KEN COGGESHALL 1958 - 1982 PILOT GSW MKC DAL DEN IT IS WITH A VERY SAD AND HEAVY HEART THAT I MUST IMFORM YOU OF THE DEATH OF CAPT. KEN COGGESHALL, ON SAT. MAY 27TH, AT 01:20 P.M. FUNERAL SERVICES ARE AT DONNELLY FUNERAL HOME WED. 10:00 AM 606 W. APT. FRWY. IRVING TX. 75062 PHONE 972-579-1313 PLEASE PASS THE WORD TO THOSE WHO YOU KNOW WOULD BE INTERESTED. -BILL BLACKMON (5/28/00) Thought I'd pass this along to you. I'll check the Dallas and FTW papers for an obit. If you want, I can crop him out of the convention picture of the obit section. -Frosty Frost (5/28/00) I went ahead and scanned Ken's picture out and it's attached. I checked the DFW area papers but it's probably too soon to be in there. -Frosty Frost (5/28/00) Thanks for the info & pic, Frosty. Damn! I'd been thinking about Ken because of the photo you sent. He was such a nice guy. He used to bring flowers to the ladies at the accounting offices near the Airport Village Inn when he was bad health (1982-84 I think). Wasn't it MS that afflicted him? What a fight he must have put up! -Jake Lamkins (5/28/00) I met Ken when we were both in new-hire school at AAL at FTW in the spring of 1957. He was a class ahead of me and went to Chicago while I went to NY. But we both got furloughed at the same time along with Hal Wheeler and Fred Mc Dowell. And we all came to work at CEN in exactly the reverse seniority order! Ken developed MS when he was 51 and I figure he was about 68 or 69 when he flew west. So that would make it 1981-82 when he medically retired. He was stubborn as a mule about alot of things and giving in to the MS was one of them. He kept just as active as he possibly could. He would force himself to walk everyplace he could until he finally had to give in and buy himself a scooter. But he had his pickup rigged so he could load and unload it himself so he kept busy (or busier) running around. He would non-rev by himself (his wife didn't like to fly) to visit family in LA, taking it one segment a day which allowed him a couple nights at the Ramada on Smith Rd. every trip to sip a few and visit with old friends. Ken would always read the daily paper cover to cover before a trip hoping to get something relevant and newsy to talk about on the PA on his flights. So one day when he was over an oilfield in Oklahoma that he had read about that morning, he expounded on why the cost of crude oil was so high since there was a drilling rig right below them that was about as deep in the ground as they were above the ground (31000') and they still hadn't hit oil yet at that record depth and how much it cost per foot to drill at that depth. Shortly thereafter he got a note from a passenger on a cocktail napkin along with the Geologist's business card informing him that there were 4 deeper holes in the world and told him exactly where and how deep they were. So from then on he thought twice about being the expert when talking on the PA system! Ken was a good guy and will be missed. Too bad he couldn't have finished out his flying years like he hoped to. We can be millionaires and have every material thing in life but if you lose your health, you're going broke. -Frosty Frost (5/29/00) Hi Jake Sorry to be so long but I almost had to move mountains to get this as it was not in the DAL paper, and was in the Irving paper. Then, the family had to send some film to be developed, as they had no recent pictures. He was in pretty bad shape, and he did not want any pictures. Thank you again for all of the effort and please let me know when it is published, as his Daughter Kelly wants to view it. Thanks again for your very good work. Ken was a Gentleman. One of my favorites. -Bill Blackmon (Bill sent Ken's obituary and a photo) (7/7/00) Dear Mr. Lamkins and other Retired Frontier Pilots, Thank you for the information you provided on my father, Ken Coggeshall. He loved flying more than life itself as many of you know. He use to always tell me that he would have paid someone to let him fly! He always had many stories to tell of his past flights (I think he remembered every flight he ever made!). I was lucky to get to fly with him to Colorado a couple of times (with him at the helm) and he definitely liked the PA system! I know I met Frosty when he and my Dad were rooming in Aurora, and I have met Bill Blackmon and some others. My dad really enjoyed the monthly get togethers at Ernies. I wanted all of you to know that each of you added something special to his life and he treasured all of you that were his friends. My son wrote a letter to him after he died saying that he was