July 28, 1940 ~ June 2, 2022

We have just received sad notice from the family with news of Tony’s passing today….please look for updates to follow.  Captain Anthony Vicar joined Western Airlines on 08-21-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines, based 031/ATL at the time of retirement.  The family writes “ ……..Anthony Vicar was a pilot for Delta for many decades, first working with Western Airlines in 1967 before the Delta merge. He moved to Atlanta in 1992 and lived there with his family until now. He passed away today (June 2, 2022) after sustaining major brain trauma from a fall in his home……”

As more information is received we will pass it along.  

For those who may wish to send a personal note, the Vicar address is listed in white pages as:

2011 Palmetto Dunes Ct # T

Duluth, GA 30097

June 28, 1936 ~ March 17, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain James Gary Olsen, age 85.  Captain Olsen joined Western Airlines on 08-29-1966 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1996.  Widowed with the passing of his wife Kathleen, Gary is survived by his children and his grandchildren.

James Gary Olsen passed away peacefully with his loving children at his side on Thursday, 17 Mar 2022 at the age of 85. He was the first born of five children to James Olsen and Isabelle Janette Parker Olsen.  To avoid confusion over his father’s name he went by his middle name Gary.  He was born at the family home in Ovid, Idaho on 28 Jun 1936 and raised on the family ranch.

Gary was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Fielding High School, Paris, ID, in 1954 with a strong interest in science.  He attended Utah State in Logan, Utah, and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), training to be a future officer while going to school.

After two years of college, he was called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in Northern California and Nevada.  He first met his future wife Kathleen Mae Decker while on his mission in Nevada.

After his mission in 1958, Gary returned to school and continued his ROTC training at Brigham Young University.  While pursuing a degree in Physics and a minor in Mathematics, Gary also pursued Kathleen Decker who was going to the University of Utah at the time. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 12 Aug 1960.

After graduation, Gary was trained as a pilot by the US Air Force and served to the rank of Captain.  He loved to fly, and was first stationed at Craig Air Force base in Alabama flying radar missions over Cuba before serving as a pilot in Vietnam.

Gary and Kathy began a family in 1961, and they had four children by the time he finished his military service in 1966.  He began a satisfying career with Western Airlines but continued to serve through the reserve air national guard from 1967 to 1969.  He flew out of the San Francisco airport until 1985 and then transferred to the Salt Lake City airport where he continued to fly as a pilot for Delta until he retired in 1996.  The generous flying benefits provided Gary with the opportunity to take his family on numerous vacation trips, Hawaii being the family favorite.

Gary served through many callings with the LDS Church and never allowed himself to be idle for long.  In addition to church callings, he stayed active through numerous hobbies including Model Trains and Airplanes, Chemistry, Astronomy, Shooting, Photography, Scuba diving/Snorkeling, Sailing, Tennis, Racquetball, Water skiing, Snow skiing, Hiking, Genealogy, and Computer electronics.  He liked to sing and whistle, make puzzles, listen to classical music, and eat a good meal.

He lost the love of his life, Kathleen, to cancer in 2010 and has been eager for the chance to be reunited with her ever since. Gary was a generous hard-working man, tenacious and organized, and always supportive of everyone he knew.  He will be greatly missed.

Gary is survived by his children: Robert (Donna), Lorraine (Steve), Richard, and Linda, grandchildren: Brandon, Brittany, Ashley and Charles (his mother Marilyn), Jesse (Alesha), Cody, Kurtis, siblings: Bonnie, Charles (Marsha) and Michael (Mona), as well as many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, WA/DL Capt. David Carl Evans
December 31, 1936 ~ May 2, 2022

Notice of passing…..retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Dave Evans, age 85.  Dave joined Western Airlines 08-21-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1996, based 030/SLC at the time of retirement.

Obituary information

Condolences may be sent to the family at:
294 Saint Andrews Drive
Napa, CA 94558-1548

David “Dave” Evans passed away May 2, 2022, from Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 85 years old.

Dave was born in Rockford, Illinois where he grew up on the family farm. His parents were Barbara and John Evans. He was a naval aviator serving in Jacksonville, Florida, and Corpus Christi, Texas. In May 1962, Dave was part of the naval recovery team which found and initiated the rescue of Mercury astronaut, Scott Carpenter, who had landed off course in the waters southeast of Florida. When Dave retired from the Navy, he joined Western Airlines and, subsequently, Delta Airlines. He flew 29 years as a commercial pilot. He enjoyed 25 years of retirement, playing lots of golf and traveling the world.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kit, their daughter, Lisa Evans Sennott (Duncan), and 2 grandchildren, Marley Sennott (15) and Jack Sennott (13). He is also survived by his brother Jack’s wife, Dorothy, of Spring, Texas.

