Tributes to Pilots & Aviators

JONESBORO - Mr. Thomas Franklin "Paw" Schmidt, 81, of Jonesboro, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026. Born on Aug. 4, 1944, in Pocahontas, Tom lived a life marked by dedication to his family, faith, and a remarkable career in aviation. Tom graduated from St. Paul's Catholic High School in...

                                         WORLD WAR II VETERAN Richard Norman McWilliams, 98, of Revere, Missouri, passed away peacefully in his home at 5:48pm, Sunday, April 12, 2026,...

Aug 4, 1944 - Apr 13, 2026 Mr. Thomas Franklin "Paw" Schmidt, 81, of Jonesboro, AR, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026. Born on August 4, 1944, in Pocahontas, AR, Tom lived a life marked by dedication to his family, faith, and a remarkable career in aviation. Tom graduated from St. Paul's...

Mark Anthony Dreher, 44, of Duncan, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026, after a courageous 13-year battle with cancer. Service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, April 18, 2026 in the Assumption Catholic Church with Father Oby Zunman officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairlawn...

November 1, 1933 – April 1, 2026 Leon Lewis Furr Junior, 92, of Natick, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Born on November 1, 1933, to Iva and Leon Lewis Furr Sr., he was raised in Medford Massachusetts. At the age of 23, he married Perla Norris, the love of his life for 69...

Norman F. Conant, Jr., 94, of Valdosta, passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born May 15, 1931 in Melrose, Massachusetts to the late Dr. Norman F. Conant, Sr. and Sylvia Claire Nute Conant. Norman graduated Durham High School, Durham, NC Class of...

Anthony (Tony) S. Russo, Sr., 90, of Timonium, Maryland, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born on July 1, 1935, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, he was the devoted son of Joseph and Yolanda Russo. From the very beginning, Anthony’s strong...

David Lynn Redding, 78, of Kahoka, passed away Monday, April 13, 2026, at Lincoln Village Healthcare Center in Lincoln, Illinois. He was born September 6, 1947, in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of Robert Otis and Leola Maxine (Pruett) Redding. In his younger years, David worked alongside his...

Gayla Christine (Murry) Griswold passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The family is being cared for by Ashley Valley Funeral Home - Vernal.

Tampa - USAF Lt Col (ret) Jean "Pappy" Paprocki, Jr., a devoted husband, father, aviator, and mentor passed away on March 8, 2026. He died of a heart attack while abroad at the age of 65. Born in Germany, he later immigrated with his family to Iselin, New Jersey where he grew up. He was the...

Glenn Roger Dettmann passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The family is being cared for by Baker Funeral Home - Wichita West.

David Earl Waters, 87, passed away on April 12, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service, and unwavering love for those he held dear. His life was marked by quiet strength, deep devotion, and a steadfast commitment to his family, his church, and his country. A man of profound faith, David...

Captain Ernest J. Anderson, Jr. b. 1936, d. 2026 Ernest J. Anderson, Jr. age 89, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2026, in Grapevine, Texas. Born on August 22, 1936, in Boston, Massachusetts, Ernest lived a remarkable life defined by his deep devotion to his family, an extraordinary career, and...

William Anthony (Tony) Schuermann, 79, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at UAMS in Little Rock, AR. Born to Junior and Betty (Walton) Schuermann in Columbia, MO, on January 28, 1947, Tony graduated from Centralia High School in 1965 and attended Northeast Missouri State...

Born in Norwich, NY on December 19, 1941, the son of the late Arthur Wesley Gould and Mildred Elma (Leighton) Gould. Graduate of Norwich High School after attending Boston Latin School, Boston, MA. Attended the Sullivan School, Washington, DC and received a principal appointment to the U.S. Naval...

It is with sadness and with respect we share the passing of Win Enders. He died March 22 from complications of lymphoma. Win was born in Haan, Germany, March13, 1937. He was raised near Cologne, Germany. He left Germany in 1962 for a new life in the United States. Engineer, entrepreneur, pilot,...

