Honoring Roy Killion, Part II, by K Wolley

My father resisted the call of Jesus until the last year of his life, but I knew Roy Killion was anchored in the Truth of Christ.

I was ambitious, too. I think the root of my ambition was a desire for my father’s attention and approval, because I was unsure I had them, based on his emotional absence when I was little. I finally pursued my passion for flying at age 32, and worked myself just about to death in the process. I succeeded, however, landing a job as a FedEx pilot at age 37. 

Unfortunately, I was a nervous wreck, and eventually took two years off to get my anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder straightened out. Even after getting well enough to go back to flying, it was often a struggle. Part of getting over such struggles is to learn not to be a Lone Ranger. This is a spiritual struggle, and the evil one wants you by yourself, because it’s so much easier to beat you up that way. 

I had a secret weapon: if it was getting to be too much, I called Roy Killion. He unfailingly encouraged me to believe in myself, that I did have what it takes to succeed as an airline pilot, and as a man. He understood the truth of the Scripture when it says, “Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and his righteousness, and all these worldly things will be added to you as well.”

I will be forever indebted to Roy. I completed 25 years of flying for FedEx. I could not have done it without his help. He believed it when the Scripture said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” He passed me the ball of strength and said, “Keep shooting, dude! You’re going to make it!” And it made all the difference.

Finally, I say to all you fathers and grandfathers, the best gift you can give the children in your life is to deepen your relationship with Jesus and spend plenty of time with those children. They crave your presence, and there is no substitute for the love of our Father in heaven overflowing from you to them, as it did from Roy to me.

Honoring Roy Killion, 15 June 2024, Part I

My name is Kevin Wolley. The Killions were our backyard neighbors in the early 1960s and I remember when little Matthew was born. My mother babysat the Killion kids, so we played together quite a bit when we were small.

An early memory for me is shooting baskets with my brother Vernon and Roy in the Killions’ driveway. As I recall, Roy was in his forest ranger uniform, apparently about to go to work that day. He was trim and fit, too, so he cut quite a figure in my young eyes. Little boys look up to men, with an inborn desire to learn from them how to be a man, and Roy Killion fit the bill. The role of men, and fathers especially, is very important.

My own father wore a uniform to work, too. He was a gate agent and baggage handler for United Airlines. I got the bug to fly airplanes very early from making family trips on the airline. Dad was not content to remain a baggage handler, however. He was ambitious, and I trace his ambition back to the loss of his own father while he was an infant. He had no memory of his father, but plenty of bitter ones of his stepfather, and he was determined to show his stepfather who was the better man. 

This led to Dad going to college full time in the morning and working at United full time in the afternoon and evening during the time we were neighbors with the Killions. I would see Dad for a few minutes in the afternoon as he swapped school clothes for his United uniform, then he would be gone. I missed him, and a few minutes of shooting baskets with Roy Killion fed a hungry spot in me.

The Killions moved away, and we moved a fair amount, too, but somehow our families kept in touch over the years. Eventually Roy and Shirley moved to a house just a few blocks from my mom here in Fresno, and the ties were renewed and strengthened. 

I became a Christian at a Civil Air Patrol meeting here in Fresno at age 15, and knew the Killions had become servants of the Lord, too.  

Cont’d in Part II

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Shirley Killion

Matthew L Killion (Shelley)

Tina Bailey (Tom)

Lisa Gleason (Joe)

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Roy Killion

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Roy Lee Killion

April 29, 1936 – May 16, 2024

Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home

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