Alvin (Skip, Skipper) Slayden, of Pinehurst, NC, passed away on Dec 4, 2018 at FirstHealth Hospice House after a period of declining health. Skip was born in Long Beach, CA on Oct 3, 1935 to the late USNA Capt. Alvin W Slayden, ret. and Carolyn Jones Slayden, both from Tennessee. Skip is survived by Ruth Thorburn Slayden, the love of his life for 30 some years. He is also survived by Robert Alvin Slayden (Laura), Cheryl Ann Michalowski (Stephen), their mother Ruth Brown Slayden, grandsons David Alvin Slayden, Stephen Joseph and Travis James Michalowski, his sister Billie Carolyn Gnodde (Dirk), niece Raleigh Seraponas (Tim), and grand-nieces Ailea and Tatum Seraponas.
Skip grew up in a military family that covered most of the naval ports from Seattle, WA to Miami, FL, and San Diego, CA to Bath, ME, with time in Tennessee with grandparents. Skip graduated from Mt Vernon, VA high school In 1953. In 1955, Skip and a friend hitch hiked Route 66 from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL, then traveling on to Tennessee and eventually to Alexandria, VA, where he began his aviation career with Capital Airlines, later merging with United Airlines.
The last 35 of his 41 years with United were in Chicago at United Airlines Operations Center, where Skip had control of maintenance planning and aircraft routing on 520 aircraft. He and Ruth retired to Pinehurst to play golf, cruise, and enjoy the nice weather North Carolina is known for. They spent their summers in Ocean Park, ME. He and his wife also traveled extensively to visit with family and friends and to golf.
In his retirement, Skip took classes at Sandhills Community College in chair caning as well as stained glass. He volunteered at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital for 20 years and at Given Outpost Book Store shortly after it opened.
Per Skip’s request, there will be no services. Some of his ashes will be scattered over the golf hole where he had his treasured hole-in-one.
Donations in his memory may be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Rd, Pinehurst, NC, 28374, the G H Weems Educational Fund, 126 E Main St, Waverly, TN, 37185, or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Alvin Weems Slayden, Jr., please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.