now flying 'heavenly airlines' and was 'cleared to land'. He has Gone West, but is still very much in my heart and others. I want to thank you for him. -Kelly Coggeshall (9/8/00) Wonderful hearing from you, Kelly. Your dad was a great guy. We put a webpage up for him at http://DENFL.tripod.com/Ken_Coggeshall.html There's an index to all the Frontier site at http://FAL-1.tripod.com Plus we have a Frontier online club with 225 members that you're welcome to join. Let me know and I'll send you an invite. Finally, we are just starting a Frontier newsletter. If you'll send me your mailing address, I'll add you to the list. -Jake Lamkins (9/8/00) I have visited the Frontier site many times. It looks real good. Daddy would have been very pleased. -Kelly Coggeshall (9/11/00) IN MEMORIAM Ken Coggeshall August 14, 1932 - May 27, 2000 He was a fighter pilot in the Navy and Marine Corps before becoming a Frontier pilot. He retired in 1981 as a captain after 23 years with the company because of his battle with multiple sclerosis. As a friend commented at the FL Club’s message board after his death, "He was always a gentleman and a pleasure to be around. I saw him at quite a few of the FAL reunions in Fort Worth. He set an example for all of us on how to face adversity. I know he was admired by many. You can forget someone’s name or forget their face but you never forget how someone makes you feel. In the years I knew Ken, even after his retirement, when I saw him he always brightened my day with his attitude and cheerful outlook. FRONTIER NEWS FALL 2000 Dear Frontier Friends,I am attempting to put together a scrapbook for my sisters and myself on my Dad. Please don't feel obligated, but if any of you have any stories about flying with my Dad and you would like to share, I would really appreciate it. Thank you. -Kelly Coggeshall (1/31/01) Hi Kelly, I never had the pleasure of flying with your Dad. I knew him well from many visits in the crew room and shared layovers. Ken had a wonderful reputation as a individual and as a pilot along with being a very giving person with the time he put into the pilot group. I will always have fond memories of his warm and caring smile. He seemed to always have a kind word for everyone. Ken never let his medical problems get in the way of his great character. He was, in fact, an inspiration. While I never flew with Ken, I know there will be many who did that will help you in your project. One suggestion... leave your e-mail address. You might find more responses in a private forum. Tailwinds... -Billy Walker (1/31/01) Hi, its Kelly again. It was suggested that I leave my e-mail address, so here it is. kcoggeshall@gmrworks.com Thank you. -Kelly Coggeshall (1/31/01) Ken was well known in the General Offices and Administration Building. During the early 80s he brought flowers to the ladies who worked there. There were a lot of them too so his expenses were considerable. The ladies loved it and eagerly anticipated his visits. Let me echo what Billy said - Ken was the epitome of quiet courage in the face of his medical problems. He was always upbeat and never felt sorry for himself. -Jake Lamkins (1/31/01) I hired on with Central Airlines in April of 1964 and flew as Co-pilot for Captain Ken Coggeshall for the first time on December 1, 1964. The aircraft was a Central Airlines DC-3, Nbr 20B and the Stewardess was Sandy Hamilton. Flight 72 - Fort Worth, Dallas, Paris, Fort Smith, Hot Springs and Little Rock. During the next 3 days we had some of the roughest weather in the country. In fact, the second day we had to cancel the flight in Fort Leonard Wood, MO because of enroute weather in the St. Louis area. Ken displayed the patience to allow me to make all the "new kid on the block" mistakes and the humor to keep my morale up. I flew with your Dad many times in the next few years. I guess the best way to describe our time together "on the line" is to say that I ALWAYS looked forward to flying a trip with Ken. When you count mergers and bankruptcies, I flew for 8 airlines during my 31 year career. I say in all sincerity, Captain Ken Coggeshall was one of the finest and most professional pilots I ever shared a cockpit with. If there is a heaven, I will fly as his Co-pilot again one day. -Phil Stallings, Central/Frontier (Ret) (1/31/01) Ken was one of my favorite Captains, and we flew the DC-3 together for seven consecutive months before the FAL merger. I visited him every time I returned to FTW and called him from home two weeks before his passing. He mentioned that he had had a heart attack and I told