~ 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.

Good news! Our quarterly luncheon is ON for Thursday, 21 April!

We have room for four (4) more so let Paul AND Curt know if you can make it.

See the Wallybird post of 28 March for more details

If we don’t have the required minimum attendance of twenty responding by Monday 10 April we will have to cancel the planned SFO Wallybird Luncheon once again.

If you intend to attend, please reply to BOTH Paul AND Curt at

<pjbro@sbcglobal.net> and <curt@taylorsinpv.com

Respond even if you have previously responded as planning to attend.

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL Roderick Montgomery Duncan

September 27, 1934 – April 2, 2022

Notice of passing…..retired Western/Delta pilot Roderick Montgomery “Rod” “Monty” Duncan, age 87, of Butte, Montana.  Captain Duncan joined Western Airlines 06-05-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1994 based LAX. He is survived by his wife Kay and their blended family of children and extended family members.

Obituary information is available online at Butte Funeral Home

For those wishing to send condolences, the family address is:

135 Larkspur Lane,  Butte, MT 59701

Roderick Montgomery “Rod” “Monty” Duncan, age 87, of Butte, Montana

Obituary

Roderick M Duncan “Rod” “Monty” passed away at home on April 2, 2022.   Rod was born to Judge Philip and Kathryn Duncan in Whitehall, MT on September 27, 1934. 

Rod was raised in Whitehall and graduated from Whitehall High School in 1952.  He attended the US Maritime Academy in Long Island, New York being one of two Montana appointees.  He then attended West Point Military Academy, Western Montana College and The University of Montana earning a bachelor degree in History and Political Science in 1957. 

Rod enlisted in the Air Force in 1957 requesting pilot training.  He was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1958 as a 2nd Lt Strategic Air Command Team.  He served two tours of duty in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966 as a pilot of KC-135 refueling B-52 Bomber planes.  He discharged in 1967 as a Captain.  He received the United States Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement for his service during this time.

Rod continued his love of aviation as a commercial pilot for Western and Delta Airlines for a total of 28 years as a line pilot/Captain.  He retired in 1994. 

In August 1963 he married Sally A Brooks. Together they raised four children – Teri Eubanks, Debbie Bowman, Melanie Labrum, and Monty Duncan.  They made their home in Orange County California. 

Rod had many hobbies which included fishing, photography, computers, history, building trains, anything to do with aviation, gadgets and “tinkering”. 

In 1997, Rod returned to his Montana roots, renewing old high school friendships where he then became known to all as “Monty”.   He re-ignited a high school prom date crush — Kay (Carmody) Spackman and in 1999 they were married.  Together they rekindled many old friendships and cherished these times.  They made their home in Butte and spent their retirement years traveling as much as humanly possible, enjoying many trips abroad as well as within the United States going coast to coast.  They took every opportunity to visit family and friends and always enjoyed being a part of activities of their large extended family.   Monty was a dedicated supporter of the World Museum of Mining, where he volunteered his extensive photography experience in restoring historical photos.  He loved and supported the arts and the Mother Lode Theatre, he loved Butte, Whitehall and Virginia City history.  He is survived by his wife Kay, and children Teri Eubanks, Debbie (George) Bowman, Melanie Labrum (Craig),  Monty (Candace) Duncan, Darla (Ric) Palmer, Susan (John) Breining, Renee Spackman, Tim Spackman, Kim (Kelly) Hayes, and Jill (Mark) Allen.  He was preceded in death by Kay’s son Jeff Spackman, and great grand-daughter Penelope Hintz and his brother David Duncan. 

He was proud of his blended family where he and Kay are survived by 23 grandchildren and their spouses and 16 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters Jane Duncan, and her children, Irene (Tom) Erdie and their children and brother-in-law Lee Hurley.

Visitation

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 9th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on the corner of Caledonia St. and North Western Ave. in Butte.

Funeral Mass

Funeral Mass will begin at 10 am at the church. Rite of Committal with Military Honors will be held at 2:30 pm at the Whitehall Cemetery in Whitehall, Montana. Memorials in honor of Monty are suggested to Jefferson Valley Museum, PO Box 902, Whitehall, MT 59759, or Motherlode Theatre, PO Box 522, Butte, MT 59703, or World Museum of Mining, P.O. Box 33, Butte, MT 59703.

