Savannah – Eric Ralph Bury went West Thursday May 11, flying into the sun after a long battle with cancer.

Eric was born in Minneapolis on March 12, 1962, and lived most of his life in Ohio. He came to Savannah in March 2004 to live with his parents Carl and Sharon Bury and to work on his recovery. He has been under Hospice Savannah residence care since December 2004 and then at the Bury home since January 2005.

Eric graduated from Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, Ohio, Class of 1980. He then joined the Ohio Air National Guard and left for training in Texas and Colorado as an intelligence specialist. Returning to Ohio he attended The Ohio State University, graduating in 1985. Then Sergeant Bury attended Officer Training in Tennessee; flight training in Arizona; and fighter training in Arizona and New Mexico. He retired after 22 years from the Ohio Air National Guard as a Major flying A-7 and F-16 aircraft. Eric’s commercial flying carrier included Piedmont commuter, TWA, American Airlines and finally United Airlines, where he was a First Officer out of Chicago O’Hare. He was also an avid small plane pilot of a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub. Eric had been flying by instruments at his dad’s side before he could see outside the cockpit. He simply loved to fly.

He is survived by his children Nathan James and Amelia Marion in Beavercreek, Ohio; his parents Carl and Sharon in Savannah, and brother Mark and nephews Matthew and Nicholas in Montgomery Village, Maryland. His birth mother Marion Bury and brother Carl David Bury preceded him in death.

Eric was a member of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church in Savannah, Georgia, and of the St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at Skidaway Island United Methodist Church on Friday, June 2 at 2:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at St. Andrew in Ohio June 10. Eric was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Oshkosh, WI.

The family would like to thank his many friends in Savannah, Montana, Texas and Ohio for their support and visits. The staff and volunteers at Hospice Savannah and The Oaks at The Marshes were great. We would particularly like to thank Eric’s home care givers who provided so much care and so much love.

Eric was one of those special people who always helped, whether at his church, Cub Scouts, organizing neighborhood events, assisting pilots, or substitute teaching. He was a loving and remarkable father who above all cherished his children Nathan and Amelia.

Remembrances may be made to Hospice Savannah, 1352 Eisenhower Dr, Savannah, GA 31406; The Bury Family Aviation Scholarship Fund, Experimental Aircraft Association, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903 in honor of Eric; or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030.