Heli Americas CEO Bruce Pelynio and Controller Danielle Mitchell were among the four who died in a plane crash on December 20th in northwest Atlanta, GA. The other two victims of this crash were Memphis businessman Wei Chen, founder and CEO of Sunshine Enterprise Inc and his COO John Chen. All victims were affiliated with the Sunshine Enterprise.
The Cessna Citation 560 plane registered to Chen Aircrafts LLC. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the investigation and said that the twin-engine plane departed Atlanta at 12:10 p.m. EST, en route to Millington-Memphis Airport.
Picture from the crash scene. Source: Millington Airport Twitter page
Mr. Chen became the first Chinese citizen to fly a single-engine aircraft around the world from May 22 to July 29, 2011. The flight raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Chen in December 2013 released a book about the flight, “Around the World in 69 Days.”
Chen founded Sunshine Enterprise Inc. after earning an MBA at the University of Memphis in 1998. The Memphis-based company operates two manufacturing facilities in China and four U.S. branch offices: Atlanta, Houston, New York and Los Angeles.
Sunshine is a wholesaler and distributor of Chinese construction and industrial equipment in the U.S. and other countries.
Here are the arrangements below:
Wei Chen, Founder & CEO, Sunshine Enterprise Inc. services:
- Visitation: Friday, January 4, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119
- Memorial Service: Saturday, January 5, 2019 beginning at 10:00 a.m., University of Memphis Rose Theater, 470 University, Memphis, TN 38111
- Burial Service: A private service for family only will take place immediately following the memorial service.
The Chen family will greet friends and colleagues during Friday’s visitation services.
John Chen, Chief Operating Office, Sunshine Enterprise, Inc. services:
- Visitation & Reception: Wednesday, January 2, 2019, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Highland Church of Christ, 400 N. Houston Levee Rd, Cordova, TN 38018
- Memorial Service: Begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. following the visitation and reception, Wednesday, January 2, 2019, Highland Church of Christ, 400 N. Houston Levee Rd, Cordova, TN 38018
Danielle Mitchell, Corporate Controller, Sunshine Enterprise, Inc. services:
- Memorial Service – Georgia: Friday, December 28, 2018, Noon, at First Missionary Baptist Church, 110 W. Calhoun St., Thomasville, GA 31792
- Homegoing Service – Memphis: Monday, December 31, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at Life Church of Tennessee, 650 Houston Hill Rd., Eads, TN 38028
Those interested in sending flowers for the Memphis service should send them to the Mitchell Family at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tn 38119.
Bruce Pelynio, President, Heli Americas (a Sunshine Enterprise company):
- A private celebration of his life for family and friends will be taking place.
For those who wish to donate in his memory, the Pelynio Family suggests two organizations that were meaningful to Bruce: the Salvation Army and Tunnel2Towers.org.
