A committal service with US Navy military honors will begin at 11:00 hours on Monday, July 25, 2016 Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th Street Kent, WA 98042
http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/tahoma.asp
Ronald G. Gelineau was a resident of North Bend, WA for 23 years. He was born on July 25, 1931 in Duluth, Minnesota to Bert and Ruth (Zuehlke) Gelineau. He graduated from high school in Duluth, and later attended the University of Minnesota before beginning his military career.
The following is the Military Vitae highlighting his career:
Captain Ronald G. Gelineau, USNR (RET) is a native of Duluth, MN. He attended the University of Minnesota (Duluth) and enlisted as a Naval Aviation Cadet in November 1951. Completing Flight Training in TBM aircraft, he was commissioned Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1953. He reported to COMNAVAIRPAC and was assigned to VS-23, the first VS Squadron to transition from TBM to S2F aircraft and deploy to WESTPAC aboard the CVS-37, USS PRINCETON. Returning to CONUS, he was transferred to VU-7 and flew fleet support missions in JD-1, and F9F-5 aircraft until receiving orders as a TAR to NAS Seattle in April 1956. Assigned as VS Assistant Flight Training Officer, he accepted the first S2F aircraft for the Seattle Naval Air Reserve in June 1956 and was instrumental in transitioning single engine AF and AD Weekend Warriors (Pilots and Aircrew) to the twin engine S2. Released to Inactive in December 1957, he began a career with first West Coast Airlines, and with mergers and acquisitions, Air West, Hughes Airwest, Republic and Northwest Airlines. He accumulated close to 27,000 accident free flight hours in 33 years of airline flying in DC-3, F-27, and DC-9 aircraft. Captain Gelineau retired from Northwest Airlines at the mandatory age of 60 in July 1991. He continued his parallel Naval Air Reserve affiliation for a total of 26 years and 3550 accident free Navy flight hours, flying SNJ, TBM, S2F, JD, F9F, SNB, AF, and T-34 aircraft. Recalled to active duty on 1October 1961, he was released to Inactive Duty in August 1962 (Berlin Wall Crisis). He served on two Reserve Officer Selection Boards, and as C.O. of VS-35T3 and VS-68T2.
Upon his retirement, Ron spent over 20 years farming and ranching – raising cattle and alfalfa in the Sunnyside, WA area. He married his beloved wife Shannon L. Richmond on May 6, 1988 in Burbank, California. They moved to North Bend in 1993, where they have remained residents until Ronald’s passing on February 6, 2016 at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah, WA.
Ron was a great story teller and thrived on regaling the listener with stories of his Naval and airline careers. He was a member of the North West Naval Aviation Rendezvous for 50 years, a member of The Tailhook Association and the Naval Aviation Museum. Ron loved the television show, “JAG” and at the conclusion of every episode he would dramatically standup at attention and exclaim, “Where do I sign-up?”
Ron is survived by his wife Shannon, his son Grant (wife Amy) Gelineau of Mt Vernon, WA, five grandchildren and one great child. He is preceded in death by his parents and two children.
A celebration of Ron’s life will be held in the summer of 2016. A committal service with US Navy military honors will begin at:
Monday, July 25, 2016 11:00AM at Tahoma National Cemetery,
18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042-4868.