Jim joined Western Airlines 09-08-1986 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 2003. He is survived by his wife Patricia. Jim had most recently resided in South Dakota : 13959 Canyon Spur, Piedmont, SD 57769.
James “Jim” Ball, beloved husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away in Rapid City, SD on December 13, 2025.
Jim was born on February 8, 1944, in Teaneck, New Jersey, to Michael and Rita Ball and lived a life full of adventure, service, and exciting connection. He grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Bergen Catholic High School before attending St. Bonaventure University in New York. He proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving in the Philippines, and while there, he discovered his passion for 1960s music while volunteering as a DJ at the radio station on base. Upon returning to George Air Force Base in California, he pursued flying and later earned his private pilot instructor license while living in Van Nuys, CA.
It was there that Jim met the love of his life, Patricia Akin. They were married on October 19, 1974, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, beginning a lifelong journey together filled with love and exploration.
Jim’s aviation career took him across the country. He worked for the FAA’s Flight Standards Division, with assignments in Casper, WY; Great Falls, MT; and Montclair, CA. He later joined Western Air as a Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727, and after Western was acquired by Delta Airlines, he continued flying as a Captain on the 737 until his retirement in 2003.
In retirement, Jim and Patricia embraced life on the road, traveling in their motorhome and becoming “Winter Texans,” exploring the southern states and forming lasting friendships along the way. They lived in Hampstead and Moultonborough, New Hampshire, before settling in South Dakota.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Rita; his brother, Robert Ball; and his niece Patricia Van Belleghem. He is survived by his devoted wife Patricia; his brother Michael (Janet) Ball; sisters-in-law Dianne (Walt) Simons and Angela Strand; and numerous nieces and nephews who will cherish his memory.
Jim will be remembered for his warm spirit, his love of music and flight, and the quick, deep bonds he formed with everyone he met. His legacy lives on in the stories shared by those who knew him and the skies he once soared.
Memorial service will be held at 10:30 am Friday, December 19, 2025 at Kirk Funeral Home followed by light refreshments. Graveside rites will follow at 1:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery, in Sturgis.
We have learned that Captain Jack Volkel Jr. passed away the weekend of November 1st. Jack began his commercial flying with PNA/Western Airlines 03-15-1965 and retired with Delta Air Lines based PDX/030 at time of retirement. Aviation professionals abound in the Volkel family…..Jack’s father Captain Jack Volkel Sr. was a Captain with Northwest Airlines (details below) and Jack Jr.’s grandfather Calvin Volkel (1894 – 1942) was an early aviation enthusiast and held a private pilot’s license. Jack Jr.’s sister Shann is a former Northwest Airlines F/A and is the widow of PNA/WA/DL Captain Al Blake. Their daughter Stephanie is a pilot for United Airlines. Stephanie’s husband also is a pilot for United. Jack Jr.’s brother in law was PNA/WA/DL Captain Allan “Al” Blake (1939-2020, see link below). Jack Jr. was born in Minnesota and moved with his family to Washington state in 1953. He had most recently resided in Texas.
sad to report that Jack Volkel, BHS 1960, passed away at his home in Texas this past weekend. Jack retired several years ago after 38 years as a pilot, instructor pilot, and Chief Pilot for Delta Airlines. He is survived by Carel, his wife of 55 years, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
JACK VOLKEL, RET. NORTHWEST AIRLINE CAPTAIN, 73, of Bellevue, WA passed away on Thursday, July 20, 1995, in Issaquah. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.
Jack was born on Feb 28, 1922 in Winona, MN, the son of Calvin and Hazel Volkel. He was raised in Winona where he graduated from high school. Jack loved flying and when he was 16, his father purchased a Piper Cub for him. He logged in many hours of flying time completing his requirements to become a licensed pilot and in 1942 was hired by Northwest Airlines. In 1953 he and his family moved to Bellevue.
After retiring from Northwest, he started AeroDyne Corp. in 1965 at the Renton Airport and operated the business through 1985. Jack was a member of the Quiet Birdmen, a member of the Retired Northwest Pilot’s Assoc. and a member of the Seattle Evergreen Model A Club…………. Jack is survived by his loving wife, Gerry of Bellevue, one son, Jack, of Bellevue, one daughter, Shann Blake of Issaquah, and four granddaughters, Stephanie and Susan Blake, and Nancy and Laurie Volkel…….
