DL Capt. Donald N. Nelson

~ IN MEMORY ~

USN veteran, DL Capt. Donald N. Nelson

April 21, 1932 ~ April 28, 2020

News with the passing of Captain Don Nelson has reached our group … Delta Golden Wings member retired Delta pilot Captain Donald Noell Nelson was 88 years of age at the time of his passing. Captain Nelson joined Delta Air Lines 11-10-1958 and retired with Delta in 1992 based Atlanta.  Captain Nelson is survived by his wife Doris as well as his children and grandchildren.

News article/obituary information may be viewed online at

https://epaper.ajc.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=427137f8-15f0-4867-8395-1e47f6cadd90&utm_source=app.pagesuite&utm_medium=app-interaction&utm_campaign=pagesuite-epaper-ipad_share-article&appid=2870 

Also online at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/donald-nelson-obituary?pid=196164243&affiliateid=1031

For those wishing to contact the family, Doris is listed in whitepages at

 481 NORTHOLT PKWY APT 4014, SUWANEE GA 30024-4412

Perhaps a good alternate contact would be son Chris who is listed at

 620 Manor Glen Dr.,  Suwanee, GA 30024.

Should we receive further corrections or updates, we will be sure to post them.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN

Obituary………… Donald Noell Nelson a long time resident of Atlanta, passed away April 28, 2020 surrounded by his family. He was 88.

Don was born to Cliff and Dorothy Nelson, on April 21,1932 in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from Miami University.

He was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and flew the “famed” F9F Cougar. He flew mission trips during the Korean war on the carrier U.S.S. Bennington. He was a proud American and loved his country.

Being a man of faith he said, “I know that I must put my trust in God in the same way I put my faith in my airplane engine. I trust God because I know He is never failing.”

While stationed in Jacksonville, FL, Don met the love of his life Doris. They married in 1956. He took a job with Delta Airlines they settled in Atlanta and kept a second home on the Florida coast.

Being an airline captain was never work to Don. He felt fortunate saying, “they pay me for this?” Traveling was a passion.

Don was generous with his time. He volunteered at Georgia Public Broadcasting, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and Angel Flight to name a few. One of his fondest memories was volunteering for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

Don was adventurous. He was a member of Southern Bicycle League. He was an avid snow skier and loved sailing. He enjoyed riding roller coasters, music, arts, and movies well into his 80s.

Don enjoyed his retirement spending time with his grandchildren. His pets were always family to him.

Don was an example to us all. He never held a grudge. He was always the first to say hello. He was kind, loyal, humble, and honorable.

He is survived by his wife Doris, son Chris (Debi,) daughters Noelle LeBaron (Richard,) Stacey Evans (Gareth,) and four grandchildren Mia, Lili, Rhys, and Jack.

To honor Don, go ride a bike, ski down a mountain, and take that trip!

Bryan Taylor Mills, son of DL Capt John M Mills

Friends and family share this sad news of Bryan’s passing……Bryan Mills is the son of retired Delta pilot Capt. John M. and Marion Mills…..please see information below. 

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Bryan Taylor Mills, son of DL Capt John M Mills

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/atlanta-ga/bryan-mills-9165566

Obituary - Atlanta, GA Celebrate the life of Bryan Mills, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel. www.dignitymemorial.com

OBITUARY

Bryan Taylor Mills

July 4, 1970 – April 28, 2020

On Tuesday Bryan passed away unexpectedly leaving his parents, John M. and Marion Parke “Mare” Mills and siblings, Jean Parke Wahl (Rob) and John Duhring Mills (Jen). He was a loving Uncle to Ashlyn Kallbreier, Borden Parke and Colin Mills Wahl, JohnHenry Parke and Emily Jean Mills.
Bryan was a graduate of Milton High School 1988 where he was Most Valuable soccer player. Bryan played for Spacewall (Liver Pool Reds), coached by David Chadwick. The team won many tournaments. Bryan attended Clemson University on a soccer scholarship and was the starting goalkeeper his freshman year. He then attended Clayton College on a scholarship where he was an All American. Post college, Bryan found his passion for coaching and led many teams to State Champions. The last six years Bryan was a manager of the Seafood Department at Publix.
Due to Covid-19, Bryan will be interred privately at St. Martin in the Fields. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bryan’s name to the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, 1762 Clifton Rd NE Suite 2400, Atlanta, GA 30322, winshipcancer.emory.edu.

·       DONATIONS

• Emory Winship Cancer Institute

DL Capt. Walter Junior Sprenger

Note:  Walter Sprenger was first hired by Northeast 7/15/1968 and came to Delta in the 1972 merger.  

