Geoffrey Allan Bender Sr., 63, of Northampton and formerly of Needham, Mass., died suddenly Aug. 19, 2017, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg campus, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Marianne Bender.

Born in Hyannis, Mass., he was a son of the late Edward and Jeanne Uhlenhaut Bond Bender.

He first flew cargo at night and fish spotted on Cape Cod. He then was a corporate flyer for Seneca Foods and a Realtor in Boston, Mass. He was hired by New York Air, which merged with Continental Airlines. He was a captain and an assistant chief pilot and a lead line check airman on a B737. He flew his last years on a B777. He was instrumental in following his pilots who went through the Betty Ford program. He retired in early 2016 from United Airlines.

He was a member of the QB Pilots Club and the Association of Pilots.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Geoffrey A. Jr. and his wife Gabrielle; two daughters, Christina René and Teresa Marie; a sister, Holly Bender; a nephew, William O’Leary; a niece, Victoria Vaughan; and a nephew, Patrick Vaughan.

Contributions may be made to Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21205; or online at helpkids.kennedykrieger.org/information-individuals.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton.