Michael Earl Denham was born on May 11, 1937 to Thelma Irene Fore and Harold Lawrence Denham in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Thelma moved Michael and his older brother Jerome (d.2011) to San Francisco around 1940.
Michael first saw Sheila May Lyon, "the love of his life" at the El Ray theatre in San Francisco in 1952 when their life long journey began. Michael and Sheila both would go on to attend Lincoln High School in San Francisco together.
After high school Michael went to college in Oregon while working in a lumber camp.
His patriotic spirit shown through when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956. Michael quickly realized his love of flying but with no flight program in the Corps, he switched branches to the United States Navy in 1957 and became an Aviation Cadet. That December saw Michael and Sheila marry in San Francisco. In 1958 Ensign Michael received his wings and was commissioned with orders to VF-142 based at NAS Miramar, CA, to fly the F8 Crusader, a single engine supersonic fighter jet. In addition to flying F8U-2N's, Michael flew the T34, T28, T2J Buckeye and then the A4 Skyhawk in reserves out of Alameda. He was deployed for work on the USS Oriskany, Kitty Hawk, Independence, and Constellation before leaving the Navy in 1965. In 1976 NASA made record their gratitude of Michael's Aeronautical Research contribution through his participation in the First Full Mission Simulation Study For Human Factors in Aviation Safety with regard to the Space Shuttle Program.
As a first officer of the 707 and 747 for Pan American Airways (1965-1986) and Captain of the 757, 767, and 777 for United Airlines (1986-1996) Michael saw the world. He found favorite noodle bars in Japan, climbed to the top of the St. Peters Basilica, loved flying the 747's into Kai Tak airport, taught his grandchildren to "mind the gap" in the British subway, and in his retirement sailed his boat from Washington to San Francisco with the help of both his son in laws and some very good friends.
Our loving and generous "Poppy" will be missed every day by his surviving wife of 57 years Sheila May Lyon Denham, his daughter Kathleen Denham Putnam (Les) of Brentwood, Ca., his son Keith Denham, his daughter Candace Denham Carlisle (Michael) of Brentwood, CA., his brother Frederick Meyer (Marty), his sister Carolyn Helley, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Published in East Bay Times on May 3, 2015
Michael first saw Sheila May Lyon, "the love of his life" at the El Ray theatre in San Francisco in 1952 when their life long journey began. Michael and Sheila both would go on to attend Lincoln High School in San Francisco together.
After high school Michael went to college in Oregon while working in a lumber camp.
His patriotic spirit shown through when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956. Michael quickly realized his love of flying but with no flight program in the Corps, he switched branches to the United States Navy in 1957 and became an Aviation Cadet. That December saw Michael and Sheila marry in San Francisco. In 1958 Ensign Michael received his wings and was commissioned with orders to VF-142 based at NAS Miramar, CA, to fly the F8 Crusader, a single engine supersonic fighter jet. In addition to flying F8U-2N's, Michael flew the T34, T28, T2J Buckeye and then the A4 Skyhawk in reserves out of Alameda. He was deployed for work on the USS Oriskany, Kitty Hawk, Independence, and Constellation before leaving the Navy in 1965. In 1976 NASA made record their gratitude of Michael's Aeronautical Research contribution through his participation in the First Full Mission Simulation Study For Human Factors in Aviation Safety with regard to the Space Shuttle Program.
As a first officer of the 707 and 747 for Pan American Airways (1965-1986) and Captain of the 757, 767, and 777 for United Airlines (1986-1996) Michael saw the world. He found favorite noodle bars in Japan, climbed to the top of the St. Peters Basilica, loved flying the 747's into Kai Tak airport, taught his grandchildren to "mind the gap" in the British subway, and in his retirement sailed his boat from Washington to San Francisco with the help of both his son in laws and some very good friends.
Our loving and generous "Poppy" will be missed every day by his surviving wife of 57 years Sheila May Lyon Denham, his daughter Kathleen Denham Putnam (Les) of Brentwood, Ca., his son Keith Denham, his daughter Candace Denham Carlisle (Michael) of Brentwood, CA., his brother Frederick Meyer (Marty), his sister Carolyn Helley, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Published in East Bay Times on May 3, 2015
Michael Earl Denham was born on May 11, 1937 to Thelma Irene Fore and Harold Lawrence Denham in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Thelma moved Michael and his older brother Jerome (d.2011) to San Francisco around 1940.
