Ronald Juhl

Captain Ronald Juhl Flew West On September 5th 2021

With great sadness we announce the passing of Captain Ronald Juhl.  A loving father, husband, and grandfather, Ron was born in Long Beach, California, in 1949, and graduated from Gardena High School in 1967.

His lifelong passion for flying led him to aviation studies at Cypress College before graduating from Arizona State University - “half a valedictorian,” he would frequently joke in reference to his less-than-stellar GPA.

Ron then flew in Arizona and California as a flight instructor and charter pilot before landing a flying position with Sierra Pacific Airlines in Bishop, California.

Ron proudly served our country in the United States Coast Guard during the Vietnam Era, and continued to serve for eight years in Washington, California and Arizona.  His favorite post was Lake Havasu.

Hired by United Airlines in July 1978 and initially based in Seattle, Ron was type rated on the DC-8, DC-10, Boeing 737 and was Captain on the Boeing 727, 747 and 777.  He spent numerous years as a check airman and instructor at the United Airlines flight training center in Denver, Colorado, to be home with his family.

Before retiring in November 2014 as a 777 Captain, he went “back to the beginning” and reinstated his flight instructor certificate in a 1959 Cessna 172 with his daughter, Amanda, at the United States Air Force Academy Aero Club. At the same time, they each earned their seaplane rating at Lake Mojave, Arizona in a Piper PA-18 Super Cub on floats.

In July 2021, Ron had the great pleasure of presenting Amanda with her own set of United wings.

Ron was immensely proud of his aviation career and his United family, but even more proud of his wife of 45 years, Patty, his children Amanda, Stephen and Jennifer, and grandchildren Abigail and Noah.  Both while working and in retirement, Ron took great pleasure in being with family and friends and was beyond proud of their accomplishments.

He loved spending time at his condo in Las Vegas with Patty, seeing the quintessential Vegas shows like Wayne Newton. Meeting up with friends in Lake Havasu, walking the beaches of southern California and much more.

Quick with a groan-inducing “Dad joke,” his humor and kindness will be missed.

Ron was a lifelong car enthusiast and shared his passion with Stephen, going to many DeLorean conventions.  He loved his Corvette, and enjoyed NASCAR races and race weekends with his friends.

Ron was an active member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.  In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his sister, Marilyn Van Herk, and sister-in-law, Ivy Slike, and nieces and nephews.

In memoriam donations can be made to Parkinson's Pointe https://parkinsonspointe.org/

A Service for Ron will be held on Thursday September 16th at 2:00PM, Service details can be found below.

To watch virtually, please click the following link: https://bxcited.com/captainronaldkjuhl/