~ IN MEMORY ~

WAL Capt. Ernest Frederick Ellis

March 6, 1927 – November 15, 2024

Notice of passing…..retired Western Airlines pilot Captain Ernest Frederick “Fred” Ellis, age 97.  Fred joined Western Airlines 12-02-1952 and was based SFO.

PCN memorial site https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/11/wal-capt-ernest-frederick-ellis.html

Family photo gallery : https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-jose-ca/ernest-ellis-12079388

IN THE CARE OF Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park

Ernest Frederick Ellis, age 97, of San Jose, California passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024.

A graveside service for Ernest will be held Monday, December 9, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon, CA 95620.

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Eugene Leroy Porter

February 2, 1945 ~ November 20, 2024

Today we celebrate the life of retired Western/Delta Air Lines pilot Captain Eugene “Gene” Porter, age 79.  Gene first joined Western Airlines 05-21-1979.  He was based CVG/030 at the time of his retirement with Delta Air Lines.  Gene is survived by his wife Carole, and by their children and their grandchildren. 

Eugene “Gene” Porter (lovingly known by many as “FONZ”) passed away at his home on November 20, 2024, at the age of 79. He began his life’s journey on February 2, 1945, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and spent his formative and educational years in Oak Harbor, Washington. After earning an associate degree in 1965, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet. He completed flight training and earned his pilot’s Wings of Gold in March 1968. 

Before leaving for flight school, Gene met the love of his life, Carole Olsen. After his return to Oak Harbor, they dated seriously and married on January 4, 1969. Gene received orders to train in the A-6 Intruder at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Upon completion, he deployed aboard the USS Ranger on his first carrier combat mission to Vietnam in 1969. His daughter, Tara, was born in August 1972 in Monterey, California, while Gene completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the Navy Postgraduate School. In 1973, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign AƯairs. He subsequently made two more carrier-based deployments aboard the USS America and Coral Sea. Just days after his final cruise, Gene and Carole welcomed twins, Tad and Tracy, on July 3, 1975. 

When not deployed, Gene spent his 20-year Navy career on Whidbey Island, flying, instructing, and training in the A-6 Intruder. Gene was devoted to his family and shared his love of motorsports with his children and Navy buddies through summer vacation trips to Pearrygin Lake. Gene, Carole, and the children enjoyed snowmobiling on Mount Baker through the winter. Frequent family cookouts throughout the year kept cousins, aunts, and uncles close. 

Gene retired from the Navy in December 1988 with the rank of Commander, having logged over 4,000 hours, 300 carrier landings, and 70 combat missions. Immediately following his Navy retirement, Gene joined Delta Airlines as a Boeing 737 pilot. He flew all three seats in the 737 accumulating over 10,000 hours in 15 years. Gene retired from Delta on September 1, 2003, as a Captain on the Boeing 737-800NG. His logbooks show a total of more than 18,000 flight hours. 

After retiring from Delta, Gene loved entertaining the Grassy Meadows Sky Ranch (UT-47) community with aerobatics in his homebuilt, experimental Vans RV-7A. Gene also flew as the commercial pilot for Sky Dive Zion where he became famous for his iconic radio calls announcing his landings at the “HURRICAYNE” airport. He most cherished spending time with his family, camping, riding his RAZR, and taking quick flights to breakfast with friends. The annual Old Fart Navy Camp held a special place in his heart as he treasured his Navy brothers. 

Gene was known for his quick wit and infectious laughter. He had a knack for telling stories that would leave his listeners in stitches. Whether he was sharing tales of his Navy days or reminiscing about his time at Delta, Gene always had a way of captivating his audience. His love for flying was evident in everything he did, and he passed that passion on to his children and grandchildren. Granddaughter Taylor Porter is now a commercial pilot and flight instructor. 

Gene is survived by his loving wife, Carole, and their children, Tara Weddel (David “Dave”), Tad Porter (Kristin), and Tracy Malay (Ryan). He is also survived by nine grandchildren Gage Weddel, Caleb Weddel, Treven Weddel, Josh Weddel, Jake Weddel; Taylor Porter and Jordan Porter; Avery Malay and Addison Malay. Gene is survived by siblings Roberta “Bobbie” Johnson (Ray), Randall “Randy” Porter (Sherrie), and David “Dave” Porter (Rhonda). Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and EƯie Loretta Porter. 

Memorial services will be held on December 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the McArthur Funeral Home; 160 West 700 South,  St George, Utah. The family will also celebrate Gene’s life with friends and family in Oak Harbor, Washington on May 17, 2025. 

