George Wilbur Bucks

George W. Bucks After a valiant battle against ALS, Captain George Bucks left the bounds of earth to fly amongst the heavens on April 3, 2018. Born August 1, 1942, in Saginaw, Michigan, he spent most of his youth in upstate New York. With a life-long passion for aviation, he got his private pilot license at age 17. Upon graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1960, he studied Aeronautical Engineering at Utah State then was Commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1964 and earned his Navy wings in 1965. He served out of Guam flying C-121s in Vietnam and tracking typhoons. He transitioned from active duty to Navy Reserve service in February 1969, ultimately retiring as a Commander in 1985. He was hired as a pilot for Northwest Airlines and his career spanned from 1969 to 2002, flying over 30,000 hours in many aircraft types, including his favorite the 747. Upon retiring, he fulfilled a life-long dream of building his own RV-7A airplane at Chino airport. Before ALS took his voice he logged over 57 years of flying. He was a member of the EAA, AOPA and Retired Northwest Pilots Association. George was also a licensed HAM radio operator under the call sign W0NXI. George is survived by his three children, Cadie Bennett and twins James and Grant Bucks, and a multitude of other family and friends who will miss his wit and love. George was cremated and his ashes will be interred with full Naval honors at Ft Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota later this summer. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be done in his name to the ALS Association.