Raised in Stamford, Connecticut, Hal earned a degree in Psychology from Fordham University. Following his passion for plane flight, he served in the US Air Force, later becoming a pilot for Western Airlines and relocating to San Ramon, CA.
Hal and Ilene Smith married in 1959 and raised three children: Keith, Nancy and Michael. He retired from a rewarding career at Delta Airlines, where he was known for his sense of humor and friendliness.
Hal was a devoted parish member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and gave of his time cooking in the soup kitchens and working the summer programs for the children.
Hal loved music and also developed a love of Harley Davidson motorcycles. He planned and hosted ride routes for his motorcycle club – “Hal’s Angels” he would say – for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, three children, five grandchildren and many friends. He will always be remembered for his giving nature and the twinkle in his eye.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in San Ramon on Friday, December 5th at 11:00 a.m.
Michael Keith Magnell was born on July 30, 1946 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He passed on September 23, 2025 in Orange County, California with his wife Iris and nephews Neal and Jim by his side. He lived a full and exciting life doing what he loved – flying.
Mike went to grade school in Long Beach, California and high school at Western High School in Anaheim, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree at California State College in Long Beach. It was there that he decided what he wanted to do for a career – he was going to fly.
In 1966 Mike received his first flying lesson, and it became a lifelong passion. He quickly earned his private pilot, commercial, and instructor ratings in Long Beach. He taught other students how to fly from 1969 to 1971 before taking his first job hauling passengers and freight in Alaska. Mike was off to become an Alaska bush pilot!
Mike moved to Teller, Alaska in 1972. At the time about 200 people lived there, and air taxi owner Jim Isabell broke his arm while trying to hand prop an airplane. He needed a pilot, and at the age of 26 Mike was his guy. Mike wrote in his pilot logbook on March 14, 1972: “1st Flight in Alaska”. He flew a Helio Courier airplane from village to village and to Nome for a year.
On a chance encounter, he walked into Nome’s grocery store (at the time called the NC Store) and met Iris Foster. Iris would later recall that she heard there was a handsome pilot in town who had come all the way from Los Angeles. He asked her out, and Iris being shy said: “No.” Iris’ brother Richard had a get together in an airplane hangar shortly afterwards, and both Mike and Iris were re-acquainted. Richard sat between them mischievously chaperoning the event, and six months later they were married.
They lived in Fairbanks in 1973 where Mike flew for Pacific Alaska Airlines flying fire patrol in an Aero Commander. Then he got his big break and landed a job with Western Airlines in California. Mike and Iris built a house and a life together in Laguna Hills, California. They even raised a wonderful dog named Bandit to sit in as co-pilot from time to time.
In their spare time, they enjoyed many memorable trips to places like Elvis’ Graceland and to the resort and hidden bunker for Congress called the Greenbriar. Internationally, they made a special trip to visit their nephew in England and took many trips to Mexico. One of Mike’s favorite trips was flying family and friends to Catalina Island in his own airplane.
Mike particularly loved spending his vacations in Alaska flying for Foster Aviation in Nome. The airline was started by Iris’ father Willie and operated by her brother Richard. Mike made many trips out to the Foster gold mine at Hannum Creek. One of his fondest memories was of smelling freshly baked bread and blueberry pie baked by Iris’ mother, Jane.
Western Airlines was bought out by Delta Airlines, and Mike worked his way up to captain. Not one to sit still, Mike’s idea of retirement was starting his own airplane ferrying business called “Transoceanic Aircraft Ferry.” He flew over 200 airplanes all over the world to places like Senegal, Brazil, Namibia, Afghanistan, New Caledonia and Christmas Island. On one trip over the vast Pacific Ocean, Mike encountered mechanical issues and almost deployed the airplane’s parachute system.
One of Mike’s more unique experiences was flying jets out of Kabul, Afghanistan for Kam Air. He said whenever they flew into Baghdad, Iraq they could not land with the standard gradual descending glide path. Instead, to avoid potential rocket attacks, they did steep corkscrew descents.
