NWA Capt. Revedy C. Ray III

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Revedy C. Ray III

December 30, 1939 - December 3, 2025

Following his military service, Revedy Cuthbert "RC" Ray III joined Northwest Airlines 08-05-1968 and retired with Northwest in 1999.  RC is survived by his wife Susan, and by his children and their families.

https://www.legacy.com/legacy/revedy-ray-iii 

Revedy C. Ray III's Obituary

Revedy C. Ray III (R.C.) Class of 1961, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Rosemary Durst Ray and R.C. Ray, Jr.  R.C. was raised in Little Rock and carried a fondness for his hometown with him throughout a life defined by service, adventure, and a love of the outdoors.

R.C. attended Texas A&M University as a member of the Corps of Cadets where he formed lifelong bonds and developed skills that would continue to guide him. His love for his alma mater never faded, and he remained devoted to Texas A&M, proudly supporting the next generations of Aggies through the Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Foundation. While an undergraduate, he was selected to be a member of the Ross Volunteer Company, the official military honor guard for the Governor of Texas and the oldest student organization at Texas A&M University. He joined the United States Marine Corps, completing the Platoon Leaders Course as Battalion Honor Man. Following commissioning, he attended The Basic School and upon graduation entered flight training, receiving his Wings of Gold in 1963. R.C. was qualified to fly the T-34, TF-9J, F-11, and the A-4. As an A-4 pilot, he bravely flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, a testament to his courage, skill, and dedication to his fellow Marines and his country. His time in the cockpit fueled an interest in aviation that took him from military service to a distinguished 31-year career for Northwest Airlines. He was qualified to fly many airframes for Northwest that included the B727, B757, B767, and B747. His airframe qualifications also included a Cessna 185 seaplane and a Learjet.

R.C. found his peace and joy in the great outdoors. He had a deep love of hunting and fishing, passions he thoroughly enjoyed sharing with family and friends, creating many memories in the woods and on the water. He also loved cross-country and downhill skiing, running, and playing tennis, activities he shared with his children. He was a competitive and highly rated USTA tennis player, and at the peak of his running days, he completed a marathon.

He was a devoted husband to his wife, Susan, sharing a lifetime of memories through their many adventures together. Growing up and throughout his entire life, he remained close to his sisters, Margaret and Martha, sharing a bond of love and laughter.

R.C.’s legacy lives through his four loving children: John (Hue) Ray; Bill (Valicia) Ray; Andy (Liz) Ray; and Maria Ray (Hill) Goodspeed. He was a proud Grandpa to eleven grandchildren: Emma Ray, Sara Ray, Hunter (Elise) Vickrey Rebecca Ray (Joe) Muhitch, Alex Ray, Chloe Ray, Katie Ray (Sam) Goecke, Andrew Ray, Connor Goodspeed, Jackson (Claire) Goodspeed, Anna Goodspeed, and great-grandchild, Peter Ambrose Goecke. He also leaves behind brother-in-law Richard (Martha) Brooks, sisters-in-law Paula (Dave) Skelton and Gina (John) Hernandez and several nieces and nephews.

His steady manner, quiet strength, and easy smile will be missed by family and friends. The family celebrated his life by holding a private ceremony surrounded by the peaceful sounds of rushing waters and birdsong.

Published on Legacy.com November 06, 2026

DL F/O John Clinton Upshaw

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

DL F/O John Clinton Upshaw

June 15, 1965 ~ November 1, 2026

He started flying at 14 and made it his career, flying for Delta Air Lines from 1997 as a first officer on the Boeing 767ER on international routes.................

John joined Delta Air Lines 11-06-1997 and was based Atlanta.  He is survived by his wife Julie, and by his children and their families.

Services to honor John will be held November 9th in Atlanta...please see obituary below for details.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-upshaw-obituary?id=62907209 

John Upshaw Obituary

Groce Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Patton Avenue

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of John Clinton Upshaw of Highlands, NC, on November 1, 2026. John was 61 and deeply loved by his family and friends. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his kindness, and the many ways he made others laugh.

John was born in Atlanta, GA, and graduated from Pace Academy in 1984 and Purdue University in 1988. He started flying at 14 and made it his career, flying for Delta Air Lines from 1997 as a first officer on the Boeing 767ER on international routes. He loved having family and friends on board, and over the years they flew with him all over Europe. He was a longtime fan of Jimmy Stewart, a fellow pilot. He could recite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show word for word, and he loved Seinfeld. Being a grandaddy to Isla was one of the great joys of his life, especially the cuddling.

