Edward Le Penske, Pilot

When you flew United Airlines with Capt. Edward A. Le Penske, you truly flew "the friendly skies," as the jingle goes.

The veteran pilot gave not only the traditional pitch over the public address system, but tossed in anything else, from pointing out topographical features to telling anecdotes about when he'd hunted, fished or camped at the spot.

"Dad's employee file was the thickest one in the district office," said son William Le Penske, of Normandy Park.

"He was a tremendous public speaker, either for airline functions or on flights. He was always getting mail from passengers. His announcements could go 20 minutes."

So personable and airworthy was Mr. Le Penske, who died of cancer Aug. 23 at 84, that he was chosen to spend a year teaching Japan Air Lines pilots to fly Boeing airliners when routes opened to Tokyo.

He also was pilot of choice for the University of Washington Huskies football team when the team chartered planes for away games.

A sportsman himself, he played a mean game of tennis and was a competitive swimmer at Stadium High School in Tacoma.

In his 80s, he swam three times a week, partly to ease the pain of arthritis, said his wife, Elizabeth Le Penske, of Normandy Park.

"He was an amazing, interesting man," said his son. "He retired at 55 from the airlines, and was a founding board member with Gov. Dan Evans of Highline Community College."

The son of a federal agent who ran a store on the Potowatomi Reservation in Wisconsin, Mr. Le Penske moved with his family to Tacoma in 1915. He fell in love with flying and, after earning a business degree at the University of Puget Sound, wrangled his way into the Army Air Corps flight school in Texas.

By World War II, he was an airline pilot and found himself ferrying troops around the Pacific.

After the war, he owned a seaplane and would fly to Canada to hunt and fish. He also took his kids flying and on camping and fishing trips.

"Because he had a lot of days off from flying commercially," said his wife, "he volunteered in the community. He was instrumental in founding Highline Community Hospital, and John Knox Presbyterian Church in Normandy Park."

He liked to dance. He could fix things around the house. And he was good with children, said his wife. "He set a marvelous example of manhood: He was gentle and yet well disciplined.

"I wouldn't say he liked to cook. So when I wasn't home, he'd take all the kids to McDonald's. I think he liked it as much as they did."

Other survivors include sons Steven, of Auburn, and Thomas, Normandy Park; daughter Julie Moyles, Cashmere, Chelan County; sister Mary Frances, Tacoma; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Services are at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 S.W. Normandy Road, Seattle.

Remembrances may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 100 S. King St., Suite 330, Seattle, WA 98104; to Young Life, P.O. Box 22861, Seattle, WA, 98122; or to Highline Community Hospital Home Health/Hospice, 12844 Military Rd. S., Tukwila, WA 98168.