Wesley Bee Lockhart

Wesley Bee Lockhart, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Citrus Heights, Calif., early on Aug. 5, 2015. He was born July 5, 1930, in Santa Rosa, Calif., to Archie Lockhart and Esther B. Reid. and graduated from Santa Rosa High School Feb. 2, 1950. After graduation until fall 1950, he worked as a truck driver for Lockhart Seeds, Inc in Bakersfield, Calif., and then studied agriculture at UC Davis through spring 1951. He then joined the U.S. Navy in San Francisco June 21, 1951, where he trained and served as an Aviation Machinist's Mate with Fighter Squadron VF-153 (Air Group Fifteen) on the attack carrier USS Princeton during the Korean conflict. His dedicated service was focused on the Grumman F9F Panther (the first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels flight team) and earned the Korean Service, United Nations and National Defense Service Medals. He transferred to the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 14, 1955. He studied airframe and power plant mechanics at Sacramento Junior College 1955-1956, and completed advanced training in engine conditioning at McClellon Air Force Base in 1957. He still found time to pilot a Stinson Voyager 150 on numerous trips out of San Carlos and around the valley. He continued to serve with the Naval Reserve until his honorable discharge on June 20, 1959, when he began a successful career with Flying Tiger Line (aka Flying Tigers), the first scheduled cargo airline in the United States and a major military charter operator. He headed up maintenance of many types of aircraft by Airbus, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, including 747s. He continued for more than six years after Flying Tigers merged into Federal Express in 1989, retiring in December 1995. Wesley was an informal and gregarious man with a disdain for pomp and pretense, but a love for adventure and travel with good friends and family, including off-roading in Baja California and motor-homing just about anywhere, including Alaska. He was an avid reader and a good listener and will be missed. The youngest of seven brothers and two sisters, Wesley is survived by his older brother Donald Lockhart and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Befitting a Navy veteran and per his wishes, his ashes will be scattered at sea in the S.F. Bay; an informal private family memorial is planned.