For those of you who may wish to send a personal note, I see the family’s residence listed in whitepages as:

1168 W 4390 S, Hurricane, UT 84737.

Funeral home website:  https://www.mcarthurfuneralservices.com/obituaries/eugene-leroy-porter 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

~ IN MEMORY ~

WAL/DAL Capt. Arthur Leon Buckelew

October 20, 1930 ~ November 18, 2024

Friends and family have shared this news with the passing of Western/Delta Air Lines Captain Art Buckelew, age 94.  Art joined Western Airlines 06-10-1957 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1990 based LAX.  Arrangements are not yet known. 

Please look for more information to follow in the days ahead.

PCN memorial site  https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/11/waldal-capt-arthur-leon-buckelew.html

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Kenneth McClellan Coe

April 6, 1933 ~ November 15, 2024

Friends and family have shared this news with the passing of Western/Delta Air Lines Captain Ken Coe, age 91.  Ken joined Western Airlines 06-04-1962 and retired with Delta Air Lines,  He was based LAX and SFO.  Arrangements are not yet known.

PCN memorial site  https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/11/wadl-capt-kenneth-mcclellan-coe.html

~ IN MEMORY ~

Navy veteran, WA/DL Capt. Robert Dean Lee

January 28, 1935 ~ November 19, 2023

Robert Dean Lee, age 88, Pahrump, Nevada, passed on November 19, 2023. Bob was born on January 28, 1935 to Forrest Lee and Lora Wiley on the family farm in Page County, Iowa, where he was also raised. Bob joined the Navy as a pilot in 1960, ending his career there as a Lieutenant Commander. On June 29, 1962, Bob was united in marriage to Gloria Deane Cleaver. After leaving the military, Bob worked as a pilot for Western Airlines, and Delta Airlines as an international pilot, predominantly on routes to Asia. Bob joined Western Airlines 04-27-1964 and retired with Delta Air Lines based 030/LAX.  After retirement, Bob spent much of his time sailing in the Pacific, having achieved his Masters license. He was also a Master Mason, a member of the Nodaway Lodge 140. Bob is survived by a nephew (Gregory Lee of Scottsdale, AZ) and three nieces (Anne Pedersen of Columbia, Missouri, Janet Beerman of Omaha, Nebraska and Karyn Thomas of Redway, California) as well as eight grandnieces/grandnephews and the wife, Connie Neal, of his nephew Larry. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, brothers Lewis and Charles, sister Evelyn Neal, and nephew Larry Neal. 

The graveside service is scheduled at Hawleyville Cemetery.

Graveside Service    Saturday, April 20, 2024

Hawleyville Cemetery, Iowa

Obituary Information

Roger T. Horrell, 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 24, 2024, with his daughter by his side.

Roger Thomas Horrell was born September 3, 1942, in Alton, Illinois to Harold and Alice (Zerwas) Horrell. He grew up in Alton, Illinois, and attended Marquette Catholic High School. Upon graduation, Roger attended Parks College of Saint Louis University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics, and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Entering the U.S. Air Force, Roger attended flight school, receiving his “wings” at graduation.

Roger proudly served in the United States Air Force as a transport and FAC pilot during the Vietnam War. He served his country for five years, earning the rank of Captain. While in the military, Roger was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal.

Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Roger began his career with Western Airlines, later acquired by Delta Airlines, and became an Airline Captain. During his 33 years as a commercial pilot, Roger flew thousands of commercial flights transporting passengers across the United States safely to their destinations. Roger wrote and published a book called “Cyclone” during his retirement.

Roger will be missed by his daughter, Meredith L. (Tom Nims) Horrell; grandson, Dylan T. Nims; niece, Sara (David) Dahm; uncle, Dave Zerwas, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Susan Stephan.

Cremation rites were accorded. 

Visitation will be held 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey, IL. A memorial mass is scheduled 10:00 am on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Alton, IL. Inurnment will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Roger’s honor can be sent to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program, which helps spay and neuter feral cats.  Roger loved cats!

Condolences and memories of Roger may be shared with his family in the tributes section of his memorial page and may be found at Elias, Kallal, and Schaaf

Thank you,

Meredith Horrell ( meredithhorrell@yahoo.com )

~ IN MEMORY ~

WA/DL Capt. Kent Krueger Bagley

October 18, 1938 — September 6, 2024

We remember retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Kent Bagley who passed recently.  Kent joined Western Airlines 10-03-1966 and retired with Delta Air Lines based SLC.  Kent is survived by his wife Sharilyn Berti, and by his children and grandchildren.

