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This page was updated: 13 JUNE 2008
I AM SLOW AS 'MOSES' GETTING UPDATES TO THIS PAGE,
DUE TO HEALTH REASONS AND PERSONAL BUSINESS....BUT
WILL ADD MORE NEWS, AS TIME PERMITS.
some news may be old news, but NEW to this site,
since I wasnt able to do updates in a timely manner.
Look for the RED highlights for June 2008 information.
(PINK highlights were added in May 2008)
If you worked on the range, I would like to hear from you, especially if you know of any range rats who have passed on and not listed below. If you can provide any information about where they worked and what years, the year they died etc etc it would be helpful. You can see from many of the below entrys what type of info has been supplied.
If you are a range rat who just found my website, be sure to check the "Range Rat Introduction Page" (there is a link at the bottom of this page), and also make an entry in the Range Rat Sign-In Book (not to be confused with the Guest book!).
(If you have signed in before, only make a new entry if you have an update or want to make a new comment).
Send Email to Joe
If you are a range rat who just found my website, be sure to check the "Range Rat Introduction Page" (there is a link at the bottom of this page), and also make an entry in the Range Rat Sign-In Book (not to be confused with the Guest book!).
(If you have signed in before, only make a new entry if you have an update or want to make a new comment).
"One less Range Rat is not a good thing".
(The below list is mainly for Range Rats who have died, however there are some people listed who are not Range Rats which were included as I did not know their status, and I am leaving them on the list. In the future, please only send me info. about Range Rats who have worked on the down range islands or ships.)
13 JUNE 2008, DEATH OF BENNIE LaROCHE REPORTED
- Jack Toleman forwarded me an email from "LL" that told of the death of Bennie, as follows: "Any of you who ever worked on Ascension will remember Bennie. He and Tab Coleman were like part of the lavaworks down there and both wonderful characters. LL".
Bennie's full name was Benjamin B. LaRoche III, and he passed away on 31 May 2008 at his home at Merritt Island. He was born in Merritt Island, FL and was a fuel mechanic manager for Pan Am Down Range. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elfreida.
01 JUNE 2008, DEATH OF M.M. "MANNY" NORIEGA REPORTED
- On 27 May, Glenn Brown has reported the death of Manny, saying he died of cancer about a month ago, which would make it sometime in April 08. Manny worked on the Apollo ships and Antigua radar, then to Ely, Nevada tracking station (radar) with RCA. He leaves behind his wife Gloria and two daughters.
20 MAY 2008, RAY MILLER REPORTS DEATH OF RR FRIEND
- Ray, located at Hanapepe HI, wrote today: "Jim Roberts passed away this past weekend. He was a tech onboard the American Mariner before he decided to come out to Hawaii and work at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. We will all miss him."
14 MAY 2008, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SAM CURRIER IS STILL ALIVE!
- and so his name has been removed from the above list. He was reported as deceased in Scott Fetterman's list of Trinidad Troops, however today Bill Redman od Melbourne FL sent me an email saying: "You can remove the name of Sam Currier from your obituary column. Both ex-range rat Jim Cook and myself had been skeptical of the report of Sam's death. Both of us had worked with Sam in South Africa and still had friends there, who reported that Sam had left South Africa in good health to return to the States. Due to the sleuthing and investigation on Jim's part, Sam was found alive and well living in Oregon. Any one wishing to contact Sam can probably get his phone number from Jim Cook at jhcatdix@yahoo.com ".
14 MAY 2008, JIM EDWARDS REPORTS DEATH OF 4 MORE RANGE RATS.
- Roy Smith: was a Pan Am maintenance/support superintendent
downrange, notably GBI and Ascension. Originally from Texas, he had mastered the art of making great chili beans . Was also a great guy to be around.
- Jack Steele: Radar manager, SOM on the ARIS ships. He eventually
became manager of Range Ships.
- Dick Stricker: started out on the FS boats, then went rapidly
up the management ladder to eventually Pan Am Manager of Downrange . He left the range in 1968 to go with ITT and died by his own hand in late 1970.
- Ed "Tiger" Jones: Pan Am manager at GBI in the late 50's. Later
at Trinidad, I believe. Most remembered by those of us that worked for him for his obsession with security measures around the base.
13 MAY 2008, RICHARD "DICK" REMSTEDT ADDED TO THE ABOVE LIST:
- Jerry Blackerby emailed me about a friend of his saying in part: "Dick Remstedt worked with me on an RCA contract in Oklahoma during 1956-1958. When RCA lost that contract we both accepted transfers to MTP. We ended up in the data-handling section at GBI in mid-1958. In late 1959, Dick transferred to the Cape and remained there for quite a while. I lost touch with him and recently did a google search for him and found him in the SSDI. He died in Brevard County in March, 2003.
10 MAY 2008, WAYNE WITHAM REPORTS DEATH OF JAMEY DILL:
- saying that Jamey worked on ships for many years and gave me his wifes email address. Laura Dill then said Jamey Dill passed away Feb 1987 and spent his 25+ years with RCA. First on the USNS Twinfalls and then on the USNS Redstone.
10 MAY 2008, 3 DEATHS REPORTED BY KATHRYN GILSON-JOHNSON:
- Tom Armstrong was a chief Tech at GBI and Radar 12:15 on Ascension. He retired in 1981 and operated a bird sanctuary in Costa Rica. He died several years later of pneumonia.
- Art Mobius was Radar Leader at Antigua and Ascension during the 1970's - 1980's. In the late 1980's he transferred to Patrick AFB, then passed away a few years later - 1 year after his wife's death.
- Harry Smith was a Transmitter Engineer on Ascension Radar. He retired to Mississippi in the late 80's due to health problems, then passed away 2 years after that.
10 MAY 2008, DEATH OF JOHN FARKAS REPORTED:
- This death was reported to me in Oct 07, (but got lost in my emails until now!) by Ray Cartwright, St Augustine FL, who wrote that John Farkas, a programmer on Grand Turk ('77-'79) and Ascension ('79-'83) died of an apparent heart attack in Dec 2003.
- Evidently Ray Cartwright is not a Range Rat, as I do not see an entry from him in the Range Rat Sign-In Book, but I do appreciate anyone reporting deaths of known range rats. Thanks Ray.
12 APRIL 2008, DAVID T. DONALDSON ADDED TO ABOVE LIST:
- UPDATE: 10 MAY 2008, Mac Monroe send more info on Dave saying that he was a long time RCA/GE employee, known by many on the Eastern Range, and that his obituary is listed in the online version of the "Florida Today" newspaper for 10 May 2008. Click here to read his obituary which has more life details, and a guest book that you can sign.
- Dwight "Speedy" Collier, has reported that Dave Donaldson, age 79, of merritt Island died on 04 April 2008. Speedy said that he worked with Dave at GBI and that he remembers that Dave replaced Jim Falkenstein as IM there, and that Dave flew his own plane.
- Fred Perkins said that he relieved Dave as IM at Pretoria in 1968. and believes Dave held IM positions at a number of other stations over the years.
12 APRIL 2008, LARRY SCHWARTZ TELLS OF DEATH OF FRIEND IN 2007:
- Bill Daggett, 52, a Range Rat who once worked at GBI in the 80's died unexpectedly on 29 June 2007. Bill, at the time of his death, was a telemetry systems engineer for CSR at Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex (JDMTA). Fellow employees said, "JDMTA and the Eastern Test Range has lost one its greatest assets and a vast storehouse of knowledge with the passing of Bill. He will be greatly missed by his coworkers, friends and extended family at JDMTA."
Bill was born in Tampa and lived in Hobe Sound FL. He is survived by his wife Zita and other family members.
05 APRIL 2008, NEPHEW REPORTS DEATH OF ROBERT E. SHEAN:
- Stephen J. Shean wrote in the RR sign-in book on 27 March 08 that his uncle served for many years with pride on the USNS Redstone AGM-20. He goes on to say that Robert, who was 83 at the time of death, was a lifelong sailor, spending some 40 yrs at sea joining the Navy for WW2 and Korea, then sailing with the MSTS/MSC aboard the Redstone, and now Neptune has called him home. He will be missed.
Anyone else who remembers Shean, please let me know what he did on the Redstone.
24 MARCH 2008, DAVE ROEBUCK ADDED TO ABOVE LIST:
- John Walker (who I knew at GBI in the early 70s) has reported that Dave Roebuck (who we both knew from GBI Telemetry) had died in the late 1970s. Who can tell something more about Dave Roebuck, what his job titles were and what stations he worked at?
24 MARCH 2008, R.N. RICHARDSON ADDED TO ABOVE LIST:
- Arthur Newport, of Melbourne FL has reported that R.N. Richardson (Ritchie) died in the early 1990s, "Ritchie" was in Fire Security at ANT, ASC, TURK and probably other stations too.
04 MARCH 2008, BILL REDMAN TELLS OF DEATH OF FRIEND FRED LETH-STEENSEN:
- Bill said recently: " I'm kind of surprised that this has not been brought to your site's attention before this, but Fred Leth-Steensen died in 2001 in New Mexico. Fred was a long time range rat. Fred started on the ETR as a technician and left as a manager. I know for a fact, that he was on Grand Turk, Antigua, South Africa, Ascension and GBI. He may have been on other stations also. I
first met Fred when he came to Pretoria, South Africa as Radar Leader. Many an evening he was over my house in Pretoria, where we solved the world's problems over a bottle of brandy. The only problem was, that the next morning we couldn't remember the solutions we came up with! Fred left the ETR in 1972 as did I.
