~ IN MEMORY ~
RC/NW/DL Capt. Charley Otto Aars
November 8, 1959 ~ July 14, 2020
Notification with the passing of retired Northwest/Delta
pilot Capt. Charley Otto Aars, age 60.
Obituary notes: “…graduated from American Technical
University in 1982 ….. immediately began his aviation career as an instructor
pilot at Texas Aero in Waco. What quickly followed was a succession of
increasingly responsible flying positions in the commercial aviation industry
beginning with Chaparral Airlines based in Abilene. That soon led to his selection
as a flight engineer on 727 trijets with Republic Airlines headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. From there he moved up the career ladder to first
officer and then to Captain in 1997. In the meantime, Republic was acquired by
Northwest Airlines. And then Northwest was acquired by Delta Airlines.” (Captain
Aars DOH 05-19-1986)
Captain Aars is survived by his wife Lauri, his sons and his
grandson, plus many more dear family members.
Obituary information is also available online at
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary……………..Charley Otto Aars, 60, passed from this
earthly life to his divine, eternal life at his home in the Norse Community on
July 14, 2020. Graveside services were held Friday, July 17, 2020, at Our
Savior's Lutheran Cemetery at Norse. Visitation was held Thursday, July 16,
2020, at Clifton Funeral Home.
Charlie was born November 8, 1959, to C. Pernell and Rosalie
Rueter Aars and was named in honor of his grandfathers, Charlie Aars and Otto
Rueter.
A man of contrasts, he had roots buried deeply in the black
soil of Bosque County, and a successful career flying high in the blue sky
above the clouds. He was the first member of his family ever to become and
pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. While simultaneously, he was
also a fourth generation Bosque County farmer. In fact, all four sets of his great
grandparents had been immigrant farmers. His Aars and Hoel families came from
Norway, and his Rueter and Knust families came from Germany. Charley was
fiercely proud of those roots.
He grew up on the family farm west of Clifton and was a
lifetime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church where he was baptized,
confirmed, married, and finally laid to rest. While still a youngster, his
interest in aviation sprang from his fascination with watching the crop dusters
his dad contracted to spray the grain fields. Upon graduation from Clifton High
School in 1978 he enrolled in Texas State Technological Institute studying to
become an aviator. He graduated from American Technical University in 1982 with
a Bachelor of Science Degree and immediately began his aviation career as an
instructor pilot at Texas Aero in Waco. What quickly followed was a succession
of increasingly responsible flying positions in the commercial aviation
industry beginning with Chaparral Airlines based in Abilene. That soon led to
his selection as a flight engineer on 727 trijets with Republic Airlines
headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From there he moved up the career
ladder to first officer and then to Captain in 1997. In the meantime, Republic
was acquired by Northwest Airlines. And then Northwest was acquired by Delta
Airlines.
He retired from his commercial aviation career in 2017 as a
tenured pilot with Delta having logged more than 26, 000 hours flying jet
aircraft, culminating with the sleek Airbus A320. But his flying days were not
over. Almost immediately, he purchased a Piper Lance which he selected because
it was large enough to accommodate his whole family, thus combining his love of
flying and love of family. In 2019, he was called upon to work part-time for
Myatt Fuels. He enjoyed interacting with the customers and the camaraderie he
shared with the owner and the employees.
He was known for being able to drive almost anything,
beginning with the minibike his parents gave him for his eighth birthday. Soon
he was helping on the farm driving the family's 1949 Allis Chalmers WD tractor.
Eventually he would purchase his own larger and larger tractors as well as
other farm equipment and even a bulldozer. He liked to quip that some people
collect stamps, others coins, but he collected water in stock ponds he dug with
that bulldozer. In 1983, he married the love of his life and former high school
sweetheart, Lauri Carol Pitts. As their family began to grow, Charley and Lauri
purchased a part of the family farm for their permanent home. Not surprisingly,
Charley drove the bulldozer flattening the plot for the new house and was
hands-on engaged in every facet of its construction, including wiring in the
electrical circuitry. Thus, began their life as a farm family. Their three
sons, Andrew Charley, Eric James, and Thomas Aaron followed in their father's
farm boy footsteps helping with farming chores. While Charley was away on
flying duties, Lauri cared for the family and kept them all focused on growing
into responsible young men.
Charley was fond of joking that he was a "sport
farmer," and that he flew commercial jets to support his farming habit. He
loved farming and mastering all the diverse skills that it took to be
successful at it. His mother lovingly said that Charley was born with dirt
under his fingernails. Such was his total commitment to the profession. He was
likewise committed to his church and community. As a lifelong member of Our
Savior's, he served in many capacities including being president of the Men's
Club and maintenance coordinator of the Cemetery Committee. Like his father
before him, Charley was a dedicated member of the Bosque Hay Show where he was
particularly key in raising money for the dozens of college scholarships the
organization awards annually to high school graduating seniors. He was a
lifelong member of the Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association and member of the
Neils Creek Wildlife Association, and the Bosque County Antique Tractor Club.
He took special pride in driving that old Allis Chalmers WD in competitive
tractor pulls.
Preceding him into eternal life were his parents, Pernell
and Rosalie Aars, and his grandparents Otto and Ottilie Knust Rueter and
Charlie and Alma Hoel Aars.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 37 years, Lauri
Aars and their three sons: Andrew Aars and wife Desiree of Godley, Eric Aars
and wife Laramie of Clifton, and Thomas Aars of Sentinel, Oklahoma. Plus, one
grandson, Eric and Laramie's baby, Kettler Aars. Also, his brother and family:
Rallin and Barbara Aars of DeSoto; Dr. Christian Aars of Plano; James and
Kristina Aars and their children Ellie, William and Joshua of Lakeville,
Minnesota; and Michael and Allison Aars and their sons Isaiah and Samuel of
Clifton. And Lauri's brother and family: Barry and Jamie Pitts of Clifton;
Hunter Pitts of Hewitt; and Fisher Pitts of Stephenville; mother and
father-in-law Carol Ann and James Pitts of Clifton.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts
be contributed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or Cemetery (152 CR 4145,
Clifton, Texas 76634) or to the donors' choice of charitable causes.
