Roy “Allen” Eklund (7-20-18) service 7-23-18

Roy “Allen” Eklund, 60, of Savannah, died on Friday, July 20.

He was born in Glen Cove, New York, the son of the late Roy Eklund and Anice Jane Harris Eklund.  He married the former Patricia Franks, who survives.

Mr. Eklund’s love of flying exhibited itself throughout his life beginning with his first solo flight at the age of 16.  Over the next 14 years he managed the Robert Sibly Airport in McNairy County, Tennessee then went on to work as a pilot for Aqua Glass, Piedmont Airlines, and USAir.  Eventually, Allen became a pilot for American Airlines, a position he occupied for 30 years of his 44 year career in aviation.

The organizations of which he was a member reflected his passion for flight:  USAirlinepilots.org, Academy of Model Aeronautics, Skyblazers R/C Club, Aeronca Aviators Club, and Alpha Eta Rho, a collegiate fraternity dedicated to cultivating leaders in the field of aviation.

He was a member of First Baptist in Savannah.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Franks Eklund of Savannah; his daughters, Julie Gurchiek and Katie Bargatze, both of Nashville; his granddaughter; his mother, Jane Smith of Savannah; and his sisters, Kelly West of Murfreesboro and Laura Gillespie of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, O.C. and Sarah Eva Harris, and Oscar and Ellen Eklund; and his stepfather, Glen Smith.

Memorial donations can be made to Skyblazers R/C Club, Tri-Star Summitt Hospital of Nashville or Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital of Nashville.

Services were held on Monday, July 23, at Shackelford Chapel in Savannah with Katie Bargatze and Michael Roach officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens at Savannah.