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BELLEVUE, WA: Forrest "Pat" Crozier passed away on October 17, 2015, in Bellevue, Wash., with family at his side, after a short illness. Pat was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on September 25, 1920, to Annetta Magdalena Henske and William Thomas Crozier. He attended Lash High School, graduating in 1939. Pat married Vivian L. Daringer in September 1943, and together they had four children, Camellia, Michael (deceased), Bradley and Marc. A child of the Depression, Pat joined the CCC and spent most of that time in Idaho. His desire was to fly however, and eventually the opportunity came for him to become a Naval Aviator. Pat served as Pilot in Command of a Coronado, a double-deck, four-engine flying boat with 16 crew members, escorting convoy ships in the Pacific. He had many stories to tell of his exploits in Central America and the South Pacific. After leaving the Navy, Pat moved his family to Alaska, where he joined Totem Airways, flying the PBY Catalina flying boat throughout southeast Alaska. He was a skilled and careful pilot and once made, in an emergency situation before the days of high-tech guidance equipment, a memorable ground-controlled approach and landing with a 25-foot ceiling and one-eighth mile visibility. Pat joined Northern Consolidated Airlines, flying out of Anchorage, when that company purchased one of Totem's PBYs. Later Northern Consolidated and Wien Air Alaska merged, and Pat flew as a Captain for Wien until his retirement. When he retired at age 60, he was Wien's senior 737 Captain and the mentor to many junior pilots. In 1965, Pat married Roberta Webster Rowe, who had four children: Terry, Susan, Blinn and Kimberly. They lived in the Turnagain area before moving to the Anchorage Hillside, and then, before retiring, they built a home in Renton, Washington, where "Miss Kitty," the cat that ruled the house, lived. Pat flew his own car to Seattle, Wash., on a 737 when they made the move south. Pat loved to travel anywhere, but his favorite spot was the island of Kauai, Hawaii, where he and Roberta spent many happy vacations. He enjoyed classical music and opera as well as the music of Andre Rieu, Hawaiian singer - Alfred Apaka and Linda Ronstadt. Pat was also a fan of fine cars and Grand Prix racing. He was the consummate gentleman, always dapper and sophisticated. He leaves seven children; 15 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren, and many wonderful memories. As he wished, his ashes will join those of Roberta, his wife of 45 years, on beautiful Lumahai Beach on Kauai. |
