Sclair, Robyn Sue 1959-2013

SCLAIR, RIDPATH, STEILACOOM, LAKEWOOD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/7/2013 at 08:03:25

Robyn Sue Sclair Was born October 9, 1959, in Newton, Iowa, and died in her Tacoma home March 31, 2013, from an intra-cerebral hemorrhage.

As a young child, she moved with her family to New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. While in Oklahoma, Robyn's writing career started when she penned a regular column, called "The Robin's Nest" in the Edmund Sun & Booster. The state newspaper association honored Robyn with the title of youngest columnist. The family moved once more to Spanaway, Washington, where Robyn graduated from Bethel High School and earned her Private Pilot Certificate in 1977. After one year at the University of Puget Sound, Robyn transferred to Boston University (BU). She graduated in 1983. Following graduation, Robyn's wanderlust began in earnest when she joined a BU-sponsored program that took her to Accra, Ghana, in Africa where she worked in the shipping ports. Upon returning to the United States, Robyn joined her parents at the family business, the Western Flyer. There, she worked her way up through the ranks, at times running advertising sales operations and the news department. Robyn left the family business to pursue an airline career. Like many pilots, her career took her to many places and more than a few companies. She started in Billings, Montana, then to Las Vegas, followed by Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she flew for Mesaba Airlines and then joined FedEx as an MD-11 pilot. Robyn spent 11 years at FedEx and travelled the world. Robyn's globe-trotting life in airplanes of all sizes kicked off in earnest when she and another pilot flew a twin-engine Piper Seneca from Seattle to France with stops in Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland.

Robyn is survived by long-time boyfriend George Ridpath, mother Mary Lou Sclair (Steilacoom), brother and sister-in-law Ben and Deb Sclair (Lakewood), nieces Savannah and Brenna, and nephew Jack. She was preceded in death by her father Dave. A small family and close friend service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Christ Lutheran Church, 8211 112th St SW, Lakewood, WA 98498. In lieu of flowers, remembrances to Women in Aviation, International, 3647 State Route 503 South, Alexandria, OH 45381; 937-839-4647; http://www.wai.org.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on April 19, 2013