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, NEA/DL Capt. Walter Junior Sprenger

January 23, 1934 - April 24, 2020

Notification with the passing of retired Delta pilot Captain Walter Sprenger, age 86.  Captain Sprenger joined Northeast Airlines 07-15-1968 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1994, based 030/DFW.  He is survived by his wife Susan as well as his children and grandchildren plus many more extended family members. 

To view the obituary and share memories please visit

https://www.geojcarroll.com/obituary/walt-sprenger

Arrangements were entrusted to Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville, Texas.

If more information is received we will be sure to pass it along.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

Obituary…….

Walter Junior Sprenger, 86, of Lake Kiowa, TX, passed away April 24, 2020 in Lake Kiowa.

Walt was born January 23, 1934 in Mt. Pleasant, MI to Walter William and Grace Lesta (Thompson) Sprenger.  He married the love of his life, Susan Amelia Riggs, on April 14, 2002 in Lake Kiowa, after having been brought together at their 45th high school class reunion.  Mr. Sprenger received his Bachelor’s Degree from New Hampshire college.  He served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Following his military service, Mr. Sprenger was a pilot for Delta Airlines for 26 years.  He retired following 5 years of employment with the Federal Aviation Administration.  In his free time, Mr. Sprenger enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing.  Walt and Sue enjoyed traveling and playing golf and Bridge together.  He was a member of the Lake Kiowa Golf Association.

 Survivors include: wife Sue Sprenger of Lake Kiowa; son Keith Sprenger and wife Michele of Denison, TX; daughter Kim Sprenger of Whitesboro, TX; son Shawn Sprenger and wife Stephanie of Arvada, CO; grandchildren: Nick, Max, Izzy, and Sophie; brother Tony Sprenger and wife Donia of Naples, FL; and brother Donel Sprenger of Naples.

Mr. Sprenger was preceded in death by: mother Grace Cowling; father Walter W. Sprenger; brother Daniel Sprenger; sister Ethel Sprenger; and sister-in-law Nita Sprenger.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a future date.  Arrangements are under the care of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

PAA/DL Capt. Charles Alford Tarpley

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, PAA/DL Capt. Charles Alford Tarpley

November 15, 1939 ~ April 12, 2020

Notification with the passing of retired Pan Am/Delta pilot Charles Alford Tarpley, age 80.  Capt. Tarpley joined Pan American 04-22-1968 and retired with Delta Air Lines based 030/ATL.  He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen.

Obituary information may be viewed online at

 https://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=charles-alford-tarpley&pid=196128488

For those wishing to contact the family, whitepages lists the residence address as

3776 Alta Vista Lane,  Dallas, TX 75229

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

Obituary…… TARPLEY, Charles Alford

Charles Alford Tarpley, 80 years young, died peacefully on Easter Sunday morning, April 12, 2020. He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Ellen, his sister, Mary Campfield, two nieces, Allison (Michael) Taten and Claire (Michael) Storino, five great nieces, a great nephew, and numerous cousins including Robert (Donna) Reece and family. His parents, Paul and Bernice Tarpley, preceded him in death.

Born in Sherman, Texas, Charles, a long-time Dallas resident, was a graduate of the Southern Methodist University School of Engineering, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business, and the University of Texas School of Law. Charles began his aviation career in 1961 with the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew twenty-six combat missions in Southeast Asia and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and Air Medal for his service. Upon receiving his Honorable Discharge from the USAF, he began his commercial flying career with Pan American World Airways. Charles flew Boeing 707, 727, 747, and Airbus A310 aircraft on six continents, and acted as a Pan Am designated check airman. With the sale of Pan Am's European route structure to Delta Air Lines in 1991, Charles became a Delta pilot where he flew Boeing 727, Airbus A310, and Lockheed 1011 aircraft. In addition, Charles was a Delta pilot instructor, teaching extensively in Delta's human factors and new-hire programs as well as the company's innovative Delta Pilot Instructor School until his retirement. His FAA aeronautical certificates included Airline Transport Pilot (with numerous type ratings), Flight Instructor (Multi & Single Engine Airplane, Instrument and Glider), Flight Engineer-Turbo Jet, and Ground Instructor. Charles not only had a distinguished flying career, but also worked as an electrical engineer at General Electric and as a lawyer specializing in aviation and insurance matters domestically and abroad. He practiced as an aviation trial attorney at Lord Bissell & Brook, and was the Senior Vice President and Secretary of the Aviation Office of America, Inc., a subsidiary of the Xerox Corporation. In addition to consulting with policyholders and insurance companies on aviation insurance matters, including coverage disputes and bad faith actions, Charles was retained frequently as an expert witness in aviation insurance matters.