~ 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

We are pleased to announce that we will be making another run at a Wallybird Luncheon at the Fairview Metropolitan Banquet Facility on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 1130.

We have been advised that due to Oakland City ordinances, ONLY fully vaccinated guests will be allowed in and you must present your vaccination card and a photo ID.

This will be a very important meeting as we will be discussing the future of our luncheons as well as the Wallybird website. Now that Dick Deeds has “gone West”, we don’t have anyone to maintain the site, and it is on life support even now. Please come and be part of the conversation about where we go from here

With regard to our luncheon venue at the FM, we have been well served by them, but the cost has increased $3 per person to $28 per person just since last July, so we can no longer break even at $30 after tax and tip. We are offering this lunch at $30 and will dig into our reserves for tax and tip. It may be that we can find a place more suitable for our numbers, such as a buffet with a meeting room, or a place with large tables where everyone just pays individually. Be thinking about places that might fit the bill and feel free to do some recon.

Where: Fairview Metropolitan Golf Course
10051 Doolittle Drive, Oakland, CA 94063
(next to Oakland International)

When: Thursday, 21 April 2022 1130-1400

Menu: House Green Salad, Broccoli Salad, Roasted Vegetables, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Salmon with Bernaise Sauce, Tri-Tip with Red Wine Sauce, Dinner Rolls with Butter, Coffee, Decaf, Hot Tea, Water, Chef’s Choice Dessert.

Other beverages are available at the adjacent bar. 

Cost: $30 per person

Please RSVP to BOTH Paul Browne (pjbro@sbcglobal.net) AND Curt Taylor (curttaylor@sbcglobal.net) by 1200 Monday 18 April 2022.

~ 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.

~ IN MEMORY ~

PNA/WA/DL Capt. Raymond Elwood BREUM

June 21, 1932 – February 17, 2022

Notice of passing….Delta Golden Wings member retired Pacific Northern/Western/Delta pilot Captain Ray Breum, age 89.  Captain Breum first joined Pacific Northern Airways 04-26-1960, made the merger with Western Airlines, and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1992 based in Seattle.  He is survived by his wife Shirley, and by his children and grand- and greatgrandchildren. 

To view the obituary online

Condolences may be sent to the family at  

 PO BOX 2649, STANWOOD WA 98292-2649.

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

Obituary: Raymond Elwood Breum took his final flight to heaven on February 17, 2022, at the age of 89. He will always be remembered for his kindness and love for faith, family, and flying.

He was born on June 21, 1932, to Sophie and John Breum in Mount Vernon, WA. While being raised on the Sande Farm with his best friend and brother Lawrence and Sister Katherine, he found a love for sports between chores. He played football, basketball, leading the team to two state championships and baseball for Twin City High School and Basketball at WSU. He discovered his love of flying and joined the Navy and his career as a Naval Aviator and Commercial pilot ensued.

He married the first love of his life Ardlyn in 1956 and as Newlyweds were stationed in Hawaii. They raised three children, Chris, Lori, and Ben living in several states across the country. He was a great Naval Flight instructor in Pensacola and flew military transport.

Ray went on to fly for PNA, Western Airlines, and retired from Delta Airlines in 1992. He could then pursue his favorite hobby of golf, gardening, and travel. He lived in La Conner and Sedro Wooley until Ardlyn’s death in 2008.

He found the second love of his life, Shirley, in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Arizona and Washington with friends and family. He is dearly missed, and his legacy of love and kindness will live on.

He is survived by Shirly Dorsey Breum, his three children: Chris, Lori, and Ben (Lisa). His grandchildren: Audrey (Stephen), Jamie (Charles), Olivia, Megan (Tyler), Jason, Josh(Natalie), and his great-grandchildren: Harper, Raymond, and Aiden.

The beloved Dorsey Children: Steve (Janice), Barb, J.R. (Vicki), and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

Services will be held at 1 pm Saturday, February 26 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Stanwood, WA. Graveside Committal service will be held at 11 am at the Freeborn Cemetery.