Jack D Alley

Jack D. Alley, known to loved ones as “Captain Jack”, passed away on May 28, 2013 due to complications from an emergency colon surgery. He was born in Freedom, Oklahoma on September 2, 1921, one of nine children of Corbett L. and Gladys M. Alley. He graduated from Woodward (Oklahoma) High School at age 16 and was attending Woodward Junior College. President Roosevelt started the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) seeking candidates for pilot training in the event the USA was drawn into World War II. Woodward Jr College needed 10 students to qualify for the program, but could only come up with nine. They checked the records and found that Jack qualified, but had not applied as he didn’t have the $15 it required for the physical. The Jr College paid the $15 and Jack was sent to Ponca City, Oklahoma for training as a pilot. He received his private license in an Aeoronca Chief 65 hp airplane. He transferred to Tonkawa Jr College and took secondary flight training under Tommy Green on UPF7’s and Travelaire biplanes, open cockpit. He met his wife, Betty Jean Blew, during this time and they married one year later in El Paso, Texas where Jack was a flight instructor. They moved to Lancaster, California when Jack became a civilian flight instructor for the Army Air Corps. Their only son, Jay Dee, was born there. Jack subsequently served in the Air Force and was stationed in SE Asia during WWII. After returning to civilian life, they resided in El Paso where their only daughter, Valerie Jean, was born.

In 1948 Jack went to work for Continental Airlines in El Paso. In 1962, they moved to Palos Verdes, California so he could fly jets out of Los Angeles International Airport. During this time, Continental developed their Military Air Transport Service (MATS) which was a military airlift to and from Viet Nam. Jack was a Flight Instructor and Check Pilot in this program and checked out most of the crews in this operation. He felt blessed to have the opportunity to fly his own son, Jay Dee, home from Viet Nam. From LAX, they moved to Honolulu where he flew DC-10's to Australia and New Zealand. During his 33 year career with Continental, Jack flew DC-3s, DC-10s, 747s, and everything in between. He served in the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), representing the pilots in negotiations with the union, and eventually became Chief Pilot of 5 bases and 1500 pilots, a position he held from 1980 until his retirement in 1981. He and Jean relocated from Hawaii to Ocean Hills Country Club in Oceanside, California in 1989. Jack served on several committees in Ocean Hills, and took up the game of golf. He accomplished his first (and only) hole in one in April, 2011. They attended Carlsbad Community Church.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, in September, 2006 and his son, Jay Dee, on May 3, 2013 also: his parents, C.L. & Gladys Alley, brothers, Murlin, Don, Dean, and Eldon and sisters, Agnes and June, as well as sisters-in-law, Peggy and Kathleen. He is survived by his daughter-in-law Kate Alley, grandson Jack Thomas Alley, wife Jennifer, and great granddaughter, Harper Rose, due to arrive in August 2013; his daughter, Valerie, husband Bob Spaak, grandson Brian Spaak, wife Landys, and great-grandson Gavin, and granddaughter Jill Spaak. He is also survived by an older sister, Lois Kibby, and a younger brother, Corbett Alley, wife Pat and numerous nieces and nephews.

In 2010, Reta Alley, widow of Eldon, became Jack’s companion, best friend, and sweetheart. Together they traveled the coast of California, took a trip to Alaska, and made numerous road trips to visit family and friends in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. They made Coastline Baptist Church their church home.

Jack developed a passion for flying at age 16 and that passion endured until he took his final flight west. He looked to the skies for contrails and he listened for the sounds of engines flying overhead. He was a big man, with a big heart and a million dollar smile. His family and friends will miss him terribly, however, we rejoice that he is at peace with the Lord Jesus in heaven, and we know we will see him again in eternity.

A celebration of life service will be held at Coastline Baptist Church on Saturday, July 20th, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Jack’s honor may be made to Coastline Baptist church, 557 Vista Bella, Oceanside, CA 92057… or Wounded Warriors Project (woundedwarriorproject.org for online form) or mail to PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.