John is survived by his wife, Julie Upshaw; his daughter and son-in-law, Abigail and Martin Endicott; his son and daughter-in-law, Mason and Autumn Upshaw; his son, Jake Upshaw; his granddaughter, Isla; his mother, Robbie Upshaw; his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Maria Upshaw; his sisters and their husbands, Elizabeth and Sam Chambliss, Carol and Scott Swayze, and Ellen and Sandy Allison; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Calvin Upshaw.

A service to honor John's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 9, at The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, with a reception to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Pisgah Legal Services, P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802, or online at pisgahlegal.org.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.

DL Capt. Charles Kirkman Hanner III

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, DL Capt.  Charles Kirkman Hanner III

April 22, 1949 - October 29, 2026

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Charles Kirkman Hanner, III, aged 77, of Morganton, Georgia ........................

Charles "Chuck" Hanner joined Delta Air Line 07-11-1991 and retired with Delta in 2005. He is survived by his wife Allison, and by his two sons and their families, and by his stepchildren and their families.  

Please see obituary below for services and arrangements.

https://www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com/obituary/charles-hanner-iii  

Charles Kirkman Hanner, III (Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Hanner)

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Charles Kirkman Hanner, III, aged 77, of Morganton, Georgia on October 29, 2026. Chuck will be greatly missed and remembered by the many lives he touched. He was a man of remarkable warmth, wit and kindness, whose life was uniquely blessed by two happy marriages and an abundance of love.

Born on April 22, 1949 in Fort Dix, New Jersey, he was the firstborn child of Colonel Charles Kirkman Hanner, Jr. and Phyllis (Cole) Hanner. Being an “Air Force Brat” he lived in many locations throughout his childhood. He met his first wife, Jeanie Douglas Hanner when he was a student at Florida State University. They married on October 16, 1971, and shared 25 years of marriage until her passing in 1996, raising two wonderful sons, Chad and Chase.   

A few years later, Chuck met and married Allison Christian Hanner, and they were blessed with 26 years of marriage. Chuck is predeceased by his parents, Charles K. Hanner, Jr. and Phyllis C. Hanner, and his first wife, Jeanie Douglas Hanner. He is survived by his second wife, Allison Christian Hanner, his two sons, Chad Hanner (Venera) and Chase Hanner (Angela), his stepson Richard Clive (Yang), his stepdaughter, Loren Clive, granddaughters Bailey Hanner, Addison Hanner, Delilah Baggs, Rachel Clive, and Ysabel Clive and grandsons Colton Hanner, Gabriel Hanner, and Dion Bejtullahu, his brother, Cole Hanner (Pamela), his sister, Marsha Hanner Gainey (Keith), and various nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous friends. 

Chuck graduated from McLean High School in 1967, attended Florida State University and graduated in 1971. He subsequently embarked on a 20 year military career where he served as an officer in the USAF and as an F16 fighter pilot.

After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1991, he was a pilot with Delta Airlines and an instructor in the Delta Airlines Training Department until 2005. Subsequently, he was employed by Netjets, Inc. as Director of Training and Chief Pilot on the Boeing Business Jet from 2005 until 2015. He retired from the airline industry and moved to the North Georgia Mountains where he resided for the remainder of his life. 

Mr. Hanner was an avid reader and had many hobbies and interests including traveling, motorcycle riding, photography, swimming, shooting, and woodturning. He was a member of the Union County Gun Club and the Chatuge Gun Club in Towns County, where he won numerous rifle competitions. 

Chuck and his wife, Allison enjoyed traveling and socializing with their many friends in their Blue Ridge Mountain community. 

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 9th, 2026 at the First United Methodist Church of Union County (938 GA-515 W, Blairsville, GA 30512). Visitation will be at the church at 2:00 pm and the service will begin at 3:00 in the main sanctuary. It will be followed by a reception in Chuck’s honor at the home of Gary and Sherry Luoma in Hightop Mountains Estates. The family requests memorial donations be made to Wounded Warriors Project or Tunnel to Towers Foundation. support.woundedwarriorproject.org or T2T.org

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may share your thoughts and condolences online at mountainviewfuneralhome.com 

WA/DL Capt. Randy Lanford

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Randy Lanford  

May 5, 1941 ~ Oct 29, 2026

Following his military service, Randy began a career in commercial aviation, flying for Western Airlines and later Delta Air Lines...............

Randall "Randy" Garrett Lanford joined Western Airlines 01-13-1969.  He retired with Delta Air Lines in 2001, and was based LAX and ATL.  Randy is survived by his wife Velma, and by his daughters and their families.

Private memorial services will be held by Randy's family. 

PCN memorial site  

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/randall-randy-lanford-obituary?id=62883241 

INDIAN LAND, SC – Randall Garrett Lanford

Randall Garrett Lanford passed away on October 29, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was 85 years old.