David (Alan) Alan Mankamyer passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026. The family is being cared for by George E Mason Funeral Home Inc.

Russell Eugene Carey, 57, of Carlisle, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Hampden Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Born on November 1, 1968, in Carlisle, he was the son of Larry David Carey and his stepmother, Marie Carey, and the son of Alinda Marie (Zook) Flaharty and...

Daniel R. Buchanan passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The family is being cared for by Elkhart Cremation Services - Elkhart.

Karl Johann Catob, 93, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida. Born on February 24, 1933, in South Bend, Indiana, Karl lived a life filled with adventure, service, and devotion to his family and faith. Karl began his distinguished military career in the United States Air...

William M. Naymick, age 77, went to be with our Lord on April 9, 2026. He was born on May 9, 1948, to Vera and Mike Naymick of Traverse City. He attended West Point Military Academy after which he served in Germany as a tank commander and was also stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas (9 years in the...

George Bryand “Bud” Edmunds, 96, of Owensboro, went to be with the Lord on April 11, 2026. He was born on March 31, 1930 in Terre Haute, Indiana to the late George and Elizabeth Smith Edmunds. Bud became a pilot flying both commercial and private jets. After retirement, he continued to fly his...

Jerald "Jerry" Clyde Rich, 88 Jerald "Jerry" Clyde Rich passed away peacefully, at home in Bigfork, Montana, with his wife and children by his side, on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Jerry was born February 4, 1938, in Cheyene Wells, Colorado. Jerry grew up in south Denver, Colorado and graduated from...

Stanley Welton Johns, age 78, passed away on March 8, 2026. Born on October 10, 1947 in Atlanta, Georgia, Stanley lived a life defined by curiosity, adventure, and a passion for flight. His love of aviation began as a teenager at Fulton County's Charlie Brown Field, where he earned his pilot's...

After a year-long battle with Mesothelioma, Col. William Edward "Eddie" Dunivant (USAF), 84, passed away at his home March 2nd, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was surrounded by his loving family. Born January 27th, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, Ed attended and graduated from Treadwell High...

Corradini, Robert Richard, age 88, born in Madison, New Jersey on November 6, 1937, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a life defined by adventure, dedication, humor, and love of family. Robert proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for five years before pursuing his...

Wayne Bruns, born June 22, 1939, passed away on March 31, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, hard work, and unwavering dedication to both his family and his Lord. Born in Wisconsin to Herbert and Francis Bruns, Wayne grew up with strong values that would guide him throughout his life. He...

Jerry Arthur Dodane, 79, of Rural Ossian, Indiana, passed away on April 7, 2026. Arrangements by Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, 120 West Mill Street, Ossian, Indiana 46777.

Paul F. Murphy, age 74, of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1951, Paul is the son of the late John J. and Margaret M. Murphy. The family relocated to Nashua when the FAA Center opened in 1963 where his father was an air traffic...

Cdr. Carl Rodney Spangler, Jr. USN (Ret), 83, of Norfolk, Virginia, joined our Lord on April 4, 2026. Born on April 16, 1942, Carl was the son of Carl, Sr. and Florence Spangler. He grew up in the “Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Hershey High School in 1960. In...

Florence, Ky. - David Alden Diffenderfer passed away on January 8, 2026, at the age of 90. Born on June 21, 1935, David lived a life defined by steadiness, integrity, and service-to his family, his country, his church, and his community. A graduate of La Jolla High School, Class of 1953, David...

Sir Peter K. Mohanty passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The family is being cared for by Ward Funeral Homes Weston Chapel.

Erika Knafl, 85, of Downers Grove, passed away on March 27, 2026. Terry, the love of her life and husband of over 50 years, was by her side. Together, they made lifelong friends, traveled the world, built businesses, raised three daughters, and shared a lifetime of laughter. Erika was born in...

Janet Yvonne Slay passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The family is being cared for by Magnolia Funeral Home.