him that I'd come back soon and visit with him, but I didn't get there fast enough. His picture is on my "wall of memories", taken with me in 1995, as well as pictures of Mark Burke and Owen Cook and I. There IS a heaven and a heavenly hangar, where we'll all meet someday. I was very proud to know Ken, both professionally and socially. -Clyde Hart (2/14/01) Dear Kelly, I flew with your dad for many years, as a stewardess, and will always consider him one of my all-time favorites. In your scrapbook, be sure to note that he was loved and respected by all, and that he made a difference in our lives. He was a pleasure to be around, always upbeat, a gentleman, and still gives us fond memories. A real professional. But, he also made the work so much fun for all of us. The first time my parents were able to fly with me, Ken made them feel so welcome and special, I will always be grateful. The same with my husband. Ken invited them up to the cockpit, welcomed their questions and told them wonderful stories. He used to give the passengers a tour guide through every "tree top" stop. I know in today's rushed world it would not be appreciated like it was then. But he gave fun information that even made our seasoned business travelers enjoy and learn more about the country we flew over. Our trips were often 14 to 16 hour days, with stops every 20 to 30 minutes. Today, there is no service at all on those short legs, if the service exists at all, but then, we served them all, drinks, and many "triangle" sandwiches. Ken not only told them where we were, but gave picturesque descriptions of the land below. Through those long days, the stewardesses wore gold, very hard shoes that were not meant to walk in, much less walk up and down an airplane. On one trip, after I had blisters on both my heels and my toes, I finally gave up the shoes altogether. I continued working in my hosed feet. I tried to make sure the passengers did not notice I had no shoes on. When Ken came out of the cockpit at one of the stops, and noticed my feet, he didn't say anything, but when we continued and he was giving his usual inflight update, he told all the passengers on board that I was a west Texas girl that never learned to wear shoes, but not to worry, that I would take care of them bare-footed! Kelly, I don't know that anyone but you and your sisters might appreciate how much fun your dad, I, and our passengers, had, over a moth. It was one time when we landed in a little stop in Arkansas in the late '60's or early '70's and found a huge moth on the stairway. (I mean HUGE)Your dad and I actually caught it and put it in a jar and shared it with the passengers who enjoyed it even more. Can you imagine that happening with todays airline travelers? Us passing the jar through the cabin for everyone to marvel over and guess it's origins? Every time I saw your dad over the last 30 years, he mentioned it. And we marveled over, and laughed at it. Maybe you heard the story? You can be proud of your dad and his accomplishments. In both health, and in his striving for health, he had a profound effect on all of us. Much love from all of his friends at Frontier/Central. -Karen Baker Fox (2/18/01) KENNETH COGGESHALL DOB 14 Aug 1932 DOD 27 May 2000 Age 67 At 75062 (Irving, Dallas, TX) SSN issued in Ohio (8/12/01) K M COGGESHALL Pilot seniority date of 5/26/58 on 9/1/81 the FL/ALPA seniority list. He is not on the 9/1/85 list. Ken is on the 10/81 Domicile List as on active duty. The 2/82 Domicile List shows him on sick leave. He is not on the 5/83 Domicile List so he probably retired in 1982. His obituary says he retired in 1981 but he was on sick leave in 1982. -Jake Lamkins (4/24/10) I've looked at this a gazillion times!!! Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!! I didn't realize that you did the page!! Thank you for your kind words! He LOVED his job, and I never ONCE heard him complain about anyone he worked with. Y'all must have been a fun group! -Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky (10/25/17) Posted at FLacebook posting of Frontier 737 flying past Shiprock: I remember when my dad, Ken Coggeshall, had to take a medical retirement in 1980. He and my Mom were in Denver in Mr. Feldman's office. Mr. Feldman had that exact photo on the wall in his office, and my Mother told him how much she loved it!! His comment was,''You do??''