Michael first saw Sheila May Lyon, "the love of his life" at the El Ray theatre in San Francisco in 1952 when their life long journey began. Michael and Sheila both would go on to attend Lincoln High School in San Francisco together.
After high school Michael went to college in Oregon while working in a lumber camp.
His patriotic spirit shown through when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956. Michael quickly realized his love of flying but with no flight program in the Corps, he switched branches to the United States Navy in 1957 and became an Aviation Cadet. That December saw Michael and Sheila marry in San Francisco. In 1958 Ensign Michael received his wings and was commissioned with orders to VF-142 based at NAS Miramar, CA, to fly the F8 Crusader, a single engine supersonic fighter jet. In addition to flying F8U-2N's, Michael flew the T34, T28, T2J Buckeye and then the A4 Skyhawk in reserves out of Alameda. He was deployed for work on the USS Oriskany, Kitty Hawk, Independence, and Constellation before leaving the Navy in 1965. In 1976 NASA made record their gratitude of Michael's Aeronautical Research contribution through his participation in the First Full Mission Simulation Study For Human Factors in Aviation Safety with regard to the Space Shuttle Program.
As a first officer of the 707 and 747 for Pan American Airways (1965-1986) and Captain of the 757, 767, and 777 for United Airlines (1986-1996) Michael saw the world. He found favorite noodle bars in Japan, climbed to the top of the St. Peters Basilica, loved flying the 747's into Kai Tak airport, taught his grandchildren to "mind the gap" in the British subway, and in his retirement sailed his boat from Washington to San Francisco with the help of both his son in laws and some very good friends.
Our loving and generous "Poppy" will be missed every day by his surviving wife of 57 years Sheila May Lyon Denham, his daughter Kathleen Denham Putnam (Les) of Brentwood, Ca., his son Keith Denham, his daughter Candace Denham Carlisle (Michael) of Brentwood, CA., his brother Frederick Meyer (Marty), his sister Carolyn Helley, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Published in East Bay Times on May 3, 2015
Michael first saw Sheila May Lyon, "the love of his life" at the El Ray theatre in San Francisco in 1952 when their life long journey began. Michael and Sheila both would go on to attend Lincoln High School in San Francisco together.
After high school Michael went to college in Oregon while working in a lumber camp.
His patriotic spirit shown through when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956. Michael quickly realized his love of flying but with no flight program in the Corps, he switched branches to the United States Navy in 1957 and became an Aviation Cadet. That December saw Michael and Sheila marry in San Francisco. In 1958 Ensign Michael received his wings and was commissioned with orders to VF-142 based at NAS Miramar, CA, to fly the F8 Crusader, a single engine supersonic fighter jet. In addition to flying F8U-2N's, Michael flew the T34, T28, T2J Buckeye and then the A4 Skyhawk in reserves out of Alameda. He was deployed for work on the USS Oriskany, Kitty Hawk, Independence, and Constellation before leaving the Navy in 1965. In 1976 NASA made record their gratitude of Michael's Aeronautical Research contribution through his participation in the First Full Mission Simulation Study For Human Factors in Aviation Safety with regard to the Space Shuttle Program.
As a first officer of the 707 and 747 for Pan American Airways (1965-1986) and Captain of the 757, 767, and 777 for United Airlines (1986-1996) Michael saw the world. He found favorite noodle bars in Japan, climbed to the top of the St. Peters Basilica, loved flying the 747's into Kai Tak airport, taught his grandchildren to "mind the gap" in the British subway, and in his retirement sailed his boat from Washington to San Francisco with the help of both his son in laws and some very good friends.
Our loving and generous "Poppy" will be missed every day by his surviving wife of 57 years Sheila May Lyon Denham, his daughter Kathleen Denham Putnam (Les) of Brentwood, Ca., his son Keith Denham, his daughter Candace Denham Carlisle (Michael) of Brentwood, CA., his brother Frederick Meyer (Marty), his sister Carolyn Helley, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Published in East Bay Times on May 3, 2015
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