."
It was difficult, dangerous work and taught Paul that an education would be his
key to success. While in college, Paul qualified for the ROTC and joined the
Navy. From there, he soared through basic training, became a legal officer as
well as a Navy pilot. He was proud to serve and grateful for the outstanding
training he received as a Navy pilot.
After serving in the Navy, Paul finished college at Seattle University on
the GI Bill. He would continue to serve in the Ready Reserve for 8 years. While
attending Seattle University, he met the love of his life, a beautiful
stewardess named Rita Gleason. The young couple married in 1957. They settled on
Mercer Island in 1968 where they raised four children.
Paul would spend the majority of his professional career with Northwest
Airlines. He became a Captain and check pilot on the State-of-the-Art 747, and
made many lifelong friends at Northwest.
Paul enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, birdwatching, tennis, and travel with
Paris being his favorite city. Poetry was always foremost in his mind. In later
years, Paul could still recite Cyrano by heart. Paul loved spending time with
his "Reedee," his wife of 62 years, his children, grandchildren and many nieces
and nephews who knew him as "Uncle Paulie." He loved them all very much.
For the last two and a half years, Paul was lovingly cared for by the
outstanding staff of Sunrise Assisted Living on Mercer Island. Making the best
of every situation, Paul used to say, "Bloom where you're planted." He
participated in trivia, crossword puzzles, bingo, and Scrabble right up to the
end.
Paul is predeceased by his parents, Nick and Jenny, brothers Nick Jr. and
Peter, and infant sister Dorothy. He is survived by wife Rita, sons Mark
(Melissa) of Beaverton; Steve of San Francisco; Marty (Carolyn) of Seattle, and
daughter, Lisa (Peter) Casterella of Mercer Island. He also leaves behind 6
grandchildren (Dana, Drake, Katharine, Andrew, Kelly, and Erik), numerous close
friends and family members. He will be missed by his Welsh Corgi, Oscar Mayer,
family dogs Reggie and Hazel, and Moose the celebrity canine at Sunrise.
Donations may be made in memory of Paul Pompermayer to: The Alzheimer's
Association (Alz.org) or The Seattle Humane Society (Seattlehumane.org).
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church
4301 88th Ave SE on Mercer Island on Friday, March 2 at 11:00 am.
Reception to follow.
From: RNPA News Sent: Tuesday, February 13,
2018 8:53 AM Subject: Paul Pompermayer Services.
Regarding the
passing of NWA captain Paul Pompermayer,
The family advises
there will be a funeral mass for Paul Pompermayer at 11 AM, March 02, at St.
Monica’s Catholic Church on Mercer Island. The church is located at 6849 West
Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA and the church website can be found at: https://www.stmonicami.org/. Assistance with
locating the church and funeral schedule can be found on this
website.
Special thanks to
Harry Bedrossian and Wayne Stark for this information.
With regrets,
Bill Day
Ferndale, WA
(360) 303-6020
Bill Day writes.
I have been advised by
friends of the family that NWA Captain Paul Pompermayer has passed away at age
86. He was hired by NWA on December 01, 1958 and retired in 1992. Paul succumbed
to dementia. I will be forth coming with more information as it becomes
available.
Bill Day