A private family service will take place at a later date.

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Robert M. Frick

August 4, 1936, ~ May 13, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Robert Martin Frick, age 85.  Captain Frick joined Western Airlines on September 6, 1968, and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, and by his children and grandchildren, plus many more dear family members and friends.   

Condolences may be sent to the family at (white pages listing):

20 Rollingwood Dr. Spc 71, Jackson, CA 95642

Robert (Bob) Frick of Jackson, CA died Friday, May 13, 2022, after a several years battle with dementia. Bob was born on August 4, 1936, in Orange, CA. As a young boy, and only child he moved with his mother Emily to San Francisco and grew up in the city. At Lowell High School he participated in track and field events. Upon graduation, he attended San Francisco City College for two years and then joined the United States Navy in 1957. He spent 10 years serving his country as a pilot including serving in the Pacific theater during the Vietnam War. After leaving the Navy he went to work for Frontier and then Western Airlines as a pilot and was domiciled in Denver, CO where he met the love of his life, Jo Ann Ayres. They married in Denver in 1967 and his work took them to Salt Lake City and Anchorage, AK before eventually moving back to the Bay area where they lived until 2004. When Western Airlines was purchased by Delta Airlines Bob continued his flying career with Delta, flying routes around the US and Internationally, concluding his career in the then-new Boeing 757. After retirement from Delta Bob flew charter flights, a charter King Air, and was a flight instructor at Navajo Aviation. In 2004 they settled in Jackson, where Bob was active in the Jackson area Lions Club. He and Jo were also active in the New Life Church, in Jackson. Bob’s faith was an important part of his life. Bob was a serious and professional pilot on the flight deck of an aircraft but outside of work he was a great storyteller and possessed a quick wit dispensing his humor with a twinkle in his eye. His family includes his wife of 54 years Jo, his three sons, and their partners, Chris Frick and Brittney Thompson of Sacramento, Tim Frick and Angela Mazziotta of Portland, OR, and Matthew and Adri Frick of Martinez, CA. Grandchildren Alex, Simon, and Neil Frick. His brothers-in-law, John Swisher III of Ann Arbor, MI, and Herb Ayres and his wife Elizabeth Hartman of Kalamazoo, MI, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the New Life Church in Jackson at 10:00 a.m. Memorial gifts for those that desire could be made to Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Uncle Frank, as he was affectionately known by his nieces and their friends, flew West on April 16, 2022.  He was 81. While still in college, Captain Mayne learned to fly at Pacific States Aviation in Concord, California, and continued to fly for them during the early sixties.  He began his airline career at Western Airlines in 1966 and retired from Delta in 2000. In between his airline trips, Captain Mayne enjoyed decades  as a lab instructor in Marine Biology
at Diablo Valley College.

In keeping with his wishes, Captain Mayne’s funeral was private/family only.

By Frank’s side, at his funeral were:
His Sister, Ginny Glavinovich, nieces Natalie Glavinovich, Chelsea McClure and
Chelsea’s husband Kevin McClure.

Following a stroke, Frank remained partially paralyzed for nearly two years. His Sister, Ginny wants those who maintained contact with him during that unbearably lonely time to know that hearing from his fellow pilots served to boost his morale immeasurably. 

Condolences may be addressed to:

Ginny Mayne Glavinovich & Family
3164 Lucas Drive
Lafayette, CA
94549

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Don L. Peterson

JUNE 7, 1929 ~ APRIL 20, 2022

Word has been received with news of the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Don Lemoine Peterson, age 92. Captain Peterson joined Western Airlines on 09-19-1955 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  Don is survived by his wife Toni, and by his daughters, and his grand- and great-grandchildren.  

 Don Lemoine Peterson, age 92, passed away on April 20, 2022, in Park City, Utah. He was born at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 7, 1929, to Vadal Peterson and Elvira Wood. Don was the youngest of five children, 4 boys, and one girl. (Vadal, Laura, Ray, and Wood) Don graduated from the University of Utah, joined the Air Force, and learned to fly. After four years he returned to Utah and joined the Utah Air National Guard, where he served for 26 years. During the early period of his return to Utah, he began to fly for Frontier Airlines. In 1955 he became a pilot for Western Airlines and flew for them until they merged with Delta. He continued as a senior pilot with Delta until he retired in 1989. 

