Roscoe Drake McMillan III

**Roscoe McMillan**

(March 30, 1940 - February 1, 2025)

Roscoe Drake McMillan, III, a cherished husband, father, grandfather and community leader, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, Feb. 1,2025. He was 84 years old and two months shy of his 85th birthday, which he loved to celebrate with his family every year.

Roscoe was born in Lumberton, N.C., on March 30, 1940, and attended Red Springs High School, graduating in 1958. He followed in his family's footsteps as the fifth generation McMillan to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and attended many reunions well into his late 70s. Roscoe graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1963.

His passion for service took him to the skies, where he served his country with distinction as a Navy Pilot from 1963 to 1969. Based mainly in Norfolk, Va., he was fond of sharing stories of being on the USS Randolph, chasing Russian submarines that sailed out of Murmansk in the North Sea.

After his military service, Roscoe continued his flying career with Delta Air Lines from 1969 until his retirement in 2000 at 60 years old. He retired with a perfect flying record and was celebrated for his courage to protect his fellow pilots and crew with his words in airline newsletters and his actions. Roscoe started the tradition of meeting retiring pilots at their last gate to present them with their ALPA (Air Lines Pilot Association) retirement wings and give them a picture of their final plane surrounded by their fellow pilots' signatures. He also worked tirelessly to assist pilots at Delta and at Eastern Air Lines who were furloughed, establishing a care fund to keep pilots in their homes and care for their families. Most notably, in April 1999, Roscoe stopped short a flight from Atlanta to Tokyo over valid concerns for crew rest - the first instance of its kind in airline history. His professionalism and leadership, both inside and outside of the cockpit, were legendary and set new standards for crew safety that remain in effect still today.

A man of deep faith, Roscoe was a Deacon and an Elder at both College Park Presbyterian Church and later at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, Ga. His commitment to his community was further evidenced by his role as President of the Sons of the American Revolution where he visited Gainesville-area high schools dressed in period costume to discuss the importance of the birth of our great nation.

In his personal life, Roscoe was a devoted family man, survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Melissa McMillan; his sister, Anne Monroe of Lumberton, N.C.; his daughter, Missy McMillan Ver Eecke (Stefaan); his son, Garrison McMillan (Courtney); and his five grandchildren Davis McMillan (19), Michael Ver Eecke (19), Ellie Ver Eecke (17), Paige McMillan (15), and Natalie Ver Eecke (9). He was an active member of the Chattahoochee Country Club, enjoying the camaraderie of friends and the love of racquetball.

Roscoe McMillan will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his unwavering service to his country, community, church, and his profound love for his family. His legacy will continue to inspire all who knew him.

A memorial service to celebrate Roscoe's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Roscoe's memory.