Dusty Dudley

Edwin L. "Dusty" Dudley Jr., 68, of Prescott Valley, Ariz., passed away on Feb. 26, 2016, in Prescott, Arizona.

The son of Edwin L. and Olga R. Dudley, Dusty was born in Port au Prince, Haiti while his parents were there due to his father's military service with the U.S. Army. He grew up in Tempe and spent a brief time in Norman, Okla., with his family while attending Norman High School with the Class of 1966. with his family. He then returned in 1965 to Arizona to attend Mesa College and Arizona State University. He later graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

At a young age, Dusty became a Ham Radio operator and eventually got licensed. He also developed an intense interest in aviation and began flying by the age of 15. He received his general aviation license shortly thereafter and worked for several companies to obtain flying hours.

After working as the manager of Cave Creek Airport, he did further work in aviation in the south and elsewhere before becoming a pilot for Scenic Airlines. Dusty then became a pilot for Hughes Air West Airlines, which merged into Republic Airlines. He became a captain following the subsequent merger with Northwest Airlines.

After leaving because of a medical issue, he worked for America West Airlines in their training department before retiring.

He is survived by his wife Donna Dudley, his children Wendy Kuhns and Dusty Dudley, Jr., as well as his sisters Grace Burdette and Linda (Linn) Thome.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=edwin-l-dudley-dusty&pid=179568584