Building Partner - I miss him

Webb · #1 06-17-2008, 09:48 PM

Folks - I shed tears tonight. I was working in the factory and had to put down the tools when I looked up at a picture on the wall and keep hearing a familiar voice in the back of a my mind that was muttering, assemble and "remove".

I was reading how to post a picture and for a first try, I thought I would pay tribute to one of the finest gentleman I have ever known. JB Horne passed away recently to cancer and until now, I it's been hard to talk about him.

I moved to Jackson a little over 2 years ago. This "old guy" came up from the house behind us to introduce himself. He heard the noise of a rivet gun, and knocked on the shop door. Being a bit of a handyman, he was fascinated by wing spars in a stand. Needless to say, I had an instant bucking buddy and he helped me put in every rivet in the wings and fuselage. We fussed and cussed over the canopy. According to his daughters (4 of them), my RV gave him inspiration to live and he was around for a lot longer than they had expected.

My last vist with him was in the hospital when he was getting ready for hospice and I brought him a copy of the firewall forward plans. He told the family to get out of the room and we talked about what was next. We also talked about life and it was one of the few times you get to say goodbye to somebody you love.

In the last 2 years, I've spent over a 1,000 hours with the guy and I feel like I've lost my best friend. My only regret is that he won't get to fly in the RV but I guarantee you he will be there in spirit.

So, here's to you JB. I miss you........

Perhaps others will take a moment out to share a tribute to those that held the bucking bar for them.

If the picture didn't show, here is the site
http://picasaweb.google.com/Wickfour...53386804018322

David-aviator · #2 06-17-2008, 09:59 PM

Here's to you, Webb, for paying tribute to your friend JB Horne. Good friends are very special in life and you lucked out.

Webb · #3 06-17-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David-aviator

Here's to you, Webb, for paying tribute to your friend JB Horne. Good friends are very special in life and you lucked out.

In JB's own words - mumble mumble, where's the picture? One of these days I'm going to figure it out.....until then, mumble mumble. Indeed, he was one of the great ones.

RV7Guy · #4 06-17-2008, 10:17 PM

Life is short. Cherish family and friends. You now a project that is special and holds increased meaning. He will be on the wings as you fly...

Bryan Wood · #5 06-17-2008, 10:24 PM

What a nice post. From the sound of it he had a love for building as strong as any that came before him. It is fitting that he appear here... Maybe Juliet Bravo in your N number would be a nice tribute.

Rupester · #6 06-17-2008, 10:35 PM

That's a wonderful post, Webb. Your words make us all feel the loss of your build-buddy. We feel for you and his family.

Rick S. · #7 06-17-2008, 11:04 PM

Lost my Dad, mentor and best friend midstream in my build, He was a great rivet bucker and true craftsman in the beginning, alzheimers left him with a look of confusion while holding a bucking bar a year later, cancer relieved him of that burden after another 6 months. I feel your sorrow and pain...I have a little picture of me and him in the shop sitting on my tool shelf right next to the bench, I find myself asking him too many times lately while finishing.."What we gonna do here Pop?" My sincere condolences for your loss.

DanH · #8 06-17-2008, 11:18 PM

My father in law, Calvin Gaede, took me to my first EAA meeting back when I was merely his daughter's boyfriend, circa 1977. I'd never heard of it and thought it was pretty cool.

Moved him in with us to spend his last year in the mid 90's....congestive heart failure. He was pretty much confined to bed, so whatever I built in the shop I carried into the house at night so we could talk about it.

Long as I owned that biplane, nobody ever flew in the front cockpit. That was Cal's seat. I like to think he did some serious grinnin' when we landing at OSH.

rvmills · #9 06-17-2008, 11:55 PM

Webb,

Great post...JB would be proud!

Let's see if this picture works:

JB

And thanks for the opportunity to add a little tribute to my Dad, Vic. He gave me my start in aviation back in college as I was struggling with a direction. Invited me to take a Private Pilot sim class with him at the junior college, which we really enjoyed together (at a time when 19 year-olds don't spend nearly enough time with their old man), then offered to help with lessons. Long story short, I became an aero major, got my tickets and thus my Dad launched the 30+ year career and life-passion that flying became.

Dad also took flying lessons over the years (some from me prior to joining the Navy) and we always had a great time and bond in the cockpit. He was taken a few years ago by leukemia at 73, but was fit and fightin' all the way to the end. Though he never had the chance to see my RV, I know he'd love it, and I take him with me every time I go up. I often wish I could see the RV Grin that I know he wears up there.

Oh yeah, also need to give him credit for giving me my initials..."RV"...maybe he knew something I didn't (wouldn't be the first time!)

Thanks for the great post Webb, and for the opportunity to say "Thanks, Dad!"

Cheers,

Robert V. (Bob) Mills
"Rocket" RV-6
N600SS
4SD

Webb · #10 06-18-2008, 06:11 AM

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the others that have offered kind words.

It seems this thread is in 2 parts. It has been moved to RV Friends Who Have Passed On and seperated from the replies. I'm sure that they will somehow catch up with each other.

I honestly didn't think that it would still hurt this badly when I typed it up last night. After reading replies this morning, it seems that a good catharsis of emotions is still happening. The emotions we "tough" guys keep bottled up seem to rear their heads after several weeks when we have time to reflect and contemplate life.

Last night, the bride went to Destin to delivery several large orders of our product "Stingmate" and make some sales calls. After working on the other love in my life, I sat down on the porch, poured a couple of fingers of good bourbon on the rocks, put my feet up, and lit a Montecristo. The younger dog sat beside me and life was good. As I have said for years, the best thing about a good cigar is the time it gives you to contemplate. I had time to thank the Maker for all the good things around me and think about what I had to do to finish wiring. Dog-gone-it. I wish JB was here to help hold the bucking bar on the support for the the pitch servo. That's when it started. Oh boy.

Do me a favor, take 2 minutes out of your day today, stop what you are doing, and call your building buddy on the phone just to say thanks. Won't cost a thing, and you'll make their day. If it's your spouse, you might even make them suspicous (lol).

Thank you Bob Mills for getting that picture to post. If you can, would you mind telling me how you did it. I know I'm close but just don't quite have the technique.

Again thanks guys.