Ronald David Glen
October 14, 1937 - May 02, 2020
Funeral Details: A family celebration of life to be held at a later date.
Ronald David Glen (Paunch)
October 14, 1937 – May 02, 2020
This is me…..A pilot, a sailor, a husband (twice), a father to two daughters. Flying was my passion.
I joined the Air Force after high school and began a career that would come to define who I was. I married my first wife Bernice in Winnipeg. My career took us to Germany. A memorable posting as my first daughter Cheryl Glen (Jeff Ibbotson) was born and I was part of the 444 Sabre Squadron. Two years later in Red Deer, Alberta, another special lady came into my life. My second daughter, Karen Glen. My job took me all over Canada as well as NORAD in Great Falls, Montana. I flew many different jets throughout my job, and finished my Air Force career in 1984 flying the Hercules C-130 transport planes.
Hawaii was one of my favorite places where I married my second wife Joan and started a new chapter in my life flying corporate Lear jets with Exec Air. Many years later I had an opportunity to move to Japan to fly for a private company and flew all around the world.
Like many pilots my second passion, sailing, took me to the Caribbean where I sailed the islands on my boat, Sassey Blue, drinking rum and coke and soaking up the sun for over ten years. During that time, the skies were calling once again, so I began flying with FlyBVI (British Virgin Island) for several years until I could no longer fly and had to hang up my wings.
On May 2nd, 2020, this old pilot climbed behind the controls one more time and the sailor cast his lines for a final voyage.
Will be deeply missed and loved by all, especially his family including his cousins Ken Wright (Jane, predeceased), Dode Stiles (Gib, predeceased), Barb Stuber (Larry, predeceased) and Marlene & Blair Mason.
A family celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements entrusted to Peaceful Transition York and condolences may be forwarded through peacefultransition.ca
Nels George Hagenson
Posted on: Monday, May 11, 2020I did not know Paunch during his Airforce or off-shore flying career but met him when I retired from Air Canada at the magic age of 60! Still looking for a bit of airtime, I joined BVI Airlines when Paunch was there Chief Pilot. All of the pilots enjoyed Paunch’s great sense of humour and his fellowship and enjoyed a fair few Rum and Cokes after our workday was over.
Rest peacefully in ‘Pilot’ Heaven’. Cheers Nels
Andy Higgins
Posted on: Monday, December 21, 2020I too met Ron in the later years of his flying career. I was just starting as he was just finishing…I could not have wished for a better Pilot/Instructor to show me the ropes and introduce me into the world of flying jets. His relaxed and easygoing manner made for a very enjoyable couple of years based in Amman in Jordan, and have many cherished memories of that period. Whenever I see a bottle of Rum, I am transported back to downtown Beirut where we would try and hunt down the elusive Key Limes which he insisted were essential for a perfect Rum & Coke.
God bless you Ron and thank you for being a friend.
Mark Wright
Posted on: Wednesday, August 25, 2021Just saw this now. Ron was our uncle and our Dad (Ken Wright) was his cousin. Ron was a wonderful man and, as a child, all the boys in the family were in awe of him. He was a pilot, flew with the Snowbirds if I recall correctly and we loved to hear his stories. He died right at the height of the pandemic which meant none of us even heard of his passing and none of the family would have been able to attend the funeral in any case.
Please accept our deepest and belated condolences. Wishing his two daughters, who we met several times at my Aunt Muriel and Uncle Dave’s house in Niagra on the Lake.
All the best, from the Wright Family.