Randy grew up in Anniston, Alabama, attended McCallie School, and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in electrical engineering. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and assigned to Pensacola for flight training. After earning his wings, he was stationed at Miramar in San Diego, where he flew the F-8 Crusader, a single-seat fighter jet. He went on to serve two tours in Vietnam, flying missions from aircraft carriers.

Following his military service, Randy began a career in commercial aviation, flying for Western Airlines and later Delta Air Lines. He retired in 2001.

Retirement gave Randy more time to pursue his many interests, which included traveling, stamp collecting, ham radio, computers, and shooting sports. He became the go-to computer guru for many friends and family members who needed help, a role he happily embraced. He especially enjoyed pistol and trap shooting.

Randy was predeceased by his parents, Jayne and John Lanford. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Velma Baerwald Lanford; his daughters, Julia Lanford and Lisa Lanford Craig (Rick); his granddaughters, Lauren Stokes (Jared) and Lacey Craig (Mike); his great-grandson, Collin; and his sister, Sissy Lanford McGinty.

Randy will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his generosity, strong sense of ethics, and wonderfully quirky sense of humor.

The family will celebrate his life privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Remote Area Medical, Fisher House, or Hope in Lancaster, South Carolina.

WA/DL Capt. Michael Pappas

 ~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Michael Pappas 

May 17, 1948 – October 15, 2026

Michael "Mike" Louis Pappas joined Western Airlines 07-12-1976 and retired with Delta Air Lines based LAX.  Mike is survived by his wife Mary, and by his children and grandchildren. 

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/michael-pappas-13077657   

IN THE CARE OF

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

Michael Louis Pappas was born and raised in Los Angeles. While attending Cal State Los Angeles (majoring in Police Science), Michael became a flight instructor and served in the California Air National Guard. Michael's love of aviation began when he was just a little boy, and even then, his passion was unmistakable. What began with a child's fascination became a remarkable 60-year career in aviation.

Michael's distinguished career took him from Golden West Airlines to Western Airlines and ultimately to Delta Air Lines, where he retired. His love of flying extended beyond the cockpit, as he built a highly successful jet school, training advanced pilots to fly jets and sharing the knowledge and expertise he had acquired over a lifetime in aviation. Last year, Michael was honored to receive the FAA’s Wright Brothers’ Master Pilot Award. Michael turned his childhood dream into a lifelong calling, and as Mary would attest, he never “worked” a day in his life.

Above all, Michael was a devoted husband who absolutely adored his wife, Mary. Their marriage was built on a deep love, steadfast loyalty, and a shared commitment to one another, standing side by side through life's joys and challenges. Theirs was a remarkable partnership, and the love they shared will forever be part of Michael's legacy.

As a father and grandfather, he loved playing cards and Parcheesi with his children and grandchildren, continuing the same cherished traditions he had enjoyed with his own beloved father, Mike L. Pappas. Those games brought generations together around the table, filled with laughter, friendly competition, and time spent with the people who mattered most.

Michael's greatest joys were found in being with the people he loved, whether they were family or friends. He was gregarious, generous beyond measure, and the life of every party. His quick wit, warmth, and infectious personality could turn any gathering into a memorable occasion; after his stroke, he still had the rare gift of making people feel welcome, valued, and loved, whether they had known him for a lifetime or had just met him. Michael was loyal, devoted, and a man of unwavering integrity who stood by the people he loved. Most importantly, he was a faithful and devoted Christian who lived his life in accordance with his beliefs.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife of over 46 years, Mary; his daughters, Stacy Sawaya and her husband, Pierre; Michele Payne and her husband, Mike; and his son, Michael G. Pappas and his wife, Kelsey. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Peter and Alexandria Sawaya, James and Weston Payne, and Michael Wyatt and Sophia Pappas, each of whom held a very special place in his heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike L. Pappas and Mena Pappas, and his sister, Alexis K. Fine.

Michael leaves behind a legacy that lives on in the family he loved, the friendships he treasured, the laughter he inspired, and the countless lives he touched. It lives on in the love he shared with Mary, and in the example, he set for his children and grandchildren. He had a larger-than-life personality, an unmistakable sense of humor, and a remarkable ability to make everyone he met feel special. Even after his stroke 22 years ago, Michael continued to connect with people, forging new friendships and relationships. To know Michael was to love him, and as one of his friends shared recently, “He brought people together…we all laughed, we all connected…He was an enthusiastic gatherer of genuine, good people. Whether it was on the ground or above it, in his cockpits on the radio…everyone… EVERYONE…wanted to be connected with Mike. His was a life, maybe not always easy, but so well-lived.” There will never be another Michael Pappas.