…..from the RNPA/retired Northwest pilots group…..
~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Ronald W. Murdock
May 6, 1933 ~ April 27, 2021
(NWA date of hire: 05-23-1958)
Captain Ron Murdock, age 87, died April 27, 2021 of
esophageal cancer. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to James and Hazel Murdock. Ron had
three brothers. His parents struggled with layoffs and scarce employment during
the Great Depression. Ron’s father ended up supporting the family as a bus
driver. One can safely describe Ron as a child of the depression.
From his early
youth Ron exhibited qualities of modesty, shyness, and great intellect. A top
student and class officer in his high school class. Ron often described himself
as an ‘early nerd.’ After high school Ron studied at the Case Institute of
Technology in Cleveland, Ohio for two years prior to entering the USN Naval
Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program. This major step was no doubt provoked in part
by Ron’s older brother James, who had opted for the USAF Aviation Cadet program
and thereafter served as a USAF pilot.
Assigned to NAVCAD
class 1-54 at NAS Pensacola, Ron endured the military training and excelled at
flying. Most of his flight training was at/near Pensacola with advanced
training at Beeville, Texas. While a cadet Ron sang in the Naval Aviation Cadet
Choir. He was honored to have performed with the Cadet Choir on the famed Ed
Sullivan television show along with Tony Bennett. Ron acquired his wings of
Gold and was commissioned into the USMC in May of 1955 and thereafter
transferred to MCAS Cherry Point, NC.
Obit Photo Ron
Murdock Arriving MCAS Cherry Point, Ron reported to VMF-312 and joined a cadre
of other new USMC 2/Lt. aviators who were also destined to become NWA pilots;
including Jens Houby, Buz Rogers, Al Teasley, and Harry Bedrossian. At the time
of Ron’s arrival VMF-312 was flying the FJ-2, a Navy/Marine version of the
early model North American F-86 Sabre Jet. Ron was later assigned to a night
fighter interceptor squadron flying the Douglas F3D, Skyknight, a two-man
aircraft with a pilot and radar operator.
Like many others in
our ranks, Ron received a tip off about airline employment from a USMC aviator
friend who had already secured airline employment. Ron applied for separation
from USMC active duty and was hired by Northwest Airlines on May 23, 1958. His
career at NWA started in the right seat of the DC-4. During this era NWA had a
crew base at Spokane. Although Ron was never based at Spokane, he did fly
occasional trips out of that crew base. The late fifties and early sixties were
the end of the prop era; seasonal layoffs were common making line flying less
than predictable. It was during this era that Ron got to know Wes Schierman,
also a NWA DC-4 copilot based at Spokane and active with the Air Guard at
Geiger Field. Wes and Ron became good friends. Spokane became an anchor point
for Ron later in life.
One Spokane based
flight attendant really caught Ron’s eye - Bonnie Herrman, and after a short
courtship they were married on June 21, 1962. They crossed the state line to
Cour d’Alene where couples could be married on shorter notice. The Cour d’Alene
wedding was a well-kept secret, revealed to Bonnie’s parents only the day after
the event.
During his NWA
career Ron flew the DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, the Boeing 707 series, the DC-10 and both
the 747 classic and 747-400. During his airline career Ron enjoyed writing for
RNPA Contrails and the Air Line Pilot magazine. Ron officially retired from
Northwest Airlines on his 60th birthday - May 06, 1993.
Ron and Bonnie
lived near Spokane for a while, this move intended to enable Bonnie to raise
horses. Ron kept his hand in light aircraft flying with a Cessna 206. In time
the couple moved to Whidbey Island, WA.
Ron’s lifestyle
radically changed when began to suffer severe hearing loss above and beyond the
hearing loss that airline pilots are accustomed to enduring. Failed attempts at
making inroads into the hearing loss included a cochlear implant. Familiar with
the challenges of hearing loss, Ron and Bonnie became active in the Lion’s Club
Hearing Aid Assist Program.
Not to be defeated
by this hearing loss, Ron enrolled in academic classes and increased his
already intense reading.
Ron died this past
April 27, 2021 and is survived by his wife Bonnie; three daughters Kelly,
Kristy, and Jamie; grandchildren Jake and Katie O’Malley, and Gene Kelly Boyle.
Each daughter is remarkably successful in her career, and each is invaluably
supportive in the familial transition after Ron’s passing. The quite spoken and
self-effacing Ron Murdock is profoundly missed by family and friends.
(- Bill Day)
