Captain Richard Charles (Dick) Fontaine went to be with our Lord on Friday morning, April 29, 2011, after a three year battle against brain cancer. Dick was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on January 26, 1941 to loving parents Edna Turgeon Fontaine and Charles Armand Fontaine who predeceased him. He grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts, graduated from Chicopee High School in 1958, and joined the Air Force. Dick left the Air Force to earn his Bachelors degree from Auburn University in 1966 and began his notable flying career with Delta Air Lines that June immediately after graduating. He flew most of the various planes that Delta owned over the years, flying the L10-11 and Boeing 777 internationally during the last eighteen years of his distinguished thirty-five year career. Earlier in his career Dick built intricate wooden ship models. He also attended and graduated from law school in the evenings. Later he owned and operated a small cattle farm and trucking company for several years while still flying domestic routes. Dick leaves his two younger brothers and sisters to keep him in their hearts and memories; Robert A. Fontaine, Decatur, GA, Paul L. Fontaine (Susan), Marietta, GA, Janet Fontaine Farrington (Bill), Greenville, GA, Theresa Fontaine Barkin (Terry), Mobile, AL, and his brother and sister-in-law James and Susan Vlass, Milton, GA. Dick leaves his best friend and loving wife Mary (Marty) Vlass Fontaine to love and cherish him and their life together just as she did while he was with her. They shared an active life gardening, walking, working out, dancing, traveling and enjoying their special Maltese, Lily, who was her Daddy’s joy and constant companion. Marty will be forever grateful for their time together here and when they meet again. Also left to morn his passing are Dick’s son Eric A. Fontaine (Lisa), Houston, TX, daughter Tiffany Beamer (Greg), Nashville, TN and stepdaughter Candice Bennett, Atlanta, GA. He leaves to remember him special nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and four grand children. With an infectious smile, sense of humor and caring, Dick made quick and lasting friends. He was a life long Rotarian, participating in special club activities such as Habitat for Humanity and local and international Rotary Student Programs. He mentored students for years often taking them out or to his aircraft to motivate them. He did shut-in visits, teacher appreciation work and was a USO volunteer at the airport. For his own enjoyment Dick loved playing tennis and going to the gym. He was an active participant of the home owners association and personally cut limbs, fixed water lines and broken outdoor lights. His neighbors could find him out until dark working on anything that needed attention. He was recently honored with a plaque and a special bench in one of the neighborhood cul-de-sacs. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at Sandy Springs Chapel at 136 Mt Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. A visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the service will be at 3:00 p.m. (404-255 8511). Simply attending his service, flowers, contributions to Rotary International, The Southeastern Brain Tumor Association, American Cancer Society or your own special group in Dick’s name would be a cherished blessing.
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