Ray Erwin Engel, born to Dorothy Schuchard and Erwin Engel in Millville, Minnesota, passed away on July 20, 2021 at the age of 89, in his recently adopted home of Irvine, California. His 34 year battle with prostate cancer showed his courage in facing life’s challenges with a positive attitude. Ray was truly a hero and stayed strong until the end.
As a young man, Ray loved motorcycles, cars (particularly Cadillacs), boats and dreamed of getting one of the big pilot’s checks he saw working in the accounting department at Northwest Airlines. So, he borrowed money from his mother and step- father, Arlan to buy an airplane and then hired someone to teach him how to fly it. His first lesson was a disaster ending with him getting sick all over his instructor, they both thought he had made a huge mistake! Of course, he was not one to give up, so he gave it another go which led to a life-long passion for flying and a 35 year career with Capital and United Airlines ending after he became a 747-400 captain flying non-stops to Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Australia. His flights to Hawaii lead to a love for visiting the islands on family vacations.
Ray met the love of his life, Janet, while working a trip in January of 1959. He was a last-minute replacement for another pilot, so when Janet came to the cockpit to introduce herself that day, she naturally thought he was the pilot listed for the flight. Being a bit of a jokester, Ray did not correct her so they spent the entire flight and most of their layover in New York (including their first date) without her knowing his real identity! It must not have made a difference because 6 months later they were engaged and 11 months after that first meeting, they were married. Their marriage was still going strong 61 years later! Together they had 2 children, Kristin and Margo while living in the Thousand Oaks area for over 50 years.
Ray is survived by wife, Janet, daughter, Margo and grandchildren, Megan, Nick, Katie and Aidan.
Ray will be honored in a chapel service at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Chapel of The Oaks, Westlake Village, California on September 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm. The service will be on Facebook Live from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Reception to follow at 2:00 pm at The Feathers home.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18