Mike loved flying the Cessna 180’s and 185’s he owned. And when the opportunity to buy the Helio Courier airplane that he flew in Teller back in the 70’s came up, he snatched it right up. It brought back a lot of good memories of the passengers he spent countless hours flying from village to village. And it brought a good laugh, too. When Mike had the helio restored, the airplane mechanic told him that there was hydraulic fluid all over under the floor of the plane. The fluid was in places that it should not have been. Upon further inspection, Mike said it was seal oil. Cans of it were notoriously known to tip over, and decades later it was still there!
Mike’s contribution, passion, and dedication were recognized with two honors at the biggest gathering of aviation enthusiasts – the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The FAA presented Mike with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. And AOPA (the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) awarded him with a 50-year pin. For Mike, it was one of the happiest moments of his life.
He is preceded in death by his mother Peggy Sax and father Marion Magnell.
He is survived by his wife Iris (Foster) Magnell, sister Jackie Magnell-Thrasher, brother Kent Magnell, and many nieces and nephews.
Mike will make another flight to Hannum Creek, Alaska where his ashes will be buried at the family plot. Alaska is where he began his commercial flying career, and he will continue to fly the skies with the people he befriended both past and present over the past 50 years.
The 100 year anniversary of our beloved “Only Way to Fly”, Western Airlines 1926-2026 reunion is happening on September 22 & 23, 2026 at The Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The website is up and ready to receive your participation.
Bring your memories, your stories, your name tags (if you still have them) most of all your laughter. Family members and friends are welcome. Let us all connect and remember the best part of Western Airlines, the EMPLOYEES!
The room rates for our reunion are good Sunday through Thursday if you’d like to come early or stay longer and enjoy all that the Grand Sierra Resort has to offer.
USAF veteran, LAX/ATL WA/DL Flt. Instructor James Edward “Jim” Dickey
July 29, 1946 – October 12, 2025
James Edward Dickey (Jim) of Fairburn, GA passed away peacefully on October 12, 2025.
Jim was born on July 29, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Thomas Edward Dickey and Eluned Roberts Dickey. He is survived by his wife Tetiana Ivanets and her son Serhii, and his brother Bob Dickey.
He was blessed to have fallen in love and married Tetiana Ivanets late in life. They met in June of 2018, and were married in March of 2020. She was always with him during his struggles with his health and lengthy hospital stays in 2024 as well as the past 6 weeks. She refused to leave his side. He loved her dearly.
Jim was known to be a very loyal a friend. You could not have had a better friend than Jim Dickey. If you were a friend you could always depend on him to be there to support whatever you needed.
He graduated from Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1964, and attended Cameron University. In 1965 he left Cameron University and joined the Air Force. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and ultimately became a flight engineer. He traveled all over the world and was stationed at Bien Hoa airbase in Vietnam in 1968. There he serviced United States military aircraft. He was at Bien Hoa airbase when it was partially overrun by the Viet Cong in January, 1968. He and his fellow service men defended the base, and at the same time kept the aircraft that defended the base operational.
While in the Air Force he became a flight engineer and flew large cargo planes. After leaving the Air Force he continued as a flight engineer for a number of years. Jim then went to work as an instructor for Western Airlines in California. When Delta Airlines bought Western Jim joined Delta and moved to Atlanta. He became one of their most respected instructors for pilots who were required to take his course, and was often requested by those pilots to be their instructor. He retired from Delta in 2006.
Jim enjoyed working out, and after his retirement from Delta Airlines bought a workout gym. He always charged a very modest amount to join so that others could enjoy working out at a reasonable cost. He made many friends at his gym and could strike up an interesting conversation about almost any subject with someone he had just met.
Jim was a good athlete and a very good golfer when he was young. He lettered on the Lawon High golf team as a sophomore, and enjoyed many rounds of golf with his mom, dad, and brother. And though he had never place kicked in football before, he practiced and tried out for the military football team in Europe, and became the team’s place kicker. He always loved cars. He could take an engine apart, work on it, and put it back together.