We later joined up on the USNS Wheeling, a tracking ship on the Pacific Missile Range. We later worked together at the White Sands Missile Range. We parted again in 1977, when Fred went to Kwaljalein and I went to the Yuma Proving Grounds. Fred and his wife visited my wife and I a couple of times here in Florida. His wife, Alison is currently living in Dallas, Texas. I miss him".
04 MARCH 2008, WILLIAM C. ROPER ADDED TO ABOVE LIST:
- Richard E "Rick" Marshall, a Computer Operator / Programmer at MISTRAM, Eleuthera, 1965-67, signed the RR book, and reported that William C. "Sweet Old Bill" Roper, Data Analyst, died c2000.
04 MARCH 2008, ADDED TO ABOVE LIST, THE RR'S WHO WORKED AT TRINIDAD:
- A few years ago Scott Fetterman, (who recently died 05 Feb. 08) sent me a list of 176 Troops who were PCS at the Trinidad tracking station, today I went over the list and compared it to my list and have included the 9 he had listed as deceased that were not on my list. These were: Richard Banke; Dick Best (Programmer); Jim "Hymie" Burbage (TLM Engineer); Ken Dunham; Jim Hatley; Ed Norton (CCO); Gene Pool; Bill Thomas (Photographer); and Ken Willoughby (Comm. Leader). Scott had Sam Currier listed as deceased, but new information as of 14 May 2008 confirms that Sam is alive and well in Oregon!
- As an extra note, with the mention of Jim Burbage above, it reminded me, (the guy who keeps these pages up to date), that when I went to work at the Dominican Republic tracking station in 1956 (my first downrange station), Jim and Hector Trujillo were two people that I worked with in the Timing Section, two longtime friends. I now add Hector Trujillo's name to the above list. He was treated like a VIP when he worked in the Dominican Republic as he had the same name as the president of the country!
12 FEBRUARY 2008, DEATH OF JOHN BECK REPORTED:
Fred Perkins sent me this email yesterday: "Am reporting the death of John Beck today 11 FEB 2008. John was an RCA Resident Engineer on a number of stations including Antigua, Ascension and Mahe, I believe he also did brief stints at Pretoria and Eleuthera. He was an avid ham radio operator, and won first place in the world in a a couple of ham radio contests while operating his ham station at Ascension. John left the range for an assignment at RCA Alaskom in Anchorage Alaska, subsequently retiring from there to the Sebring FL area. When his health failed, he entered a nursing home in October 2004, and subsequently passed away there today."
09 FEBRUARY 2008, GRANDDAUGHTER REPORTS DEATH OF DAVE STARK ON 07 FEB 08.
Angelique Bedwell ( tazzywolfy@aol.com ) from Sherman, TX wrote: "I am the granddaughter to fellow range rat David Earl Stark. I wanted to let you know that David passed away today 07 FEB 2008, and his wife, my grandma Imelda Kamlan Stark passed in SEPT. 2007. If any one wants information on David or my father Ira Thomas Bedwell, another former fellow Range Rat, who passed in 2002 they can email me."
07 FEBRUARY 2008, DEATH OF FRIEND AND FELLOW RANGE RAT:
- Charlie Wright sent this info. yesterday: "Scott Fetterman, long-time range rat RCA radar troop died 05 Feb. 2008 at Melbourne FL. He was 64. There will be no services. Scott served (of the stations I know of) at ASI, POS, SJH, GBI and JDIF. He had been in ill health for some time and then got Red Tide
toxins from eating seafood, which led to the loss of functions from the waist down, and that caused his death.
So long, Scotty. I'm remembering all the good times we had on
the range, and since retirement..."
- Bill Bailey wrote 10 FEB 2008: "I knew Scott. I was on ascension on radar haul job for CEMS. In one of those philosophical sessions that went into the early morning Scott mentioned he might like a transfer off ASC, I suggested KWAJ since they also had 1206 computers there. I told him that I could arrange an interview for him just now. He doubted I could do that, which led to a bet that I could, if he could get the PAFB operator. (I had been to KWAj and had Caskey's phone #)I won that bet by calling Jim Caskey on KWAJ just before quitting time there,(12 hours difference from ASC) Don't think Scott went out there. Why trade one rock for another? I've got a lot of fond memories from those late night philosphical? discussions.
Sorry to hear of Scott's Passing: One less Range Rat is not a good thing."
