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Jims RV-8
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Date: 10-21-2021
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: My Dad's best buddy
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The good news is, my dad and his best buddy, his brother, are together again! The sad news is, my Uncle Ray passed away after 97 wonderful years - and this world just doesn't seem the same. Ray and I had many great discussions over the years - covering most all of the topics: politics, flying, family, salvation, eternity, stories about my dad, tennis, finances, marriage, sailing, the war, regret, growing up, getting old, dying... we covered it all. He didn't have an easy life as he, my dad, his sister and mother and father grew up in Cleveland, Ohio during the depression. He was a B-24 navigator during the war, but thankfully the war ended just before he was sent overseas to combat.
The one thing that comes back to me along my life was that he was always there. He saw some of my high school basketball games and attended my last collegiate basketball game and traveled to many of my son’s collegiate baseball games more recently. He never forgot a birthday of mine and was always happy to pass along his wisdom, or a story. He lived an active life, had a great memory, and played tennis well into his 90's. I am very happy that he had the chance to fly with me in the 172 as he, my father, and I share the same aviation DNA. He was probably my #1 fan of this build log, and he mentioned many times that he really hoped to see the airplane, "one day...". It saddens me that he won't get to see it, but inspires me to finish it, even more. You kept the faith and fought the fight, "Ray-gun" - that's what I called him when I was a kid - I get the feeling he didn't really like that name. RIP, Uncle Ray :)
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Uncle Ray - 2018 visit
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