~ IN MEMORY ~
WA/DL Capt. Richard A. ‘Dick’ Deeds
February 16, 1934 ~ August 6, 2021
Dick joined Western Airlines 01-20-1964 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1994, based 030/LAX at the time of his retirement. Left to mourn Dick’s passing are his wife Mary Ann, his sons, and many more family members, friends, and colleagues
From his son, Ken’s Facebook page: “It’s with the heaviest of hearts I post my father, Captain Richard A. Deeds, passed yesterday at the age of 87 after a long battle with several health problems. I don’t know if there are words in life for when we lose someone that loves us as much as my father loved me and our family. His final months were not easy and his passing was also a blessing at this point as he was in great pain and had no chance of ever leaving a hospital bed. To quote my father, “Getting old isn’t for pussies.” My father loved to fly. If you never were in the cockpit with my dad I don’t know if you really knew the man. His love for flight started from the first day he saw an airplane. He learned to fly by going to the airport in Erie, PA, and cleaning and fueling planes for people. They’d then sometimes take him and up and that’s how he learned. He worked on the original black box recorder for aviation and has a wall full of awards for his work and dedication to airline safety. At the top of those was the Rare Bird award from ALPA (pilots union) which was for the single person that did the most for airline safety in a year. My dad’s concern and care for the passengers and other pilots were second to none. He was lucky in that he spent his life doing what he loved the most for work. I really don’t know what happens afterlife but I pray my father is just flying an airplane somewhere. It’s what he was born to do. My father accomplished so many things in his lifetime it’s hard to list them here. He served during the Korean War, he became an accomplished computer programmer after retiring from flying, he could make a speech like few people ever can, and he was one of the first people to survive a full kidney removal in the 1950s. But among his accomplishments, his love for me, my brother, and our family were probably his greatest. You couldn’t ask for someone to care more about their family than he cared about us. You might match it, but you just can’t care more than he did. I thank you dad for all the great times and memories. I wish your passing was easier for you and once again I just hope you are flying an old biplane through the clouds. I love you and we’ll all miss you. The earth is a quieter and duller place without you.”
Obituary at Lasting Memories
Obituary at PCN Flight West
Condolences may be sent to the family at:
6555 Gillis Drive, San Jose, CA 95120.
Obituary: Richard “Dick” Deeds
Richard Austin Deeds passed away on August 6, 2021, in San Jose. He was born in Erie, PA on February 16, 1934, to Leonard and Grace (Klenk) Deeds. He graduated from Cathedral Prep in Erie, joined the Navy, and after returning from the Navy moved to Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from Northrop Institute of Technology in 1955 and went to work at Fairchild. After Fairchild, he taught at Northrop Institute in Inglewood, CA and honed his flying skills, and became an airline pilot with Western/Delta Airlines. He was the regional air safety coordinator for the Airline Pilots Association for many years, a member of QB San Jose hangar, and after retirement worked for AOPA. Predeceased by his parents, a brother Leonard, a sister Joyce Figurski and granddaughter Jeanne Deeds Green. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, sons Ken (Dina) Whitefish, MT, Rick (Nancy) grandson Rich (Melinda) and former wife Agnes Deeds all of Tracy, CA, and many nieces and nephews.
