LaBERGE, Phillip May 6, 1943 May 17, 2016 Concord Mr. Phillip Raymond LaBerge, age 73, of Concord, died peacefully in his home surrounded with family and friends on May 17, 2016. Phillip was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, having served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. He flew F-8 Crusaders as a Photo Reconnaissance pilot off the USS Hancock and the USS Bonne Homme Richard. After his military service, he became a pilot for Delta Airlines. His 34 year career included flying many various aircraft, being a line-check airman, instructing in the training department, and culminated in his retirement as Captain on the MD-11. He was also instrumental in designing the McDonald Douglas MD-11, MD-80 and MD-88 flight simulator visual systems. He and his wife, Lynda, whom he also taught to fly, started Pandora Aviation in 2004, a soaring flight school. In 2015, he was nominated Instructor of the Year by the Soaring Society of America. Phillip was loved by hundreds of people whom he taught to fly both powered aircraft and sailplanes. He will be "soarly" missed by all. Phillip was a true renaissance man. He spoke fluent French, was a novelist and musician. Having inherited his love of music from his mother, Claire Coci, an accomplished concert organist, he studied the trumpet at Indiana University. Bach was always his favorite composer. He was also a talented artist, and dabbled in painting, drawing, and photography. He was commissioned by the US Navy to make artistic drawings of naval aircraft. As an ardent animal lover, he kept a farm full of horses, cats, and dogs, never turning away a stray. He bred Percheron Draft Horses with his daughter Holly, producing multiple National champions. His daughter, Marie-Claire, continues his legacy as a commercial pilot. His passion for flight and love of animals was manifested in the community he built at Meadowlark, the airport and farm that remains his legacy today. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard R. LaBerge and Claire Coci, and his twin brother, Bernard Emile LaBerge in 2011. Phillip is survived by his wife: Lynda LaBerge; daughters and a son-in-law: Holly and Wayne Leslie of Griffin and Marie-Claire LaBerge of Concord; step-daughter and her husband: Carey and John Speer of Oklahoma; grandchildren: Pierce LaBerge and Tucker Cawthon. Friends may visit the family on Saturday, May 21, from 1-3 p.m., at Brooks United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m., at the church. Rev. Craig Hembree and Rev. David Adamson will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Soaring Society of America, www.ssa.org, P.O. Box 2100, Hobbs, NM 88241. A follow-up celebration is scheduled for all friends and family to attend on May 28, 2016, at Peach State Aerodrome in Williamson, GA. A party in his honor will be held at 6 p.m., with an open bar, buffet and fly-by at the Barnstormer's Grill and Museum. Moody-Daniel Funeral Home in Zebulon is in charge of arrangements. www.moodydaniel.com.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on May 19, 2016