James Dennis Regal, 23, of Butler died Aug. 26 in a small plane crash over Lake Erie.

Born April 2, 1982, at Butler Memorial Hospital, he was the eldest son of Dennis and Beverly Regal.

Jim was a member of the Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church.

A 2000 Slippery Rock High School graduate, he lettered and was a captain of the football team. His love of football led him to Australia and Hawaii, where he played in the Down-Under Bowl his senior year.

Jim was an ATA Taekwondo Black Belt, a certified scuba diver and loved football, motorcycles, cooking, water-skiing and being with family and friends.

Jim graduated from the Community College of Beaver County, Beaver Aviation Flight School, and Slippery Rock University earning his bachelor's degree in aviation in just three years.

He had worked at the Butler Wal-Mart and the Beaver County Airport; and at the time of his death, he was employed by Pinnacle Airlines, a Northwest Airlink, as a commercial airline pilot. He had recently been notified of making captain status.

He was a certified ground/flight instructor with single engine, multiengine and instrument certifications. He was selected and approved for a federal flight deck officer, which was to protect the plane and skies he flew. He was looking forward to attending the training with his mentor, Uncle Joe, who is also a commercial airline pilot.

Jim spent most of his hours in the air as flying was his ultimate passion. His smile and twinkle of his eye will remain with those who deeply loved him and will forever miss him.

He left behind his parents; brothers, Steven at West Virginia University and Michael at home; his maternal grandmother, Ann Smuch of Prospect; a special companion, Courtney Alexis Schroth of Canton, Mich.; beloved aunts and uncles, Joe and Juanita Regal, Mona and Dean Andres, Liz and Joe Green and Theodosia and Bill Geibel, all of Butler, Barbara Smuch of Prospect, Helena Regal of Pittsburgh and Dave and Pat Regal of Forestville. Numerous cousins; and dear friends, Ron and Sally Took (Zook) of Evans City also survive.

Jim was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Adam and Theodosia Regal and Uncle Nick Kosar.

<B>REGAL</B> — Memorial services for the family and friends of Jim Regal, who died Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 5, at the Community Alliance Church, 800 Mercer Road. The Revs. Jeff Curtis and Dave West will officiate.Jim achieved and lived his dream of flying. To continue his dream and so that others may experience and live their dream of flying, a scholarship fund has been established at the Community College of Beaver County, James Regal Aviation Scholarship, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca, PA 15601.Memorial donations may also be made to Texas EquuSearch, P.O. Box 395, Dickinson, TX 77539, the group that located our loved ones.