Floyd W Felt

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."
Leonardo da Vinci

And so the canopy thins above usFloyd William Felt has flown from this earth on December 10, 2015 at the honorable age of 93. He was born a second son in North Platte, Nebraska on March 7, 1922 to George and Lena Felt. The entire Felt family re-located to the Umpqua Basin in 1927.

Floyd spent his boyhood in Douglas County, attending school in Lookingglass, and graduating from high school in 1941. On March 14, 1942 he took a wife and lifelong companion in his bride, Alice Elnor Myers. Floyd and Alice's peaceful marriage was interrupted by their service to the country in WWII, during which Floyd attained the rank of Staff Sargent in the US Army Air Corps. After traveling the globe serving both the Asian and European theaters of combat, Floyd returned to his home and family where he worked for Interstate Tractor Co. from 1945-1952. He then opened a private business and set to contract logging for Roseburg Lumber. During the 1950s he became the exclusive Pacific Northwest Dealer for 4-Wheel Jeep Overdrive. He continued his business endeavors until he retired to ranching in 1988.

Floyd and his brother George were aviation pioneers, who built, repaired and flew planes as private citizens and soldiers. Floyd maintained a private hanger and airstrip on his property until the early 1990s and carried a passion for all things that flew his entire life. If the chores around the ranch were done and the skies where clear, he wouldn't need much coaxing to get a plane out for a ride. Late in life he constructed models of many of the airplanes he had labored over during the war and as a private pilot.

One of Floyd's favorite pastimes was going out to eat and catching up with the local crowd at Karen's Coffee Cup, Casey's or the Tom Tom. He was also a member of Southern Oregon Warbirds, Lookingglass Grange, Good Sam Club/Roseburg Sams, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Associated Oregon Loggers.

Floyd was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Alice, sisters Dorothy, Jennie and Freda, and brother George. Floyd was a good neighbor to his family; Ann and Bill Hanstad, Linda and Don Bean, Lori and Derek Adams. He is also survived by step-grandson Ivan and Sherilyn Hanstad of California. Floyd had five great-grandchildren, and countless family and friends who all loved and respected him very much.

Thank you to Mercy Hospice, Advantage Health Care and the staff at Callahan Village for the care and compassion you gave to Floyd and our family during his final days with us.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 15, 2015, 2:00 p.m. at Roseburg National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Experimental Air