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Manuel Odelon
Delgado, Jr.
Manuel "Del" Odelon Delgado, Jr., son of Manuel Odelon Delgado, Sr., and Lucile Rutledge Delgado, passed away at the age of 85 on January 27, 2014 following a brief illness. Del was born on December 9, 1928 in La Ceiba, Honduras and spent his youth in New Orleans, LA. He was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and entered Tulane University at the age of 17.
Del was a lifelong sailor, who first found his way on a sailboat after standing on the end of a Southern Yacht Club (SYC) dock until someone took pity on him and brought him aboard as crew. This was the start of a seventy-five year love affair with sailing and the ocean.
In 1948, Mr. Delgado interrupted his education and joined the US Navy. He was trained as a Naval Aviator in Jacksonville, FL and assigned to the U.S.S. Midway, Air Group 4, in which he served in the Korean War. He piloted the F4U-4 "Bug Swacker" Corsair.
While in the Navy, Del married the former Lois M. Villars in 1950, while based at Naval Air Station Coronado, CA. Del was escorted to his wedding on a tuna trawler following a wet landing in the Pacific during a training run. Despite Del's efforts to gain passage to Mazatlan with his newfound crew, they dried him off, dressed him up, and delivered him to Coronado just in time for his wedding and the beginning of his sixty-five year marriage to the new Mrs. Delgado.
LTJG Delgado served in the Navy until December of 1956, when he returned to Tulane University and completed his Bachelors in Business Administration. After graduation, he worked in the cryogenics industry and circumnavigated the globe in search of potential business opportunities.
Returning to New Orleans, he founded Chem Carb CO2 and served the Gulf Coast region until 1994. Del held a United States patent on an innovative pumping system for delivering CO2 to businesses.
Del and his wife retired to Gulf Breeze, FL from 1994 through 2011, when they returned to their beloved hometown of New Orleans. Del remained an avid aviator and sailor outside of the Navy. Throughout his life, Mr. Delgado competed in Luders L-16 class regattas, the most recent of which was the Old Timers Regatta at SYC in summer 2013. He was a member of the Aviation Midshipman Association, the Lite Blue Angels, and was a QB. He belonged to the Sons of 1812. He loved watching the Blue Angels perform and sharing his Naval heritage with his grandchildren.
Mr. Delgado is survived by his beloved wife, Lois Villars Delgado; his brothers Robert and Rutledge; his three loving daughters Celene, Odette, and Lisa; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Del's life is being planned for the SYC this weekend. Details will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation in Pensacola, FL. Donations can be made online, at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/namfcim/, in honor of Lt. Manuel Delgado, USNR. Donations can also be mailed to the National Naval Aviation Museum; c/o Naval Aviation Museum Foundation; 1750 Radford Boulevard, Suite B; NAS Pensacola, FL 32508.
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CAN'T BELIEVE DEL AND BOB PASSED AWAY A FEW DAYS FROM EACH OTHER! BOB WAS SO FOND OF DEL AND I REMEMBER VISITING YOU ALL ON CANAL BLVD. MANY YEARS AGO. GOD REST HIS SOUL AND MAY HAPPY MEMORIES PREVAIL.
PAT BRADY BERNHARD
PENSACOLA, FL.
February 6, 2014
Thinking of you during this difficult time.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Christina Ball
Christina Ball
February 3, 2014
so sorry for your loss.Mr.D had a wonderful life and a great family.Prayers and thoughts with you at this time Nancy Iovino
February 2, 2014
DEL IS GOING TO MISED
DAVID DESPAUX
January 31, 2014
DEL IS GOING TO MISSED
January 31, 2014
Dear Celene, Chrissie, the Delgado and Oken families,
I was so sorry to read the post of your father and grandfather's death. It is always difficult to lose the ones you love most. You and your families are in our thoughts and prayers.
Julie and Bob Donohue
January 31, 2014
Lots of fond memories of a really swell guy. He brought cheer wherever he went.
We miss him. Vaya con Dios, Amigo.
Paul and Ranella Merritt
January 31, 2014
To the Delgado Family:
My sympathies to the loss of your loved one. I didn't know Manuel but I did know his brothers, Rutledge and Bobby. We called Rutledge "Rutt." My family (Reinhards) lived on City Park Avenue (816) in 1943 and the Delgados lived next door. We lived with my grandparents (Blumenthals). We moved in 1946 when I was 3. Because I was only 3 at the time, I don't remember Manuel because he was 18, but I remember Rutt and Bobby Delgado because their name was the same as Delgado School across the street and I thought Rutt was such a different name. I have thought about the Delgados often throughout the years and often spoke to my mother and sister (Marlene) and asked if they remembered them. My mother is gone now but she did remember. I am now 70 but still remember living next door to the Delgado family.
Even though you don't know me (except maybe Rutt and Bobby), I will keep your family in my prayers.
- Betty Reinhard Ford
January 30, 2014
Odette and family,
May your love, memories, and time together help you through this painful time.
Melinda Ramey
January 30, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss.
Brenda Diehl
January 30, 2014
We hope that you will be able to fully celebrate Manuel's extraordinary life in this time of loss. It is clear he experienced so much and touched so many in life.
Stephen Burton
January 30, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Jennifer Chang
January 30, 2014
My sincere sympathy to all the Delgado Family.
Fondly, Zide
Zide Bowers Jahncke
January 30, 2014
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Kathy Brisco
January 29, 2014
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