While living in California he became involved in drag racing. He built a blown altered dragster, and then actually drove it to many victories. Racing became a real passion, and he made so many friends that were also involved in racing. Racing was so important that when he moved to Fairburn, Georgia just outside of Atlanta, and was looking for a house one of the priorities for the property was to have a large garage so that he could work on his blown altered dragster. He owned a trailer that could transport his car, equipment and parts, and room to sleep in if necessary. He traveled to different parts of the country to race. He named his racing operation appropriately My Favorite Charity.
Jim will be missed by family and his many friends.
A celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 4 o’clock at the chapel of Parrott Funeral Home with Pastor Jon Schroeder officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:00 until the time of service.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Phyllis Miller onSeptember 2nd. Phyllis succumbed to squamous cell carcinoma cancer between the esophagus and the stomach. She was 85 years old. Phyllis and her husband, Jerry, moved into Whidbey Green in 2012 renting a house before buying a house right next door the following year. They have been married for 44 years. Phyllis was a flight attendant for Western Airlines from 1977 until 1997. She was also an author of note, first writing a book of stories and poems about her family including six siblings growing up very poor in Missouri, called “Precious Memories ,” and later penning a novel called, “Abby, Rags & Me. ” At her request, she was cremated and buried at sea between Coupeville and Port Townsend in a ceremony from the stern of the Washington State Ferry, Salish, on September 21st . We will miss seeing her taking her walks around the neighborhood with her dog, Darby.
WA/DL PILOT, CDR Lewis E. HOYT, USNR (Ret) / (Maj USMC)
June 20, 1943 — September 10, 2025
It is my sad duty to inform you that in the early morning of Wednesday, 10 September 2025, Golden Eagle CDR Lewis E. “Jumper” HOYT, USNR (Ret), made his Last Take Off in Sedona, AZ, with his wife Nancy by his side. Jumper was 82 years of age.
To be very clear to all our members, and as I am sure Jumper would say, he was first, foremost, and always a proud Marine, and part of our Golden Eagle Marine contingent. When he left active duty as a Major after 12 years in the Marine Corps, he joined the Navy Reserves so he could continue flying fighters out of NAS Miramar, eventually retiring as a USNR officer, hence his official title of CDR USNR (Ret). While also proud to serve in the Navy Reserves, his heart and soul was the Marine Corps.
Jumper was born in Glendale, CA, in June 1943. Growing up in nearby San Marino, he attended San Marino High School. He was a standout athlete — Captain of the football and track teams, and won the California Championship in the high jump, topping 6 feet, 8 inches. He was also a student body officer and excellent student, graduating in 1961. He earned both football and track scholarships to the University of Southern California, which he attended, and made the Dean’s List for all four years he was there. In 1963, while at USC, he won the National Collegiate Championship in the high jump and was selected to the All-American College Track and Field Team. He was the Captain of the USC track team for two years, and one of the first in the nation to exceed 7 feet in the high jump. Jumper was also a member, as an alternate, on two USA Olympic teams, 1964 and 1968. He graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology — he would later add a Master of Science in Systems Engineering also from USC, earned during off-duty hours while in the Marine Corps.
While at USC Jumper decided he would become a Marine Aviator. He enrolled in the USMC Officers Candidate School (OCS) program, winning the Commandant’s Trophy as the number one graduate and setting new records in the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and obstacle course. Commissioned in July 1967, he reported to NAS Pensacola, FL, in December 1967 to VT-1, beginning his flight training in the T-34B Mentor. Reporting to NAS Meridian, MS, in March 1968 he commenced basic jet training flying the T-2A/T-2B Buckeye for one year before reporting to VT-4 back at Pensacola for air-to-air gunnery and carrier qualification in the T-2B. In June 1969 he reported to NAS Beeville, TX, for advanced jet training in the TAF-9J Cougar, finishing as the number one graduate and earning his Wings of Gold on 14 November 1969.
