~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, DL Capt. Stephen Marcus Gunn
DECEMBER 25, 1946 – DECEMBER 16, 2022
From friends we learn of the passing of retired
Delta pilot Captain Steve Gunn, nearing his 76th birthday. Steve joined Delta Air Lines 08-15-1977.
He is survived by his wife Patti and by his children and grandchildren.
Obituary information is available online at
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/stephen-gunn-11073286
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
IN THE CARE OF : El
Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park
Stephen
Gunn
Born
December 25, 1946 in Portland, Oregon. Steve’s family lived in Lake Oswego,
Oregon where he grew up and attended High school. He played on the school
basketball team, pole vaulted for the track team, and was a member of the Mt.
Hood Ski Patrol. When Steve was a young
boy; his parents took him to the Portland International airport. The airport at
that time had an outdoor "viewing deck" where people could go up and
watch aircraft operations. Steve's parents took him up there, and he witnessed
a jet fighter taking off from the Portland Air National Guard with a deafening
roar and fire breathing from its tail. It
accelerated down the runway and went straight up after takeoff. Steve looked up
at his parents and said: "That's what I want to do".
...and the
rest is history.
After high
school Steve attended the University of Oregon where he met his beautiful
future wife Patti Powell. After graduating from Oregon; Steve began his
lifelong goal to fly fighters for the US Military. He began his quest in
Pensacola Florida, the home of Naval Aviation, and began his flight training in
the summer of 1969. After primary flight training he called his college
sweetheart Patti and asked her if she wanted to join him on this great
adventure. She said yes, and they were subsequently married on December 26,
1969.
Following
their wedding, they packed up their car and headed back to Pensacola. The Navy
flight program took 18 months to complete, and took this new couple from
Pensacola to Meridian Mississippi, Beeville Texas and finally to Miramar Naval
Air Station in San Diego, called "fighter town USA" where Steve would
fly fighters for the next 16 years, including aircraft carrier operations
flying the F-8 Crusader in the South China Sea and elsewhere. Steve was a proud
graduate of the Navy Fighter weapons school also called "Topgun" and
retired from the Navy reserves with the rank of Commander.
Steve and
Patti met many lifelong friends in the military and had 2 wonderful kids paid
for by Uncle Sam. While flying for the Navy Reserves in San Diego, Steve was
fortunate enough to get hired by Delta Airlines and subsequently moved his
family to Atlanta, Georgia where they lived for the next 10 years. When Delta
opened a base at LAX, Steve moved his family back to San Diego to complete his
Delta career. Steve flew most of the jets Delta operated at that time including
the Boeing 727, 757, 767 and L-1011 throughout Delta's domestic and
international route system. The family took many great trips on the Delta
system and were very thankful for that time spent together.
After Delta,
Steve continued to fly for another 15 years working for a startup Thai Airline,
Las Vegas Sands Corporation and Northrop Grumman, dropping rockets off their
Tristar aircraft that sent satellites into space and test firing hypersonic
weapons. Steve continued to fly the Tristar until age 75.,
Steve was
blessed with a wonderful supportive wife and a son and daughter, Mike and Lisa,
who brought incredible joy to his life as did his 4 grandkids Gunner, Riley, Connor,
and Colin.
He enjoyed
many things in his life including water skiing trips with his family, snow
skiing, golfing, and fishing in Alaska and Montana and hanging out with his
extended family and friends. Steve also went to great lengths to execute
elaborate practical jokes on friends and family. His unique and hilarious sense
of humor was one of a kind and enjoyed by all.
His flying achievements
and life as a loving and supportive father/grandfather were second to none..but
what really made Steve special was his huge kind heart and constant acts of
selflessness.
Steve is
survived by his wife of 53 Years Patricia Gunn, his children Lisa Eubanks,
Michael Gunn and his wife Christine Gunn, his 4 grandchildren: Gunner, Riley,
Connor, and Colin, his brother David
Gunn and his wife Annie Gunn, in-laws, nieces, nephews and many life-long
friends.
