DL Capt. Willard “Bill” Baker

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, DL Capt. Willard “Bill” Baker

March 23, 1938 ~ February 14, 2026

 

Delta Goldeen Wings member Willard Kent Baker joined Delta Air Lines 04-03-1967.  Bill had most recently resided in Georgia : 1533 Frazier Rd, Decatur, GA 30033.  He is survived by his wife Irene and by his sons and their families.

Services will be held at McKendree United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville on February 21 at noon, with visitation one hour prior.

 

PCN memorial site

 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsobserver/name/willard-baker-obituary?id=60816752

 

Willard Baker Obituary

Bill Baker (Willard Kent Baker) of Lawrenceville, passed away February 14, 2026 in Decatur, Georgia. Bill will be remembered as a kind and generous man who loved his family, felt at home in nature and had a soft spot for children and animals (notably dogs and deer). He always liked to make people smile, whether in response to his humor, or in delight at his skills as a home chef.

 

Bill was born in Hertford, North Carolina on March 23, 1938 to Willard F. and Louise R. Baker. Aside from a short stint in New York City during World War II, he grew up in Weeksville, North Carolina, graduating from Weeksville High School. Bill graduated from East Carolina University in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. While attending East Carolina, Bill met the love of his life, Irene Link Baker of Raleigh. They were married shortly after graduation.

 

Already licensed as a private pilot, Bill entered the U.S. Air Force and went to flight school at Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. As a decorated combat pilot, Bill served his nation proudly in Vietnam and later in Alaska. His decorations include twice being awarded the Air Medal. He achieved the rank of Captain.

 

Upon completion of active duty, Bill became a pilot for Delta Airlines, mainly based in Atlanta. He flew for Delta for thirty-one years, retiring as an International Captain. As a pilot and in retirement, Bill lived in Stone Mountain and Lawrenceville with Irene, to whom he was married for almost 65 years. Irene had the distinction of being his first passenger (when first licensed as a private pilot) and among those on his final flight with Delta. Together they raised three sons and had nine grandchildren. Bill was a member of McKendree United Methodist Church.

 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Irene, sister Florence Rush, three sons Willard Kent Baker, Jr. (Vicki), Wallace Link Baker (Belle), William Scott Baker (Jana), and his beloved grandchildren Willard Kent Baker III (Sydney), Colton Dyle Baker, Samantha Alene Baker, Richard Link Baker (Julia), Brewer Gibson Baker, Lawson Malcolm Baker, William Scott Baker, Jr., Daniel Link Baker and Clara Deletta Baker.

 

The funeral service will be held at McKendree United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville on Saturday, February 21 at noon, with visitation before that at 11:00.

NEA/DL Capt. Barry Watkins

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, NEA/DL Capt. Barry Watkins

December 30, 1935 ~ February 13, 2026

 

Delta Golden Wings member Barry Lyman Watkins Sr. began his commercial flying career with Northeast Airlines 03-06-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines based Boston.  He had most recently resided in New Hampshire : 4 Shirley Ln, Stratham, NH 03885.

Barry is survived by his wife Sherrill, and by his children and their families.

 

PCN memorial site

 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/barry-watkins-obituary?id=60827751

Barry Lyman Watkins obituary

Barry Lyman Watkins Sr. of Stratham New Hampshire passed away peacefully on Friday February 13th, surrounded by his family. Barry, also known as "The Bear" was born on December 30, 1935 in Leominster Massachusetts. He was lovingly raised by his grandparents, Osborne T and Angie May Watkins. He graduated from Leominster High school in 1954 and East Coast Aero Tech in 1955. Barry applied and was accepted into the Air Force Aviation cadet program. He flew tankers for the Air Force and after two tours to Viet Nam he was honorably discharged as a Major. He was hired as a pilot with Northeast Airlines in Boston Massachusetts. In 1972 Northeast airlines merged with Delta Airlines. He retired from Delta as a Captain in October 1995, he had devoted nearly four decades to the aviation industry.

 

He loved watching and playing football, skiing, riding his motorcycle, boating and traveling in his RV. For many years he enjoyed summers at Bow Lake and had to have the fastest boat on the lake. He was an active member of the friends of Bill W program for forty eight wonderful years.

 

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Sherrill (Snow) Watkins, daughters, Brenda and her husband Alan Feaster of Anchorage Alaska and Lori Watkins of Stratham New Hampshire and his sons Barry Watkins Jr of Barrington New Hampshire and Scott Watkins and his wife Ruth of Old Orchard Beach Maine and four grandchildren Megan, Zachary, Rachel and Nicholas.

 

A celebration of life will be held in the Spring.

 

 

 

 

NWA Capt. Richard C. Robbins

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

NWA Capt. Richard Clifford Robbins

April 25, 1936 – February 6, 2026

 

PCN memorial site

From the RNPA/retired Northwest Airlines pilot group…..

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We have lost another fine aviator – Richard C. ‘Dick’ Robbins died Friday, February 6, 2026. Currently, we do not have any other details. We do know that Dick was 89 years old – I agree, that itself is hard to believe. He was hired by NWA on October 10, 1964. Dick served for many years as an instructor pilot in the NWA Training Department.

With great regret and respect,

Bill Day

 

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/stuart-fl/richard-robbins-12739289

Richard Clifford Robbins

IN THE CARE OF Aycock Funeral Home Young & Prill Chapel

Richard Clifford Robbins, born on April 25, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away on February 6, 2026, at the age of 89.

Richard Clifford Robbins was a resident of Stuart, Florida.

 

DL Capt. Charles “Larry” Bacon

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, DL Capt. Charles “Larry” Bacon

November 8, 1941 – January 1, 2026

 

From friends and family comes news with the passing of retired Delta Air Lines pilot Captain Larry Bacon, age 84.  Larry joined Delta Air Lines 06-02-1969 and was based Atlanta.  He is survived by his wife Christine, and by his children and their families.

PCN memorial site

 

OBITUARY

Charles Larry Bacon, 84, died peacefully on Jan. 1, 2026. He grew up in Miami Springs, Florida, where the foundations of his character— discipline, curiosity, quiet determination, and a quick wit—were formed early. He graduated from Miami Senior High School, earning a NROTC scholarship that took him north to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. There, as a proud member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, Larry distinguished himself both academically and personally. He graduated in 1963 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

 

Larry's military career was marked by courage, skill, and an unwavering sense of duty. After completing Basic Infantry Officer's School, he went on to graduate from Naval Aviator Training as a Designated Naval Aviator. Additional training followed in Beaufort, South Carolina, with VMFA-251, before he was deployed to Vietnam, with VMFA-542. Larry flew 151 combat missions in F-4 aircraft. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, nine Air Medals, the Meritorious Service Campaign Medal, and the Purple Heart - honors that reflected both his bravery and sacrifice. Upon returning home, he served as a flight instructor with VT-7 at NAS Meridian in Mississippi.

 

In 1969, Larry began a second distinguished career with Delta Air Lines, where he flew for 32 years. Over the course of his career, he logged more than 25,000 flight hours, piloting aircraft including the DC-8, DC-9, L-1011, B-727, B-757, and B-767. He retired as an international captain, respected not only for his professionalism, skill and calm leadership, but also for his ability to put others at ease with his sense of humor.

 

Larry continued his service to the country through the Marine Corps Reserve, flying the F-8

Crusader with VMF-351 at NAS Atlanta and later serving with VMO-4 from 1976 to 1982. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1988 with the rank of Colonel, a testament to a lifetime of commitment, excellence, and leadership that never lost its human touch.

 

Beyond his professional achievements, Larry lived fully and passionately. His humor endeared him to everyone he met. He loved reading, art, and music, and found great joy on the golf course.