Jumper next reported to the VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters, the F-4 Phantom II RAG at MCAS El Toro in April 1970. Completing the transition syllabus for the Phantom II, Jumper joined his first fleet squadron in August 1970, the VMFA-531 Grey Ghosts, at MCAS El Toro, CA, flying the F-4. Fellow Golden Eagles Fokker RIETSCH and Stick RICHARD were also in the squadron, serving as mentors to Jumper. In August 1971 Jumper reported to the VMFA-
232 Red Devils, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, flying the F-4J. Deploying to Da Nang, Vietnam, in April 1972 for approximately 3 months before redeploying to Nam Phong, Thailand, the squadron was engaged in combat operations in Vietnam. During this time Jumper flew 30 combat missions prior to departing for his next assignment in July 1972, reporting back to El Toro to serve as the aide to the Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd Marine Air Wing. Completing that one year assignment, he joined the VMFA-323 Death Rattlers in July 1973, again flying the F-4 from MCAS El Toro. The squadron was commanded by Golden Eagle Lancer SULLIVAN, another mentor to Jumper.
After two years in the squadron, Jumper received orders to TOPGUN to serve as an instructor, reporting to NAS Miramar, in July 1975, where he flew the T- 38 Talon, A-4E Skyhawk, and F-5E/F Tiger II. In those three plus busy years, he had the opportunity for multiple experiences flying with both U.S. and foreign aviators. He hosted at his home two Israeli fighter pilots while they attended the five week TOPGUN syllabus, and he made several training detachments to other foreign countries — flying and instructing with Canadian air force F-5s, F-104s, and F-18s, Dutch F-5s and F-104s, Egyptian F-4s, Mirage 5s, Mirage 2000s, and Mig-21s, and Kuwaiti A-4Ms, Hawker Hunters, and Mirage F-1s. Finally, when a trip fell through, he took leave and funded his own trip to Israel to fly and instruct with their F-4s, KFIRs, and Mirage 3s and 5s. He finished his tour in TOPGUN participating in what was then the highly classified Project Have Idea, now declassified, the exploitation and use as adversaries of Mig-17 and Mig-21 aircraft.
Jumper completed his active-duty time with the Marine Corps in October 1979, transitioning to the Navy Reserve where he joined VF-302 at NAS Miramar, flying the F-4N and F-4S for the next five years. He also joined Western Airlines, and then Delta Airlines for a 25-year career as a commercial airline pilot.
In his twelve years of active duty with the Marines, Jumper accumulated 4,441 hours of flight time, with a heavy emphasis on air combat maneuvering (ACM) as the above paragraphs note. He also had a significant amount of time not logged due to flying with other countries. He had a single combat tour in Vietnam, with 30 missions flown and was awarded five Strike/Flight Air medals. Without question, he was a superb tactician, aviator, and an expert in the realm of ACM, with world-wide current experience. His subsequent career as an airline pilot would add another 15,000 hours of flight time to his logbook. Clearly, he was born to fly. As he stated to many, he was very proud and humbled to be a Golden Eagle.
Jumper married the love of his life, Nancy, in August 2000. They permanently settled in Sedona, AZ, in 2003, from San Diego, when he retired from Delta Airlines. Jumper and Nancy were very active in the Sedona community, with Jumper coaching, mentoring, and motivating students at Sedona Red Rock High School. He was a member of the Sedona 30, a charitable service association that improves the community through financial support to nonprofit organizations. He was founder and chairman of the Sedona Miracle, a now annual fund-raising event that supports local nonprofits. In 2006, Jumper was Sedona’s “Citizen of the Year.” Remarkably, this was a year after he fought and survived a hard battle with throat and tongue cancer. In their quest to continue to give back and promote youth education, Jumper and Nancy have created two endowments to the Sedona Red Rock High School that supports both academic and athletic programs, as well as funding several other endowments supporting student scholarships and teacher supplies support. They have also made a generous estate gift to Kappa Alpha, Jumper’s fraternity, in a commitment to funding leadership and education.
Jumper is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy, and his brother Paul. Memorial services are in the planning stage, and those details will be provided in a Special Notice when known.
The Hoyt’s Sedona residence is listed as 316 Calle Linda, Sedona, AZ 86336.
