death of DL Capt. Charles “Chuck” Lawrence Roedema, age 83

[death flwnwst]

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, DL Capt. Charles “Chuck” Lawrence Roedema

November 19, 1942 – November 26, 2025

 

In 1970, after leaving the Air Force as a captain, he began a 30-year career as a pilot with Delta Air Lines. Starting in Miami and later moving to Dallas–Fort Worth……………..

Chuck joined Delta Air Lines 04-17-1970.  Widowed in March of 2024, Chuck is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, along with many dear friends and colleagues.

 

PCN memorial site  https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2026/01/dl-capt-charles-chuck-lawrence-roedema.html 

 

https://www.wadefamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/charles-roedema

Charles Lawrence Roedema obituary :

He lived a life of adventure, service, and love. From humble beginnings to soaring thousands of feet above the earth, his journey was marked by courage, curiosity, and devotion to family. Whether flying missions across the globe, tracing his Dutch heritage in Holland, or enjoying a summer evening at a ballgame, he embraced life fully and left a legacy of integrity and kindness.

 

Chuck Roedema, 83, passed away on November 26, 2025.

 

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1942, he grew up as the oldest of six children in a hardworking family. Determined to rise above poverty, he became the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in chemistry with a minor in biology from Montclair State College. He worked his way through school at local businesses and even spent a summer as a lifeguard in Wanaque. During those years, he bought his first car, a 1949 Ford, for $50 from a college friend, paying $10 a month for five months.

 

After college, with the Vietnam War escalating, he joined the U.S. Air Force in November 1964. Following Officer Training School in San Antonio, he earned his wings in March 1966 and began flying B-52 bombers with the Strategic Air Command. He served with distinction, completing 141 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia and earning seven Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His longest mission lasted nearly 29 hours, a testament to his skill and endurance.

 

In 1970, after leaving the Air Force as a captain, he began a 30-year career as a pilot with Delta Air Lines. Starting in Miami and later moving to Dallas–Fort Worth, he flew countless passengers safely across the country and around the world. Aviation was not just his profession; it was his passion.

 

He was an accomplished aviator who flew the T-37, T-38, and B-52 during his Air Force career, and later piloted the DC-8, DC-9, L-1011, and B-727 with Delta Air Lines. In his final three years, he mastered the MD-11, and upon retiring from Delta, his last flight was a memorable journey to Paris, France, accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law.

 

He and his wife settled in Denton, Texas, in 1975, where they built a life together in the same home for 44 years. He loved the sense of community, the beautiful old courthouse on the square, and watching the town grow while still feeling like a small town. He enjoyed family dinners and baseball games, even when the Rangers lost, as well as cooler summer evenings marked by rainbows after the rain. He disliked the Texas heat but loved gardening and working outdoors whenever he could.

 

Proud of his Dutch heritage, he traced his family roots to Friesland and Ouddorp in Holland. He traveled to the Netherlands to meet relatives and learn about his ancestors who crossed the Atlantic on the Ryndam in 1905. He cherished those connections and shared stories of family traditions, dikes, and ship captains, perhaps where his adventurous spirit came from.

 

In his later years, after the passing of his beloved wife, he found love again with a faithful companion who remained by his side until the end. Through that love, he welcomed her children as his own, and his family grew.

 

He will be deeply missed for his zest for life. He was a teacher, a combat veteran, a skilled pilot, a devoted husband and father, and a loyal friend to many around the world. He had a soft spot for bloodhounds and loved all animals, dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, and especially his favorite, the mighty bison.

…………………………………

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Eleanor “Trixie” May Roedema, wife of DL Capt. Chuck Roedema

May 6, 1935 – Mar 11, 2024

 

PCN memorial site https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2024/03/eleanor-may-trixie-roedema-wife-of-dl.html