Don always loved to fly and continued after his retirement to fly small planes and joined the World Beechcraft Society. He and his wife attended many fly-ins and made many friends throughout the country. Post-retirement he worked as a simulator instructor for Morris Airlines. Don was an avid skier and loved to fish. He traveled to Alaska every year to a fishing camp and brought home the spoils. He and his wife belonged to the Saturday Night Dance Club and the Delta Pioneers. He babied his dog Coco who came to live with him after his brother Wood Peterson passed away. 

Don is survived by three daughters from his first marriage, Pamela, Sherrie, and Karrie. He has nine grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. In 1988 Don remarried Annette (Toni) Cefalu and they lived happily for 34 years. Don related well to his stepson Michael Fabri who has a daughter Alexandria.

Funeral services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 1 pm. No flowers, please. Donations may be made in memory of Don to any kind of animal rescue or adoption agency.

To view the obituary online please visit Dignity Memorial

For those who wish to send condolences, white pages list their current address as 

8681 Gorgoza Dr., Park City, UT 84098.

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL pilot William Gordon Simons

October 25, 1938 ~ April 19, 2022

William Gordon Simons, 83, of Springfield, Oregon, passed away on April 19, 2022. Bill was born to parents Guy and Helen Simons in Seaside, Oregon on October 25th, 1938. He graduated from Springfield High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, after which he joined the Air Force and married Marilyn Williams. 

He spent eight years in the Air Force as a fighter pilot, including a year in Vietnam, and later enjoyed a long career as a commercial airline pilot with Western Airlines and Delta Airlines. After many years away due to his career, he moved back to Springfield and married Judith Yates. Following his years as a pilot, he briefly taught student pilots at Lane Community College before serving as the first Justice of the Peace for Lane County. Upon retirement, he fulfilled a lifelong desire to write a novel and continued to travel the world with Judy. 

Bill is predeceased by his parents and his older brother James, as well as his wife Judith. He is survived by his two sons, Lee and Steve, and four wonderful grandchildren. 

(Thanks to Carol Faulkner)

Posted online on April 30, 2022Published in The Register-Guard

~ IN MEMORY ~

WA/DL Capt. Wm. C. “Bill” Evans

July 16, 1929 ~ April 9, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain William Cooper “Bill” Evans, age 92.  Captain Evans joined Western Airlines 05-01-1957 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Sherry and his son Doug plus his grandchildren and many more dear family members and friends.

The Evans’ most recent mailing address is listed in white pages as:

 1058 N. Paseo Iris,  Green Valley, AZ 85614

Retired Western/Delta Airlines Capt. W.C. “Bill” Evans was cleared for final takeoff Saturday, April 9, from his home in Green Valley, AZ.

Expected to greet him upon arrival at his final destination are his sons Scotty, Jim, and Jerry, his parents Jerome and Inez; also Roslyn, Marty, and other loved ones who got there first.

Those left in the waiting area include his wife Sherry, son Doug (wife Meghan), daughters-in-law Suzie and Melinda, sister Gray Darden, grandchildren Ty, Tanner, Hope, and Quinn. And many nephews and nieces. And a legion of those who loved him.

Bill was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1929 where he lived until high school graduation. He then went to Colorado A & M (now CSU). He served in the Air Force in Korea as a fighter pilot. After the Air Force, he started with Western Airlines which merged with Delta. He flew for 32 happy years.

When he retired, he moved to Ennis, Montana, where he met his wife, Sherry. He also resided at times in Ft. Collins, CO, Estes Park, CO, Sequim, WA, and finally in Green Valley, AZ. But his heart was always in Montana.

His smile, kindness, and sense of humor will be fondly remembered and missed.

A celebration of life will be held at Desert Hills Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at the Green Valley Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the GV Food Bank.

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. James Edward Degnan

June 27, 1945 ~ March 20, 2022

From dear friends and family, we have learned of the tragic death of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Jim Degnan, age 76.  The fatal incident occurred on March 20^th in Hawaii….various articles are available online or please see below.  Captain Degnan joined Western Airlines 02-07-1977 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 2004 based 030/CVG.  James is survived by his wife, Margaret J. Degnan; sons, Brian Paul (Stacey) Degnan and Bradley James Degnan and 2 granddaughters.  

We understand that arrangements have been entrusted to the:

Kauai Memorial Gardens Funeral Home

Jim was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Paul and Kathleen Degnan, on June 27, 1945.  His interest in flying began after watching airplane activity at the old Toledo metropolitan airport while still pre-school age. He attended grade school in Toledo Ohio and Monroe Michigan, and the high school St. Francis DeSales, near Toledo. From there he attended the University of Toledo for a BBA in transportation logistics. Meanwhile, he took flight lessons at the Toledo municipal airport and worked with all sorts of aircraft maintenance and care.  At that time, the draft board was active, so after graduating from college in 1968, he made the choice to join the Navy as a better alternative to ground fighting in the Vietnam war.  The Navy had a short officer candidate school, along with basic single-engine education, including carrier qualification on the Wasp. At Corpus Christi, the aviators learned formation and multi-engine flying. That was followed by a few months in CA before joining VP-6 at Barbers Point. The squadron was deployed to Naha, Okinawa, Cubi Point, and various destinations while flying anti-submarine missions over the ocean around Viet Nam. Even time spent at “home” on Oahu consisted of many sorties over the ocean. The P-3 they flew was a 4-engine turboprop, known in airline travel as the Lockheed Electra.  Jim was released from the Navy in 1973 and continued to fly with Nomads, in Detroit, a travel club using the Electra for jaunts to attractive club destinations, as well as working as a Naval reservist, and private work as available. 1973 was a time of general fuel shortage, and the airlines were not hiring.  In February 1977 he started with Western Airlines out of L.A., until Delta bought them. He lived in Cupertino, CA, and then in Indiana, while based in Cincinnati. He flew for Delta until 2004, retiring with Margaret to the condo on Kauai.  He started with the Civil Air Patrol in August 2005. There he found the comradeship of others committed to necessary tasks that allowed emergency notification for all Kauai residents, even those without access to usual phone and radio information. With the help of the Lihue civil air patrol, Jim was honored to be awarded recognition for “Fifty Years of Dedicated Service in Aviation Safety” from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration.

Margaret Degnan
P.O. Box 223323
Princeville, Hawaii
96722

Articles covering the accident:

Civil Air Patrol

Kathryn’s Report

~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Paul Hardie Davies Sr.
September 9, 1942 – March 8, 2022

From friends and colleagues, we have learned of the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Paul Hardie Davies, age 79.  Captain Davies joined Western Airlines 05-26-1969 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 2002.  He is survived by his wife Dale and by his sons and grandsons. Friends write:  “… Paul flew the F-4 in Viet Nam and the A-4 in VMA134 at El Toro.  He also flew for Western Airlines and Delta Air Lines.  He and Dale retired to Beaufort, S.C. several years ago.  He had been fighting cancer of the liver for the past several years.  It had spread to his spinal column during the past six months.  Surgeries provided no help…… He will be interred at the National Military Cemetery at Beaufort, S.C. “

To view the obituary online and share memories please visit the funeral home website Browne*Pennington*Atkins

 It is with deep sorrow that Mrs. Dale Galloway Davies announces the death of her beloved husband, Paul H. Davies, Sr., 79.  Mr. Davies passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, SC, after a courageous battle with Cancer. A funeral service to honor his life will be held at 2 o’clock on Sunday, March 13, 2022, in The Chapel of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. The Rev. James Robbins will officiate, and the family will receive friends immediately following the service. Military honors will be rendered as he is laid to rest at 1 o’clock on Monday, March 14, 2022, in Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. Born in Glen Ridge, NJ, on September 9, 1942, he is the son of the late Charles W. Davies and the late Hardie Bell Davies. His life was characterized by his strong faith in God, dedicated service to our country, family, and communities. He had a passion for golf, traveling, and building diverse friendships around the world. He attended Duke University and the University of South Carolina. Mr. Davies is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War; he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963, was later commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, and flew over 400 combat missions with F4 Phantom squadrons. He retired honorably in 1986 as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Mr. Davies also enjoyed a successful career as a commercial pilot, first with Western Airlines based in California and later with Delta Airlines in Atlanta, retiring in 2002. His passion for golf resulted in multiple club championships at various courses in Georgia and South Carolina, and he was particularly proud of qualifying for both the US and British Senior Open Championships. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Dale Galloway Davies; sons, Paul H. (Cathleen) Davies, Jr., Mark K. (Morgan) Davies; four grandsons, Zachary, Jacob, Luke, and Phoenix. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Chuck Davies.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to:

The American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.