A thought leader in his field, Charles often served as a featured speaker for numerous aviation and insurance conferences in the United States and Europe. He was admitted to practice in Texas, Illinois, and New York, the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Seventh, and Eleventh Circuits, numerous United States District Courts, and the United States Tax Court. For 38 years, Charles served as the Chairman of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Air Law Symposium, where he met Mary Ellen on March 1, 1987. The SMU Air Law Symposium was his labor of love. Charles also served SMU on the Board of the Journal of Air Law & Commerce, and taught Aviation Law as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Dedman School of Law. In 2016, the SMU Air Law Symposium honored him for his 35 years of distinguished service as Chairman. In 2017, SMU's Dedman School of Law honored him as one of six distinguished alumni and conferred upon him an Honorary Alumnus Award. Charles was also the past Chairman of the David Bernard Memorial Foundation in Los Angeles. Charles was buried at the National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas where a formal ceremony with military honors will be conducted at a later date.

Charles became a Roman Catholic in 2018, and a Memorial Mass will be celebrated in the future at Perkins Chapel at Southern Methodist University. Charles was proud to be an alumnus of SMU and was grateful for the prayers and support from the Sisters and Chaplain at the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament.

Due to the Coronavirus, Mary Ellen requests that individuals refrain from sending flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to SMU or the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament. For SMU, donations should be directed to the Dedman School of Law at SMU and can be made online at https://giving.smu.edu/schools-areas/dedman-law/ or by check made out to the Dedman School of Law, indicating on the check that the gift is in memory of Charles Alford Tarpley, and sent to the SMU Office of Development, P.O. Box 750402, Dallas, TX, 75275-0402. For the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament, donations may be made online at www.opnuns-fh.org or by check made out to the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament, indicating on the check that the donation is in memory of Charles Alford Tarpley, and sent to the Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament, 29575 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334-2311.

RW/RC/NWA Capt. Gary Lee Pansier

~ IN MEMORY ~

RW/RC/NWA Capt. Gary Lee Pansier

January 24, 1937 ~ April 28, 2020

Notice with the passing of retired Hughes Airwest/Republic/Northwest Airlines pilot Captain Gary Lee Pansier, age 83.  Captain Pansier is survived by his wife Joan plus many other dear family members.

To view the obituary and share memories please visit the funeral home website at

https://www.rhodescharapata.com/obituaries/Gary-Lee-Pansier?obId=12817900#/obituaryInfo

 Obituary may also be viewed at

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenbaypressgazette/obituary.aspx?n=gary-pansier&pid=196126048

For those wishing to send a personal note, whitepages lists the family address as

N6755 Loop Lake Rd.,  Crivitz, WI 54114.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

Obituary……………… - Gary Lee Pansier, 83, of Crivitz, Wisconsin passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his sisters, Beverly Berken and Donna C. Pansier of De Pere, Wisconsin. Surviving are also his nieces, nephews and cousins who meant so much to him and he dearly loved spending time with them.

Gary was married to the former Joan Renee Bader, from Ogden, Utah. They celebrated 35 years of marriage on June 16, 2019.

Gary was born in De Pere, Wisconsin on January 24, 1937. In high school he was active in sports, lettering for four years in football, basketball and track. He graduated from West De Pere High School in 1955 and attended Northern Michigan University, Rippon College, Wisconsin State College on football scholarships. He was the All Conference Captain of the football team for Oshkosh in 1962. In 1963 Gary graduated from Oshkosh State College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree and played defense for the semi-professional football team, the Manitowoc Chiefs in 1964. During this time he also served with the U.S. Army Reserves in Tacoma, Washington and Colorado Springs, Colorado and received an honorable discharge in 1963.

After graduation, Gary worked for National Geographic in St. Louis, Missouri until he was hired as a commercial airline pilot by Airwest in San Francisco, California. He flew as a First Officer for Airwest Airlines, Hughes Airwest Airlines, Republic AirLines and Northwest Airlines, and was based in San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis. He retired as a Captain on the Boeing MD-80 Aircraft in 1997. His wife, Joan, worked with him as a Flight Attendant, and Gary liked to say that how fortunate he was to have a wife who waited on him both at work and at home!

Gary's passions included the love for his wife, his passion for his country, our Constitution and the Rule of Law that we are blessed with as Americans. They also included his love for football, flying, horseback riding in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, the Green Bay Packers, and all his beloved pets. His infectious smile always expressed the incredible joy he felt for life, his friends and his family.

Toward the end of his life on this earth, Gary expressed a desire that his legacy would be that "whenever you think of me, I hope it brings a smile to your face." He also expressed a strong desire to join all the precious dogs in heaven who crossed the Rainbow Bridge who he had known and loved throughout his life.

Joan would like to thank Unity Hospice, especially Cheryl and Katherine, for the exceptional End of Life Care they provided and continue to provide.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of Gary's life will be held for friends and family that will be announced at a later date. For those whose lives he touched, online condolences may be expressed online at www.rhodescharapata.com