A devoted golfer, he traveled throughout Great Britain and Ireland attending tournaments, achieved four holes-in-one, and carried a lowest handicap of four. He was also an original sponsor of PGA professional Larry Nelson, a Celebrity and World Golf Hall of Fame recipient.

 

Larry generously supported causes close to his heart, including CADEF and the Magnolia Classic for Autism. Above all, he will be remembered for his integrity, sharp mind, great sense of humor, and the steady presence he brought to every role he held—as a Marine, a pilot, a mentor, and a friend.

 

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Christine, whose steadfast support and companionship were central to his life. He is also survived by his sister. Cheryl Domineau (Jim); his children, Ken, Elizabeth, and Mike St. Amand (Karen); and his cherished grandchildren, each of whom brought him immense pride and joy. He was further blessed with three great-grandchildren, who added an extra measure of happiness to his later years. Larry is also lovingly remembered by his niece, Nicole Welty (Chris) and nephew, Larry Keith (Mary Louise), along with extended family and friends who will miss him deeply.

IN THE CARE OF H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sandy-springs-ga/charles-bacon-12689298

 

 

NWA Capt. RALPH Arthur ENGELKING

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. RALPH A. ‘LEFTY’ ENGELKING

OCTOBER 23, 1930 ~ FEBRUARY 3, 2026

 

PCN memorial site

https://www.whitefuneralhomes.com/obituary/captn-ralph-engelking 

Obituary & Condolences at: www.whitefuneralhomes.com 

 

Captain Ralph A. Engelking “Lefty” passed away on February 3, 2026, at the age of 95.  He was born on October 23, 1930, to Edward W. and Leona (Jahnke) Engelking, and lived in Arlington Heights during his childhood.  Ralph attended St. Peter Lutheran School for elementary and junior high school, and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1948, where he played Baseball and Football.  After high school he attended Northern Illinois State Teachers College in Dekalb, IL, before graduating from Lake Forest College in 1953.  After college he joined the Marine Corps, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in late 1953.  He was selected for Marine aviation and earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator in July, 1955.  His joined VMA 332, and flew FJ-3 “Fury’s”, and served with them as they deployed to NAS Iwakuni, Japan during 1957-1958.  After active duty, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve, and flew the AD-54 and R4Q-2.  Ralph returned to temporary active duty from 1962-1965, flying the T-28/34, and the R4D-8/R5D for the team supporting the Navy Blue Angels.  

 

Ralph joined Northwest Orient Airlines (04-23-1959) and flew the 707, 727, DC-9/10, and was one of the pilots selected to fly the 747-400.  He was proud of his service as a Marine and his long, accident free career as a Captain with Northwest Orient Airlines.

 He was married to Carol A. Cleven, from Mt. Prospect, IL, on Oct. 6, 1956, and they were blessed with three children Lori K. (Richard A.) Huckle, Jr.; Ross A. (Connie H.) Engelking; and Mark C. (Dawn M.) Engelking.  Ralph and Karen Fredrickson (his beloved companion) enjoyed life in Arizona and traveling together for many years. He was the proud grandfather of Richard A. Huckle, III (Janelle); Stephen A. Huckle; Kelby J. Engelking; and Brady S. Engelking.

Ralph was a committed member of the VFW, Mercedes Benz Car Club - MN, “RAMS” Raggedy Ass Marines, race horse owner, and American Legion.  He was an avid outdoorsman, with interests in hunting, fishing at the cabin on Lake Minnewaska, and golfing.  In leu of flowers the family requests donations be made to any charity supporting our veterans.

 

His funeral will be held at White Funeral home, Burnsville, MN, this Friday afternoon (2/6/26) at 3pm - with gathering of family and friends starting at 2pm. Burial will be held at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.  

Condolences at: www.whitefuneralhomes.com

 

Memorial Service

White Funeral Home - Burnsville

•  Friday, February 6, 2026
•  3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Gathering of family and friends starting at 2 PM

WHITE FUNERAL HOME - BURNSVILLE

12804 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville, MN 55337

 (952) 894-5080    952-894-0888