RH Deskins

RH was born in Trenton, Missouri to Virgil Oakley and Lucille Lillian Deskins on September 25, 1927, the oldest of five children. RH moved with his family to Miami, FL when he was nine years of age so he could help his maternal grandparents work the dairy they owned in Hialeah, FL. He was responsible for milking and delivering milk before he went to school and again in the afternoon after school. At a young age, he also picked up a job delivering US Mail on his bicycle in Hialeah, being known as the youngest US Postal Service employee. As he got a little older, he would perform tricks on his horse “Trixie” at local rodeos. He built his own boat out of scrap tin from the dairy as the Little River Canal ran along the north border of the dairy. He and his boyhood friend, Pete, would often times set out on an overnight adventure, taking the boat east to Biscayne Bay, where they would sleep on the rocks along the edge of the bay. RH would borrow his grandmother’s iron skillet so they could cook the fish they would catch along the way. He would reminisce about the trips he would take with his grandfather to downtown Miami, when there was bank business to do, and always stopping at a walk-up fresh fish shack to dine on a fish sandwich before the two returned to the dairy. He often said he was so grateful for the lessons he learned growing up on the dairy and from his grandparents, stating the simple life of his childhood was one to which he wished he could return.

RH graduated from Miami Edison High School in Miami, FL, where he played the clarinet in the band, lettered in football, and was a pole vaulter on the Track Team. He met and married Romilda Deskins within eight months, marrying on January 22, 1949 in Miami, FL. It wasn’t too long after marrying, RH’s Indian Motorcycle and his Chris Craft boat went by the wayside (later replaced by a twin engine tri-hull family boat). RH and Romilda were one of the founding families of Northwest Baptist Church in Miami in 1951.

RH served in the US Navy, active duty and reserves, for almost 13 years, attached to Patrol Squadron 741, based out of NAS JAX. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer, First Class with a job of Aircraft Engine Mechanic. His Patrol Squadron crewed three patrol bomber/anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the Consolidated PBY Catalina amphibious aircraft, the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, and the Lockheed P2V Neptune. The squadron was deployed for temporary duty in Alameda, California; Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Aleutian Islands, Alaska; Port Lyautey, French Morocco; and the seaplane base in Gibraltar for the purpose of patrolling the Strait of Gibraltar for German subs. He was called back into active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. One suspicious “layover” occurred at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, waiting for an aircraft part to be delivered for eleven days, resulting in the CO at NAS JAX threatening to fly out there to see what was going on!

One of the first careers RH had was with working heavy equipment for Williams Paving, which he loved and spoke of into his later years. He worked as part of a crew that cleared trees, cut-in and paved roads, a couple being Hollywood Blvd/Pines Blvd west to U.S Highway 27 in the early 1950s, as well as portions of I-95 through parts of Dade and Broward counties. Throughout his life he always marveled at the new and improved equipment he would see throughout his life.

RH retired from the City of Miami Fire Department in 1981 after 27 years of service, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. Besides being the cook for his shift, he served as the Driver/Engineer, Apparatus Operator, and Fire Equipment Operator in addition to being a firefighter and paramedic.

Of many RH’s careers, his aviation career was his longest. He started his civilian career as an A & P Mechanic for National Airlines at Miami International Airport, moved on to Miami Air Center (MAC) at Opa-Locka Airport when National went on strike, and eventually landed at Hangar One (Beechcraft), also at Opa-Locka Airport. He transferred with Hangar One to Tampa where he worked as head of maintenance for 16 years before retiring at the age of 70. It seems the company would no longer insure him to fly once he turned 70 so he decided since the fun was gone, he would be gone as well. In short, he lived to fly.

RH was checked-out in every model aircraft Beechcraft manufactured during his tenure. Thus, he became the guy to go wherever needed to rescue inoperable aircraft, repair them on the spot to the point of airworthiness, fly the aircraft to Opa-Locka or Tampa for proper maintenance to be completed, then test fly the aircraft to insure all components are functioning as designed. RH accumulated over 15,000 flight hours and possessed all FAA ratings with the exception of Instructor. In the 1950s he built an Aeronca Champ in his backyard while the engine work was completed in the carport. He flew this aircraft for several years until it was flipped upside down in a hurricane. During the 1960s and 1970s RH owned a Mooney M20E, in which many trips were made around the US to visit relatives. RH was awarded the FAA Southern Region Maintenance Technician of the Year in 1996 and the FAA Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award in 1999. He was also a member of the AOPA.

RH was one man who rarely worked a day in his life as he truly enjoyed and had fun in all of his occupations. After retiring, RH spent the next many years traveling with Romilda and played golf, into his 90s, weekly with his foursome. He loved spending time with his kids, learning things from long ago he never knew about when they actually happened. RH… dad… was truly loved and admired by all of his children as we are very proud of the man he always was. And we too are grateful for the lessons he taught us throughout his life.

RH is preceded in death by his wife of sixty-six years, his parents, two younger sisters, one younger brother, and one grandson. He is survived by his three adult children, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his youngest brother.

A visitation for RH will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. A funeral service will occur Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. A graveside service will occur Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511.