RichardPulley

Richard E.J. PULLEY

November 25, 1932 – July 17, 2016

Captain Richard (Dick) Pulley completed his final departure peacefully on the afternoon of July 17, 2016, in the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit of the Brampton Civic Hospital, with his family at his side.

Richard’s passion for aviation began at a very early age. He retired from Air Canada after 37 years of service and as the airline’s second best dressed Boeing B747 Flight Instructor; Richard transcended the move from spark plugs to igniter plugs and back again. Following retirement Dick flew the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s (CWH) Douglas DC-3 and the Avro Lancaster – leaving that organization’s Flight Operations group just shy of his 80th birthday. He may well have been the world’s oldest, living, qualified Lancaster pilot on record.

Richard will be sadly missed by his expansive network in aviation in Canada, from the CWH, to the Retired Airline Pilots’ Association of Canada (RAPCAN), the Recreational Aircraft Association (RAA) and as a fixture at the Brampton Flying Club.

Richard was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Louise Pulley of Peterborough and the mother of his children, Barbara Joan Pulley (nee Tiffin).

By his side was his wife of 39 years, Colleen Pulley (nee Pardo), son and daughter, Chris and Lorrie, and son-in-law, Simon Baker. He will be fondly remembered by his grandson – Benjamin Baker, his flying and itinerant lunch buddy, Michele Pulley and his extended family members.

There will not be a funeral service as per his strict directive, however a Celebration of Life will be held at the Brampton Flying Club on Saturday, September 17, 2016.

Donations, if desired, may me made to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, or a charity of one’s choice, in Richard’s memory.