Obituary information can be found online at 

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kent-bagley-obituary?id=56262856

On Friday, September 6, 2024 Captain Kent Krueger Bagley took his last flight home. He was 85. He is survived by his wife Sharilyn (Berti) Bagley, children Lori Wells (Brandon), daughter in law Becky (Zumbrennen) Bagley, Brian Bagley, Karen Lunde (Scott). 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Kent was born on October 18, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Stuart and Lucille Bagley. Kent was their first child. He grew up in Holladay, Utah. He graduated from Olympus High School. Then attended the University of Utah where he joined the fraternity Sigma Chi and met many lifelong friends. Kent graduated in biology. He then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to Australia. Kent met his first wife on a double date. They were each with the other person. He and Zola were later sealed in the Logan Temple on March 15, 1963.

Kent went on to become an airline pilot for Western Airlines. Kent and Zola raised their family in sunny Southern California. Kent loved to fly! He retired as a captain with Delta Airlines in April 1997.

Kent enjoyed many hobbies. He was an avid reader. He loved learning and could carry on a conversation with anyone. He loved gardening. Classical music. He taught his children how to pick out what instrument was playing on the radio as they drove miles on the California freeways. He loved the outdoors and camping. He taught his children to love and respect nature. He enjoyed cooking and oftentimes would return home from a trip and recreate a dish he tried while traveling. He loved animals and had quite a variety of pets all his life. Chickens, rabbits, tropical fish, goldfish, and countless dogs.

Kent and Zola later divorced and he married Sharilyn Berti on September 19, 1987. They enjoyed being camp hosts for many years at Strawberry Reservoir. 

To his grandchildren he was known as Pops. He spent many hours with them camping, attending sports games and just spending time together. Bryce, Brandt, Brittain, Brendan Bennett, Lyndzi (Bennett) Wilson, Brittnee (Bagley) Carlson, Garren and Kyler Bagley, Haylee (Lunde) Potter, Breanna, Payton and Kennedi Lunde, Ali (Adams) Dalley. Great grandchildren Kail, Addi, Gray, Drake, Kye, Zane, Claire, Adonai and Laszlo Bennett, Della, Anders and Arlo Wilson, Preslee Potter, Asher Dalley. 

Pops we love you until we meet again keep the blue side up.

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 5-7 pm at 523 E Eaglewood Dr, Noth Salt Lake, Utah.

~ IN MEMORY ~

LAX WA/DL Capt. Robert “Bob” Moore

February 23, 1931 – August 23, 2024

Robert L. Moore, Jr. checked out peacefully at the age of 93. 

Bob flew P-51 Mustangs in the Air National Guard and graduated from Cal Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He flew briefly with Trans Ocean Airlines, then joined Western Airlines in June, 1957 after Art Buckelew convinced him that flying airplanes would be more fun than working for IBM. It turned out to be a great decision.

Never one for subtlety, “Moderation” loved flying with Western Airlines so much, he often said he felt guilty getting paid to do it. He loved to recount memories from flights and layovers, often laughing so hard he could barely talk. There was never a gathering where he didn’t talk about his Western Airlines days and the friends he made there. According to a friend and fellow pilot, they flew in “the golden era of aviation – from props to jets – when flying was fun!”

In retirement Bob traveled extensively with his wife Kathleen. He was an inveterate gym rat until the pandemic, when all his favorite workout venues closed. After living for years in Rancho Mirage, they moved to Waterford, California to live with their daughter and son-in-law.  The day after they arrived, Bob suffered a stroke. He enjoyed his first and only night there with a glass of wine, overlooking the Tuolumne River.  

Bob is survived by his wife Kathleen Moore, daughters Stephanie Montague (Bill Arnold), Monica Moore, Vicki Thornton (Jim), and Holly Raser, grandchildren Gavin Montague, Collin Montague, Gabrielle Montague, Alyssa Oberweiser (Danny), and two great grandchildren, Pete and McGuire. He is predeceased by granddaughter Caitlin Raser.  

He will be very missed but, he and his Western Airlines stories will never be forgotten!

