Michael 'Mike' Gene Harr

Michael “Mike” Gene Harr of Griffin, Georgia passed away on March 27th in Marietta, Georgia, he was 76 years old. Born in Algona, Iowa to Rozella and Raymond Harr on June 16th 1946, Mike went on to graduate from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and later from Central Missouri State with a BA in Psychology in 1968 having married his college sweetheart, Carolyn, the year prior. While still in college, Mike attended an officer training program that allowed him to graduate as a commissioned officer, joining the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, he was trained as a pilot on the T-28 eventually flying CH-46 helicopters during the war in Vietnam, often transporting his fellow Marines into or out of some very heavy fighting. Upon returning from Vietnam, Mike became an aeronautics instructor at the Naval Air Station Pensacola training cadets at Whiting Airfield near Milton, Florida. With his Marine Corps flight training in hand, Mike was able to become an airline pilot with Delta Air Lines after leaving military service. He flew for Delta for almost 30 years, travelling across the country and around the globe rising to the rank of international captain before retiring as a Boeing 777 Captain, capping off a long career with the company. One of the perks of being a pilot for Delta allowed Mike to indulge in travel with his family, taking them on many epic family vacations while maintaining better contact with family in the Midwest. His love of flying showed up in his spare time as Mike also enjoyed general aviation, often travelling to fly-ins in his Cessna 190 or his smaller Funk taildragger with his wife Carolyn. Mike was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Griffin for many years and a beloved member of the Dunkers Sunday school class. Mike was a founding member of the Christian Air Ministry in Griffin, Georgia, a member of the Kiwanis club, and a lifetime member of the Marine Corps league. In his later years as his health declined Mike couldn’t travel as before but still enjoyed time with his family and his three grandsons whenever the time presented itself. Mike will be greatly missed by his family, long-time friends, and colleagues from a life that spread itself across the globe and touched many lives along the way. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Meredith and Tommy Doyen of Fishers Island, New York; son and daughter-in-law, Matt Harr and Andy Gish of Atlanta, Georgia; Sisters, Sue Medley and Dana Harr of Des Moines, Iowa; and his three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his spouse Carolyn; father, Raymond Harr; mother, Rozella Harr; and brother, Craig Harr. A memorial service will be held on Saturday May 6th at the First United Methodist Church with a visitation at 1:00 PM with a service to follow at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ron Alexander Youth Aviation Program, 349 Jonathan’s Roost Rd, Williamson, GA 30292 or to the Al-Anon Family Group, 1600 Corporate Landing Pkwy, Virginia Beach VA 23454

Michael 'Mike' Gene Harr

June 16, 1946 - March 27, 2023