Lewis Allen Sapp, December 3rd, 1943 - March 22nd, 2026. Beloved by his wife of 60 years Dolores, they met in the eighth grade in El Monte, California. He was revered by his four children: Matthew, Anita, Andrew, and Gail. Early in his adult life Lewis was a sonar operator for the naval reserve....

Bobby Lee Trammell was born on July 30, 1932, in Weir Texas to W.W. and Alma Trammell and was the youngest of four children. He died peacefully in his home in Mount Juliet, Tennessee on April 4, 2026, surrounded by his family. Bob was known for his gentle nature and for his kind spirit that...

Donald Lee Bishop, age 65, of Geary, passed away on April 8, 2026. He was born on January 18, 1961, in Litchfield, IL, to Walter Lawrence and Hester Jane (Williams) Bishop. He graduated from Litchfield High School and attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He later graduated from...

James “Jimmer” Elegante was a man for all seasons who seemed to do everything—and do it well. He set out on his next adventure in the early morning hours of April 8, 2026 as Julie and Leo bid him a tearful farewell. He was born January 26, 1947, in Provo, Utah to James T....

Richard D. Nall was born in Trinidad Colorado on Sept. 24, 1956, to Richard M. Nall and Loretta J. Gilliland. He passed away at the of age of 69 in Hutchinson, Ks on April 4, 2026. Rick served in both the Army and Navy and received an Honorable Discharge. He then learned and worked in a number of...

Richard D. Brown, 81, passed away April 6, 2026. He was born March 28, 1945, son of the late William Carter and Edith (Harris) Brown, in Dexter, MI. Richard would serve his country in the US Air Force, where he would receive pilot training and secure his pilot license. Returning to Michigan after...

James Harold Little, a longtime pharmacist who served the Stanly County community with kindness and compassion for more than 50 years, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, with his loving family by his side. He was 90 when he was called home to heaven to spend eternity with his...

Raymond Allan Schiltz passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The family is being cared for by The Amos Family Funeral Home & Crematory.

Kirk Mobley passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026. The family is being cared for by Cason Funeral Service Inc.

Phillip Foster Born: March 26, 1940 Died: April 7, 2026 in Shabbona, IL Phillip Walter Foster, 86 of Shabbona, IL passed away Tuesday April 7 2026 in his home with his loving wife Shirley beside him. Phil was born to Floyd & Ruby Foster on March 26, 1940. He married the love of his life,...

Captain Lee Moseley July 12, 1966—April 8, 2026 Lee was born in Shreveport, LA, to his parents, Donald Moseley, DDS and Patricia L. Moseley. They made their home in Ringgold, LA, and spent many summers in Hayward, WI, where his mother was from. Lee learned to love Wisconsin as a second home. Lee...

Benny Marvin Alexander, 79, of Cabot, Arkansas, passed away Friday, April 3rd, 2026. Benny was a Vietnam veteran served in the military for 22 yrs, where he worked as an aviation maintenance technician and crew chief for the Air Force and then later as a flight engineer for the Coast Guard. After...

John I. Miles, resident of Reedville and Ophelia, VA, and a former United Airlines pilot and Navy carrier pilot during the Vietnam War, passed away on Monday April 6, 2026 after a fall. He was 91. Mr. Miles was a Naval ROTC student at Dartmouth, from which he graduated in 1956. Lieutenant...

Loading Gregory Kenneth Troxell passed away on March 11, 2026, in Oregon City, Oregon, at the age of 73. Greg was born on April 11, 1952, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Kenneth and Sarah Troxell. The youngest of seven children, he developed an early interest in aviation that would shape his...

Billie "Bill" Houston Parker landed to begin his mission on November 1, 1933. He was cleared for his final takeoff, destination heaven, on April 4, 2026. Billie was born to James Houston Parker and Mary Ellen Hamlin Parker in Gladewater, Texas. He was the youngest, having two older...

Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven Keith Rosemond Wardlow, 61, passed away Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Hernando, MS. A visitation will be held Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a funeral service immediately following at 2:00 p.m., all at Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven....