Larry D. Patrick

The future of RNPA Pilot Obituaries

For the attention of retired NWA Pilots and their families.

I am writing to inform you of forthcoming changes to the traditional practices of postings of obituaries for retired NWA pilots. RNPA has decided to phase out the group website late this year. This decision reflects a close examination of recent use of the website. Almost all the ‘hits’ today on the website are solely for obituaries. Most of the retired pilots who do the yeoman’s work of writing and posting obituaries are themselves well beyond normal life expectancy. That speaks volumes. Perhaps societal values are changing in ways that affect the willingness of family members to cooperate with the writing of pilot obituaries for pilot audiences. What you will read in the future will more resemble a traditional newspaper, funeral home, hometown type obituary.

We will cease posting our pilot specific obituaries after June 15, 2025. Those recently posted will remain available for viewing until late in 2025.

Yes of course, there are obituaries posted elsewhere for recently deceased NWA/Delta pilots. NWA pilots obituaries will forthwith be posted on the much-acclaimed PCN flight west website. In anticipation of this changeover, I strongly recommend you review the PCN flight west system using this link: https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/

Carol Faulkner, a retired Delta agent, is a key player at PCN Flight West. She serves as the website coordinator and is a master sleuth at searching industry periodicals, magazines, and aviation publications to glean timely information about the death of our colleagues. Many of the death notices I have posted have come from contact information from Carol.

Time is a key factor in the Delta Airline PCN system. I suspect the country varies greatly regarding the continuance of traditional funeral services. Where I reside in the Pacific Northwest the ‘Celebration of Life’ is becoming quite common. These events are often held several months after the death of the pilot. However, if you reside in thesoutheastern part of the country, you may witness a preference for traditional church and funeral home services. These services are sometimes only a few days after the passing of the deceased. Therefore, death notices and timing become very important. As you read the PCN Flight West postings take noof the ‘for community and the family character’ of the obituaries.

After June 15 I will no longer be writing obituaries intended for pilot readers. Those of you who have sent me an obituary for future use rest assured that a duplicate of your obituary will have been passed onto our friend Ruthie Dumas for her methodical computer storage. If all goes as planned, when I close out my logbook for good, Ruthie will have your key information and backup pilot email addresses. There you have it – a plan.

Thank you all for being understanding. No doubt this is the end of an era.

Please do me a favor and look at the PCN Flight West website. I have even discovered the obituaries of former Air Force squadron mates posted on that system. It is friendly turf.

Thank you for allowing me to fill a minor role in the great legacy of the Red Tail NWA Aviators,
Bill Day

Larry D. Patrick

1945 ~ 2024

Obit Photo Larry Patrick

Captain Larry Dale Patrick, age 79, was born on July 22, 1945, in Havre, Montana to Ardys Virginia Irene (Olson) Patrick and Russell Gale Patrick. He was the second of three sons (Charles was born in 1942 and Warren was born in 1955). Larry lived and worked on the family farm twenty miles north of Rudyard, MT. In his early years, Larry attended a one-room schoolhouse with his brother Chuck, several cousins and neighboring farm children. He attended the upper grades in Rudyard where the family purchased a “winter” home in town for schooling purposes. His father died unexpectedly at the age of 49 during the summer that Larry turned 16.

Larry graduated from Rudyard High School in 1963 and thereafter attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Great Falls College (MSU), Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After college he enrolled in Herrod School of Aviation in Billings, MT, which was a six-month flying school that took students from not flying at all through their FAA Commercial and Instrument ratings.

On August 29, 1966, at the young age of twenty-one, Larry was hired by NWA as a pilot candidate. He was initially trained at Minneapolis (MSP) as a Second Officer on the Boeing 707 series. Larry’s career progression followed the classic NWA pilot career track of the era. His initial captain upgrade was to captain on the Boeing 727. As seniority permitted Larry upgraded to captain on the DC-10, the 747 Classic, and finally the 747/400. The entirety of his airline career was spent flying for NWA based at Seattle, Minneapolis, Honolulu, Boston and Detroit where he completed his airline career flying Captain on 747-400.

Obit Photo Larry Patrick 5

After retiring Larry spent his time golfing and enjoying life between his homes in Gig Harbor, WA. and Palm Springs, CA.

Obit Photo Larry Patrick 2

Larry married Francine Gayle Elliott on September 20, 1986, in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Obit Photo Larry Patrick 6

He was preceded in death by his mother Ardys in 2010 and his brother, Chuck in 2021. Larry will be missed.

(Francine Patrick and Bill Day)

Obits Notice

The future of RNPA Pilot Obituaries

Larry D. Patrick

The Birth of RNPA