... and something to the effect that he’d make sure she got it! It arrived at my parent's house, shortly thereafter, in Irving, Texas!!!!! For all I know, maybe he did that for everyone that retired, but we all thought that was incredibly nice of Mr. Feldman. I never met the gentleman, but I DO know that my dad sure liked and respected the man! I've never forgotten that kind gesture, and that's what I think of every time I see that picture! -Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky (3/29/18) --->FLacebook postings on Mar 5, 2019<--- Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Just ran across this in an old photo album - dated February 1974. This is my Dad - Captain Ken Coggeshall, and I'm clueless as to the copilot, but I know y'all will know!! I adored this man. Billy Walker Yup, that's Paul Gailey (Paul was a gifted artst and did many cartoons & drawings for the Frontier Magazine. His memorial webpage is posted at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Paul_Gailey.html) Pam Ellis Oh, I so loved flying with your dad. I started in November 1974. He entertained the pax on the PA. He always stood by the door as passengers deplaned to say goodbye. He was so good to me, being the only FA on the CV580. I think he could tell I was a small town kid and didn't really know what I was doing. I always appreciated his humor and his kindness. Thank you for the pictures, always good to get a look back at the people you have not seen for many years. Sorry, I'm feeling very nostalgic. Frontier was the best time in my life. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Don't you dare be sorry!!!! I could listen to stories like yours ALL DAY LONG!!! I truly adored that man, and miss him like none other!!! He definitely was good at making you feel good about yourself, and was always the perfect gentleman! Yeah....that sense of humor.....2nd to none!! Thank you, Pam, for your kind words. It means more than you could possibly know! ?? Carol Bartley Loved your Dad. Such a nice gentleman. Lana Kelley I flew with him..Very nice man Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Thank you, both! He would get a kick out of this! Karen Fox Super good guy to passengers & all of us. His dealing with Multiple Sclerosis was truly inspiring. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Thank you for your sweet comments! I think of that often-about how he NEVER EVER COMPLAINED or questioned 'why me'! He was so incredibly humble, and always tried to look on the bright side! Verne Carlson So did I, fly with him in 1962 Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky WAY COOL!!! Was that back in the DC-3 days?!! I do remember getting to sit on his lap on that left hand seat! One of those visual memories that I never forgot....and was around 3 years old! Pretty neat that you remember him from way back then! Thank you for sharing! Verne Carlson I could tell you lots of stories about Ken Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky I'M ALL EARS!!! Phil Stallings I flew Co-Pilot for Ken ... Good man - good pilot and a good friend. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky I actually remember your name! I don't know how, but I distinctly remember Stallings. I either heard it, or remember seeing it on y'all's mail slots in the office. Thank you so much for your kind words! Jake Lamkins Thanks for posting the pic, Kerrie. The last time I saw Ken was about 1982 when he was already off flight status due to the MS. It was around Valentine Day and outside 6250 Smith Road in DEN which was our administration building. He had just finished giving every woman in the building a bouquet of flowers. There were a lot of women working there too! One of my favorite sayings is "You may forget someone's name but you never forget how they made you feel." And I always felt better after seeing Ken! He was a remarkable man and I'm proud to have known him. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Jake, wow!! That saying truly hits the nail on the head! THANK YOU for sharing.....thank you for ALL that you do. It is an incredibly big deal -to every member of this page, and you make all of us feel good every day that we look at this page! ?? Patty Hughes Smith He really was amazing. Not only a great Captain but good with PR. Passengers loved his contests ( FA s not so much) He was only pilot who took the time to write a complimentary letter about my job performance to inflight! Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky oh WOW!!! That's so way cool!! (You obviously went above and beyond, and he wanted the 'powers that be' to know that!) I do remember him telling me about having some contests for the passengers!!! Can you imagine getting to do that now?? Major fun!! Thank you so much for your kind words...along with a fun story to boot!!! ?? Patty Hughes Smith He was very intelligent and in the know. I have an amazing memory and I remember him giving a talk to the passengers (captive audience) on the day the Ruling came out against the death penalty in Ca. And he was upset that Bobby Kennedy's assassin would be effected . The passengers were all ears. Only 1 complaint! Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky WOWWWW!!! CAN YOU FATHOM SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THIS DAY AND TIME??!! Unreal! He had no problem standing up for what was right and what was wrong, but always did so with class. Thank you so much for sharing this! Y'all have no clue what it means to me. He always said that he couldn't believe that he got paid for doing what he loved doing most in life!! I never heard anything negative about the company he worked for or the people he worked with. He ALWAYS came home in a good mood-ALWAYS!! Thank you, Patty! (3/5/19) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Ken Coggeshall GSW MKC DAL DEN pilot Ken Coggeshall's memorial webpage has been updated at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ken_Coggeshall.html Several items and loads of remembrances added. -Jake Lamkins (4/27/19) FLacebook Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Phil Stallings, did you fly with my dad, Ken Coggeshall? Phil Stallings I flew with your Dad many times. He was a good pilot and a good friend. May he RIP. Your Dad and I enjoyed many trips together .. he was a joy to fly with. One of the better captains Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Phil, that's incredibly sweet of you! Let me just say that your name was familiar, because I obviously heard him mention you on more than one occasion. He obviously felt the same about you, because he was the type that if he didn’t have anything nice to say about someone or something, then he kept it to himself! He always said he couldn't believe he got paid to do the favorite thing in life that he loved—flying, and with the best group of individuals anyone could ask for!! Thank you for commenting....I miss that man like none other! Pam Coffman Ellis I flew with your dad many times as an FA. I loved him! He always stood at the door while the passengers deplaned. Great man. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky WOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS!!! You made my day....you truly did! (3/4/20) Posted at GSW Facebook Chip Wasinsky Did either of y'all fly with Kenneth Coggeshall with Frontier? Phil Stallings I flew Co-Pilot for Captain Ken Coggeshall on many trips before I checked out as a Captain. Ken was a good Captain ... a good man to fly with and a good friend. Still miss flying with him. Chip Wasinsky That's so cool! He was my grandfather, I sorely miss him. (9/1/20) FLacebook post on Mar 8, 2021 Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Man I miss my dad! (Captain Ken Coggeshall) I was on a Southwest flight a couple of weeks ago. Selfishly thinking that I'd give ANYTHING to have pictures of my dad doing what he loved doing more than anything on earth! As I'm sure is the case with most pilots, he couldn't believe he got paid to do what he loved doing the most—FLYING!!!! Al Beardsley Working at Frontier was the best and I really miss it. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky I heard that many times! I never heard my dad complain about ANYTHING pertaining to 'work'! That's pretty much unheard of! Patty Hughes Smith Your dad was great Kerrie! You should be proud. He didn't like slackers. God bless. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky Thank you!! And let me just say 'proud' would be a major understatement! I adored that man... He didn't like slackers? Gosh, that brings back a few childhood memories! I learned from the best, and was blessed beyond measure. Mike Males Ken was great at giving a geographic/historical narrative to our passengers about the territory we were over while enroute. He was very informed and always great to listen to. Kerrie Coggeshall Wasinsky I've heard that he did like to interact with the passengers! I know he would be tickled to hear you say that! Thank you! Phil Stallings I flew Co-Pilot for your Dad ... Capt Ken Coggeshall. Great guy and a great pilot and Captain and a good friend. Bill Guthrie I was a mechanic at Frontier for 30 years. Worked on your dad's airplane many times. Such a great guy. He always made my job more enjoyable. I miss all the people at Frontier (3/8/21)