Dean Edwin Robnett

Dean was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. He grew up and went to school in Duncan, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a political science degree.

Dean served in the Civil Air Patrol in college and then served in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves for more than 25 years until he retired in 1999.

He had three tours in Vietnam and accomplished 30,000 hours of flying in the C130 'Hercules' transport plane during his career. Also during his reserve time, he went to work for Delta Airlines and retired in 1996 with 28 years.

He met Judy Swope in January 1978 in Austin, Texas, while both served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Bergstrom AFB. They were married October 6, 1978, and began their life together in Houston, Texas. They resided in Houston for 14 years until moving to Port Townsend in April 1992.

Dean started flying when he was 15 years old and his flying career extended more than 62 years. He learned to fly by exchanging flying lessons with cleaning the hangar at the air field in Duncan.

During college, he crop dusted, was in Civil Air Patrol and then became an Officer in the Air Force. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

When Bergstrom air field transitioned from cargo planes to fighters, Dean went to work in Biloxi, Mississippi, as a hurricane hunter, flying in and out of the eye of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

He served many years with the Confederate Air Force, now known as the Commemorative Air Force, flying the World War II airplane B-17. The plane was stationed in Houston and Dean would fly with a crew throughout the Midwest during the summer to air shows all over.

He not only served as pilot but worked as crew doing what was necessary to keep the plane flying. They offered tours and rides to the public.

He and Judy retired in the great Pacific Northwest after visiting the area to go on a cruise to Alaska. They lived for a year and a half in Kala Point before moving to Marrowstone Island in October 1993.

Dean developed leukemia in about 2011. He was at home and went from the loving arms of Judy straight into the Arms of Jesus on Thursday, September 22, 2016, at 9:10 a.m.

He gave his life to the Lord in the summer of 1978 and served him with a generous heart and a servant's spirit. He and Judy attended San Juan Baptist Church in Port Townsend from 1992 to 2014 when they transitioned to Quilcene Bible Church from 2014 to present.

Dean owned his own planes through the years, starting with a Cessna 182 and then a Twin Commanche and finally with a vintage L16. Flying was definitely Dean's life in business and in pleasure. Judy often accused him of having aviation gas flowing through his veins. He loved flying and he loved his Lord Jesus.

Dean loved to sing. He sang in the Church Choir and also in the Straits of Juan de Fuca Men's Barbershop Chorus. He sang in a mixed ensemble at his church called Marturia and also sang in a Southern Gospel Quartet, with three dear friends and they produced two Gospel CDs. Dean had a heart of evangelism and always gave the credit and glory of their singing to God.

Our beloved Dean is survived by the love of his life, his wife Judy, his two sons, Danny from Florida and Bobby from California, and four grandchildren.

Dean's life will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 6, 2016, Dean and Judy's 38th wedding anniversary, at Quilcene Bible Church, 295643 US Hwy 101, in Quilcene, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to your local or national research for leukemia foundation.

Dean was so loved and respected by his family and friends. He flew a good race and now is 'safely home.'