F. Park Aten

F. Park Aten, 62, of Mesa, Arizona, born November 1, 1951 in Springfield, Missouri to John and Georgia [Baker] Aten, passed away April 24, 2014 in Mesa, Arizona. Park spent most of his career as a helicopter pilot working for various companies such as Boeing, MD Helicopter and PHI AirEvac. Park also founded his own company, Helispecialists International. He was an instructor of pilots, specializing in transitions from other types of helicopters to the MD 500 series and in recurrency training. Many pilots have shared that he was one of the best pilots with whom they had ever flown. Park had a great sense of humor, was an amazing man and was good at everything he did. Park had many hobbies throughout his life such as off-roading in his Jeep Cherokee and glass blowing with his wife Deb; hunting with his friend Marko, raising cacti and working in his greenhouse. Park was inventive, welding or blacksmithing tools he needed to complete one project or another. Park had a lifelong love of steam trains and was able to drive a 1910 steam train in Nevada last fall. Park attended DeVry University and took engineering courses at ASU. He is survived by his loving wife Debra [Sundvold] Aten and by his many friends. Park was preceded in death by his parents John and Georgia Aten. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.