Obituary

Lt. Colonel Michael Scott Lakin
(August 23, 1969 - December 22, 2011)

Lt. Colonel Michael Scott Lakin, 42, of Charleston, W.Va., died on December 22, 2011, from injuries sustained after the crash of his aerobatic plane near Marysville, Ohio. He was born in Huntington, W.Va., on August 23, 1969, to Doris Short Lakin (deceased) and Lawrence Ferguson Lakin.  Michael is survived by the light of his life, daughter Kathryn Patricia Lakin, and her mother, Dr. Carrie Lakin of Charleston, W.Va.; his father, Lawrence F. Lakin and his wife, Mary Lou Pelfrey Lakin, of Huntington, W.Va.; a proud brother, Richard Lee Rick Lakin, his wife Kaye, and their son Andrew of Ashland, Kentucky; a beloved sister, Patricia Patti Lakin Smith and her husband Ted of Milton, W.Va.; a brother by marriage, Larry Michael Pelfrey, his wife Teresa, and their sons Andrew and Tyler of Huntington, W.Va.; and a sister by marriage, Lynn Pelfrey Kearns, her husband John, and their children Jack, Bradley, and Caroline of Oak Hill, Va; special aunts and uncles: Gloria Gee Gee and James Billups, both of whom shared his passion for flying; Carole and Ed Yetter of Zanesville, Ohio; Treva Short, of Louisa, Ky.; Barbara Wright of Richmond, Kentucky; Mary and Glendell Frasher of Columbus, Ohio; Sue and Jay Stanley of Knoxville, Tennessee; and a host of cousins too numerous to name whom he loved dearly. He also leaves behind a special friend, Cherie Rosier, of Fairmont, W.Va.  Michael was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, James S. and Lyda Frazier Lakin, of Fort Gay, W.Va.; maternal grandparents, William R. Short and Nannie Moore Short, of Louisa, Ky.; two uncles, PFC Richard Lee Lakin of Fort Gay, W.Va., and Billy F. Short of Louisa, Ky.; and two aunts, Virgie Pelfrey of Huntington, W.Va., and Blanche Wellman of Ft. Gay, W.Va.  Michael spent his early years in Kenova, W.Va., and his formative years in Wheelersburg, Ohio, where he attended elementary and high school, graduating from Wheelersburg High in 1987. Michael completed his first solo flight on September 15, 1985, and earned his private pilots license one year later, launching his aviation career. Afterward, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., Michael earned his commercial pilots license at age 18 and his flight instructor certificate a year later, ultimately graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies.  Michael then joined the United States Marine Corps, for whom he flew attack helicopters in the Far East. He later served as a fixed-wing flight instructor at Naval Air Station Whiting Field near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle.  After leaving active duty in 1999, Michael served with the W.Va. Air National Guard, 130th Airlift Wing, based in Charleston, and became a C-130 Hercules pilot. He was a full-time Guardsman and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He flew many combat missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael had recently returned from another deployment to Iraq, where he was an operations officer for RC-26 detachment out of Clarksburg, W.Va.  Michael also flew for the W.Va. state government's aviation unit, beginning in 2008, and was a corporate pilot for then-Governor Joe Manchin, now a U.S. Senator.  In the weeks following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Michael was one of just a few pilots who helped fly troops and supplies to and from New Orleans.  Michael also entertained many at airshows piloting his 2004 American Champion Bellanca Super Decathlon stunt plane.  Michael was an active member of Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, W.Va., where he assisted as a volunteer for the Breaking Bread ministry, a free dinner church members offer to the community. He also was a member of the Pathfinder Sunday School class. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 Monday, December 26, 2011, at the Reger Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, W.Va., by Dr. Allen Reasons and Dr. Randy Flanagan. Michael will be buried near his mother in the James A. Ferguson Cemetery in Fort Gay, W.Va. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Breaking Bread ministry at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier Street, Charleston, W.Va. 25301.