Jerry R. Cobb

ATLANTA, Ga. Jerry R. Cobb, a decorated veteran and a community leader in aviation, died peacefully on Sunday, October 10, 2010, in Atlanta, Ga. with his family at his side. He was 70.

Jerry will be remembered as an expert pilot who served his country and shared his love of aviation with young people-in many cases personally teaching them how to fly. Many of those he mentored became military or commercial pilots.

The son of Ralph Van Buren and Delana Ross Cobb and the brother of Molla Patricia Cobb, Jerry grew up on a farm his family had homesteaded near Hartford, Alabama. He earned a scholarship to the University of Alabama to study math and physics. During the first week of classes, he met Ann Hulsey, who later became his wife. They soon became partners in a photography business, the proceeds of which Jerry used to buy an airplane. Jerry graduated from the University of Alabama in 1962.

After college, Jerry began his military career. Jerry worked briefly at NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, then completed pilot training at Craig Air Force Base and was assigned to the 12th and 8th Tactical Fighter Wings and 555 Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1963 to 1966. He completed deployments to Naha and Udorn, flying 135 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom, a jet fighter. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and six Air Medals for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial combat. On his return, he served as an Instructor Pilot for the 436 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Homestead, Florida, from 1966 until 1969.

Jerry then joined the airlines. He was a Captain who worked for National Airlines, Pan American World Airways, and Delta Air Lines for 30 years. He logged more than 25,000 hours in the 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, and DC-10 aircraft. An instructor for cockpit resource management at Pan Am, Jerry trained a NASA Space Shuttle crew. He retired from Delta as the Chief Line Check Airman for the 737 in January 2000.

After his retirement, Jerry devoted himself to community service. He was chairman of the Airport Authority in Peachtree City for many years and oversaw airport expansion and safety improvements. He also served as the Director of the Great Georgia Airshow, which he helped grow to a major regional event.

On his last day, Jerry was aware that this air show was in progress. On short notice, its organizers arranged a touching tribute: Loved ones gathered as a Missing Man formation-an aerial salute in which one airplane slowly peels away from the group-was flown in his honor.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Ann Hulsey Cobb; his three sons, Ross Hulsey Cobb, Thomas Dillon Cobb, and John Spencer Cobb; extended family, including Kevin James Francis, Jinny Dodd Cobb, Michael John McCann, Michael Reese Courington, Tricia Courington Wood, James Edward Courington; and the many friends he considered family.

A gathering in Jerry's honor will be held at the Falcon Field Terminal Building in Peachtree City, Georgia, on Sunday, October 24, 2010, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Falcon Field Memorial Fund to purchase airplane-themed equipment for the airport terminal playground. Donations can be made online at www.falconmemorial.org. Please include on the memo line "Cobb Memorial." Contact Jillian O'Connell at jillianoconnell@kffc.org or 770-487-2225 with questions.