From Matt Corney, on behalf of Scorpion Booster Club
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Lew Hoyt — a devoted mentor, volunteer, and true community champion. Lew was a National Collegiate Champion in the high jump and an alternate on the U.S. teams in the 1960s; he served our country as a Marine fighter pilot and later as a TOPGUN instructor, then spent decades as a commercial airline captain. After surviving cancer, Lew and his wife Nancy gave generously to local students and teachers (including the “Empowering Kids” scholarships and other endowments), and Lew spent countless hours coaching and encouraging Sedona Red Rock High School athletes — treating our students like his own.
As Lew often said:
“Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Believe, set goals, and work harder than other people. If you want to be average, just do what everybody else does. That’s how you learn to be the best that you can be.”
We are forever grateful for his service, his generosity, and the countless lives he lifted up. His example of excellence and service will continue to inspire our students and community.
The memorial for Russ Johansen, who passed away last month, will take place on Thursday, September 25th, at 11:00 a.m. at Centennial Methodist Church, located at 5401 Freeport Blvd. Sacramento, CA.
Russ Harry Johansen passed away early morning on July 9, 2025 in Sacramento, CA. Russ was born in Seattle, WA on September 22, 1943. As a young boy, Russ worked on a fishing boat on the waters from Settle to Alaska. Later in his childhood, he soloed a sea plane and acquired his private pilot’s license on Lake Union, WA. At 17, Russ joined the Air Force and was stationed in Texas, working as an aircraft mechanic while continuing to build flight hours through the Air Force Aero Club. Russ was hired by Pacific Northern Airlines in 1965 and was based in Anchorage, Alaska, trained as a flight engineer on the Lockheed L-188 Electra and Constellations. He was furloughed after a few months and while on furlough he was hired by Western on 1/17/661/17/66, Russ soon became one of the youngest Captains in the United States at the age of 26. Later, he flew the 707, 720, 727, 737 and the L-1011 TriStar for Western and Delta Airlines respectively. He finished his career flying the Boeing 777 to Europe as a Captain and a check airman. Russ was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed nature and animals of all kinds. He had an admiration for anything to do with aviation. Russ is survived by his wife, Peggy Nickerson Johansen; his son Chris (Charla) Johansen and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Best of all he loved the fall. The leaves on the cottonwoods, leaves floating on the trout streams, and above the hills the high blue windless skies: Now he will part of them forever.
Memorial Services will be held at Centennial United Methodist Church in Sacramento, CA on September 25, 2025 @ 1100.
Charles Patrick “Pat” Gilmore, our fun-loving husband, grandpa, “fatha”, brother, and friend to many, passed away peacefully in the presence of loved ones in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, after a long battle with cancer.
Pat was born on March 20, 1947, to Dorothy Mae Siemen and Melvin Gustave Gilmore in Rockford, Illinois. He was joined less than a year later by his beloved sister, Pam, whom he claimed tormented him from day one, although we know the tormenting was mutual. His stories of their childhood battles are legendary, but despite these spats with his “evil sister” (said with a twinkle in his eye), they remained close throughout his life.
Pat grew up in the beautiful town of Elizabeth, Illinois, on his grandfather’s dairy farm. His father, Melvin Gilmore, was killed in action while serving in the Korean War, and he and Pam were raised by their mother, Dorothy, and her sister, Esther, who lived with them for many years until she married. In her final years, Esther and her husband moved to Utah to be close to Pat and his family, and he cared for them until their deaths. Pat always described his childhood in Elizabeth as idyllic, recounting his time spent helping Grandpa Charlie on the farm, terrorizing the town with his friends, and spending summers collecting hay bales for local farmers.
Pat graduated from Elizabeth High School in 1965 and went on to attend the University of Illinois in Champagne/Urbana where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He later transferred to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he graduated with a degree in Zoology in 1970. After attending one of the top-rated party schools in the country during the 1960s, he seemed to always look back fondly on his college years (at least, what he could remember of it). Later visits to Champagne or Carbondale with his wife and children always included a non-optional tour of his college hangouts, followed by the well-earned stop at a Steak ‘n Shake restaurant. It was during his time at SIU where Pat first took a serious look at joining the Air Force, one day stopping at a recruiting office while on the way to class to ask, “what do I need to do to become a pilot?”.
It was during Pat’s Air Force training in 1971 at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona that he met Connie Madsen at the Officer’s Club. As he recalls it, Connie and a friend entered the room and were immediately swarmed by his fellow officers. Not wanting to be left out, he reached through the crowd of officers, took hold of a woman’s hand, and walked her to the dance floor without knowing whose hand he had grabbed. Fate must have played a hand. Pat and Connie were married the following year on July 1, 1972, in Ogden, Utah.
Pat and Connie settled in San Bernardino, California when Pat was assigned to the 14th Military Airlift Squadron out of Norton Air Force Base. San Bernardino was their home for fourteen years and the birthplace of their three children: Amy, Erin, and Mark. During his time at Norton, Pat flew the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter with the 63rd Airlift Wing during the Vietnam War. The missions included the evacuation of former American prisoners of war from North Vietnam in 1973 and supported the airlift of Vietnamese refugees to the United States in 1975. Following Vietnam, the Wing commanded airlift and supporting units to airlift troops, cargo, equipment, and passengers to and from areas around the world. He later transferred to the Air Force Reserves 445th Military Airlift Wing. After serving in the Gulf War from 1990-1991, Pat officially retired from the Air Force at the rank of Major. During his service, he travelled to 31 countries on 6 continents.
Pat began a career with the airlines in 1978 flying for Western Airlines (the only way to fly!) and briefly worked for Jet America from 1984-1985 while on furlough from Western. When Western was sold to Delta Airlines, Pat was relocated to their hub in Salt Lake City and the family moved to Bountiful, Utah in 1986. His time at Delta saw no shortage of excitement. Pat would often return home with stories of celebrities, sports teams, and other exciting passengers on his flights. Once, he was a feature of the local news as his flight was forced to return to the SLC airport when an unruly gorilla, being transported by the Hogle Zoo, caused a ruckus in the cargo bay shortly after takeoff. Apparently, the gorilla had awoken after its in-flight tranquilizers had worn off. Pat remained with Delta Airlines until his retirement in 2005 as a B-767 Captain.
In retirement, Pat and Connie continued to travel extensively all over Europe and the United States with long time Air Force friends and family. Epic (and very memorable) parties were thrown for his retirement and their 35th wedding anniversary, and he and Connie were frequently hosting family gatherings in their home. He loved spoiling his grandsons with trips to the toy store and movie dates when they were young, and there were many trips to Disneyland with the family (a favorite destination since he first went in 1970). As a child, he discovered his love of building model airplanes and could usually be found at his desk in his “dungeon”, working on several models at a time. Over the course of his life, Pat built thousands of planes and was a member of several clubs. He also discovered a passion for genealogy, spending hours researching and writing several books about both his and Connie’s families. Pat spent several years as a volunteer at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base, passing on his knowledge and love of airplanes and flight history to countless visitors. He cherished his time and the many friends that he met as a museum volunteer.
After Connie’s passing in 2016, Pat met Joye Banks and the two were married on December 2, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada by Elvis Presley while Pat wore his blue suede shoes. Pat and Joye enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world, along with road trips across the country. While Pat spent time building his model airplanes, Joye was enjoying her love of quilting. Joye’s children and grandchildren always enjoyed coming up to their house and hearing the stories of his life and his jokes. Pat is loved and will be missed by all his grandchildren.
Pat was known for his storytelling and his dry wit. Gatherings with family and friends were often filled with boisterous laughter as he regaled those around him with tales of his adventures, often aided by a drink or two. He loved spending time with his family and friends and will always be remembered for his ability to sit down next to anyone, friend or stranger, and have a good time.
Pat is survived by his wife, Joye Banks Gilmore; daughter Amy (Aaron) Arbuckle of Bountiful and their children Ethan, Jacob, Callie, and Grace; daughter Erin Gilmore of Arlington, VA and her son Colin; son Mark (Krissy) Gilmore of Bountiful and their children Gemma and Emilia; Joye’s children and grandchildren; sister Pam (Jon) Darrow of Savanna, IL; as well as many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Connie Madsen Gilmore.
A viewing will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah. The family will also be hosting an informal Memorial/Celebration of Life party that afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Squatters Pub Brewery, 147 W Broadway, Salt Lake City, Utah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah at aerospaceutah.org/give.
