William “Rhys” Wilkie

November 1, 1940 – September 1, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we announce Rhys Wilkie “flew West,” as they say in aviation parlance, with family by his side in Edmonds, Washington on September 1, 2025 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Rhys was born and raised in Seattle, Washington by father Richard Francis Wilkie and mother Janet Adams Wilkie.  He had two siblings, a sister Carolyn and brother Richard “Richie” Wilkie.  He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle and went on to attend the University of Washington where he majored in English.  During these years, he developed an early love of the outdoors hiking and skiing with friends in the Cascades.  This would lead to a lifelong passion for the outdoors.

Following university, Rhys joined the United States Marine Corps, which led him to a career in aviation.  There he earned his “wings of gold” and went on to fly the F-8 Crusader.  He served in Vietnam for 13 months flying a reconnaissance version of the airplane known as the RF-8.

While stationed in El Toro, California, he met Gail Aalbu (the love of his life) on Balboa Island.  He quickly introduced her to his love of the outdoors, taking her up Mount Whitney with a bottle of wine and a book of poetry. Rhys and Gail were married September 30, 1965.  After returning from his duty in Vietnam, which he frequently expressed gratitude for surviving, they raised two sons, Bret and Todd, in the Seattle area.

Following his return from Vietnam, Rhys joined Northwest Airlines.  He got his start as a Second Officer in the Boeing 727.  During his 30 year career with Northwest, he flew the:  B727, B707, DC-10, B757 and the B747.  He retired from airline flying as Captain on the B747-400.  In this airplane, he flew mainly to and within Asia.

Family life for Rhys, Gail and the boys included their love of the outdoors.  Rhys and Gail taught the boys to sail, ski, hike and camp.  During this time, Rhys climbed Mount Rainier, Mt Adams, and Mt Hood with his two sons.  Somehow he found time to build two homes also.  Another activity for Rhys and Gail was sailing the San Juan Islands in their beloved sailboat “Windhover.”  During this time, Rhys taught his children and then grandchildren how to sail.  He was very proud of this.

Rhys retired from Northwest Airlines in 1997.  After seeing Sun Valley, Idaho over a short weekend they had found their place!  He and Gail bought a house and lived there for 28 years where they continued their love of the outdoors hiking, skiing, and even sledding with the grandkids.

Rhys was preceded in death by his first mother, Mary Wilkie, his parents Richard and Janet Wilkie and his sister Carolyn Smith Wilkie.  He is survived by his brother Rich, wife Gail of 60 years, sons Bret (Julie) and Todd (Leslie), two grandchildren, Ellie (19) and James (17), and many good friends around the country and world. Rhys’s sense of humor, kindness, penchant for the outdoors, and adventurous spirit have provided many happy memories for those he leaves behind. May he rest easily and peacefully, having created a life well lived. Rhys requested no funeral.  As a family, we will honor this wish.