9 Rutgers Ct., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. 

A brief obituary notice is available online at 

https://obituaries.tridentsociety.com/obituaries/fremont-ca/robert-moore-11958770

~ IN MEMORY ~

LAX/DFW  WA/DL Flt. Crew scheduler Edeltraud Dorothea Davis 

May 8, 1934 – August 16, 2024

We remember long-time and beloved pilot scheduler Edeltraud Dorothea Davis who recently passed at the age of 90.  Ms. Davis hired on with Western Airlines in Los Angles in June 1974.  At the time of her retirement with Delta Air Lines, she was based 061/DFW with more than 20yrs of service.  Much loved by her airline family, Edeltraud was the definition of a survivor as you will see by reading her life story.

For those who may wish to contact the family, I see Edeltraud’s most recent address listed in whitepages as:

24115 Cindy Lane,  Lake Forest,  CA 92630.

Or perhaps c/o daughter Nancy at 21611 Turtledove St., Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679.

Fairhaven Memorial Services          

Edeltraud Davis 90, passed August 16, 2024, in Lake Forest from complications of Cancer that she had so ardently fought over three remissions within the last fifteen years.

She was born on May 8th, 1934, in East Germany to Georg and Elfriede (Wadowski) Schlichczin. Edeltraud was a strong German woman, with a quick sharp tongue, but she was a survivor with a determined work ethic to stand alone during most of her life to survive in a male dominated workplace, as a single mother of two young boys.

Her early childhood was spent in the war-torn streets and fields of Germany, during WW2. She scoured ruined streets, through bombed out and abandoned buildings and cellars, searching for food and coal to keep her family fed and warm. She would relate stories of living in the Russian occupied zones and the horrors the war affect had on her family and country. Then other stories, of being protected by the Russian soldiers from others, wanting to do her harm. Protecting her as she ran from ruin to ruin looking for food. So many atrocities witnessed, so many years of violence and fear, no child should live through.

She was the oldest of five siblings, two sisters and two brothers. She and her stepmother, Adelheid (Wadowski) Schlichczin, were for the most part on their own as they fled with her brothers and sisters through the waring districts for safety. Ever moving from town to town, being followed by her father, serving at the time as a Military Motorcycle Police Officer in the German Army.

After the wars end, Edeltraud and her family settled in the small town of Ludwigsburg, in western Germany. There in 1954 after many years working in the family laundry she took a job with the United States Army, as a valet assigned to the Southern Area Command near Stuttgart. In September of 1956, with a saddened heart but a need to embrace a new life. Edeltraud to the dismay of her family, decided to leave Germany for the United States. She borrowed $185.00 dollars from the U.S. War Relief Service and boarded a Liberty boat bound for New York and then Chicago, Illinois to start her new life with twenty-five dollars in her pocket.

She began work with the Standard Oil Company in 1957 as a Keypunch Operator. Working there till 1958 when she took a position with Union Oil in California. Soon after coming to California, she met James A. Davis, a driver and mechanic. They married and soon after divorced in1963, after having two sons, James and Roger.

Edeltraud remained a single mother for the remainder of her life. She raised both sons on her own, at times she worked for three companies simultaneously to make ends meet. In 1974, she landed a position as ‘Crew Scheduler’ for Western Airlines, known now as Delta Airlines. There she remained over 20+ years. This job finally enabled her to provide for her family as a single mother. There she was honored for her work ethic, attendance and punctuality. Sometimes she was known to sleep in her car inside the office garage so not to be late from her overtime shift the previous day. She was adored by the crews she worked with from Western and Delta, making lifelong friends.

Edeltraud never stopped working. Working was like breathing, something you don’t stop. She was very frugal, most times to her own detriment. But on her birthday and Christmas she would make sure to have the entire family out for an extravagant dinner and memorable evening with everyone at one table.

Survivors include her sons, James and wife Nancy, two sons, Chase and wife, Paige, their sons Rhett and Ryder. Son, Mitchell and wife Kelsey, their son Brecken and daughter Paisley.

Roger and his wife Erin, their daughter Meghan and son Colin. Sister Doris Schlichczin. Sisters in laws, Inge and Ede Schlichczin and their respective families.

**A private family memorial will be held on August 30th, 2024.

~ IN MEMORY ~

WA/DL Capt. Roger T. Horrell

September 3, 1942 ~ August 24, 2024

From family we have just learned that retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Roger Thomas Horrell passed this morning.  Roger was 81, soon to be 82 yrs of age.  Roger joined Western Airlines 03-03-1969.  He was based DFW/030 prior to his retirement with Delta Air Lines.  Captain Horrell had most recently resided in Denton, Texas.  Arrangements are of course pending and will be advised.

Please look for more details to follow in the days ahead.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN

PCN memorial site https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/08/wadl-capt-roger-t-horrell.html