06 DECEMBER 2007, GRANDSON REPORTS DEATH OF BERNIE RYAN:
I recently learned about the death of Bernard "Bernie" Ryan who was the Instrumentation Manager for RCA at many downrange stations such as Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Antigua and Grand Turk. This news was from his grandson, John Miele. John said Bernie, who was also a World War Two hero, died three years ago in 2004.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, SON REPORTS DEATH OF FATHER:
Rick Wirtz, son of Eugene Wirtz wrote in RR sign-in book that his
father was stationed at Turk from 69 to 73 and passed in 1990.
- If anyone else remembers Eugene Wirtz from the range you can send more info. about his other range experience etc, by sending me an email and it will be published here.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, DEATH OF RCA EMPLOYEE ROLAND HOEPPNER REPORTED:
Benny Juhl wrote recently: "Just want to report that Roland Hoeppner died 13 September 2007. He was an old friend who was on St Lucia, Fernando de Noronha,
Antigua, GBI and worked at the Cape for years."
I personally knew Roland from GBI Telemetry when we worked together in the 1960's, he was a range old timer, a brown bagger and very likable guy and had a scraggly goatee when I knew him.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, PHILL REICHERT REPORTS DEATH OF PAA EMPLOYEE:
Stan Perkins, who was a Pan Am Weather troop and died
about two years ago (2005?).
- If anyone else remembers Stan Perkins from the range you can send more info. about his other range experience etc, by sending me an email.
13 OCTOBER 2007, DAUGHTER REPORTS DEATH OF TOM HADDEN WHO WORKED AT THE DOM REP TRACKING STATION:
I heard from Susan Hadden Ross last Aug 07 telling me that her father died Feb. 27, 2006. Tom worked for PAA in security and you can see a picture of him on my #08 Dominican Republic AAFB Tracking Station Page.
- If anyone else recalls Tom Hadden from the range and can send more info. about his other range experience etc, please send me an email.
13 OCTOBER 2007, GLENN BROWN REPORTS OF TWO DEATHS:
In Sept 07 Glenn wrote me that he "wasnt sure that Gerry Berube and M.A.J. Carter were ever 'assigned' downrange, but both spent much time downrange and on ships and both these gentlemen were my personal friends for years, and certainly
considered themselves Range Rats. Either way, they're both on a different Range now". Glenn gave this info: Gerry Berube was in many management positions on the contract, and was Downrange Manager and also Ships Manager. He left the Range to become Project Manager on SURTASS Project out of VA. He retired as a Director with GE. He is well known by most people that were around in the latter years. M.A.J. Carter (3 given names, known by Maj) was leader of 1.16 Radar in the early days, and went with Berube when he took over the Downrange office, then the Ships Program, and then to SURTASS. He was Berube's "right hand man", and was in charge of Training, Quality Control, Recruting, and other assignments. In these positions, he made many extended trips downrange, and rode the ships many times, over a period of several years. Glenn wasn't sure when these two men died, anyone who knows, please let me know.
18 SEPTEMBER 2007, JOHN ROBERT BERRY'S (DOM REP AAFB) DAUGHTER WROTE ME OF HIS DEATH:
Deloris Berry sent an email in Aug 07 telling me that he died in died in 1987 in Collinwood, TN, John worked a the Dominican Republic base in the late 1950's. I remember him as I also worked there at the same time, John worked for PAA in security. See a picture of John Berry on my #08 Dominican Republic AAFB Tracking Station Page.
- If anyone else recalls John Berry from the range and can send more info. about his other range experience etc, please send me an email.
18 SEPTEMBER 2007, GENARO MUSI DEATH ADDED TO LIST ABOVE:
Jim Edwards sent an email recently: "In viewing the list of Range Rats that have died I realized that Genaro Musi was not included. Geno was a weather troop that
worked at Cape Weather before coming downrange about 1958. He worked at GBI, Ascension, and Antigua. He retired at Antigua, and died there about 10 years ago".
07 SEPTEMBER 2007, RCA/CSR EMPLOYEE BOB FLOWERS DIES.:
- Glenn Brown reported it to me yesterday and today Jack Toleman sent me this message from L.L. Smith: "Hello, Friends. Sad to report I just had a call from Joanie Flowers who informed me that Bobbie Flowers passed away yesterday, Wednesday 05 September 07 @ 1345. He had been suffering for some time with liver problems and had hopes of traveling to Shands in Gainsville FL for consultation toward a possible transplant. She indicated, as per Bobbie's wishes, there will be no services. Please pass to those on your email lists who may have known Bob. Will pass on any future info I receive."
- 11 SEPTEMBER 2007, Since Bob did not sign the Range Rat Sign-In Book I asked for input from those who knew him.
- John Gladden wrote this: "I met Bob when I was assigned to Mahe. The first words he spoke to me were in the Satellite Club Bar where he said "Give me a light before I kill you!". To which I replied, "Sure, I'll give you a light for that cigarette and let it kill you!" He then introduced himself to me and we became close friends. After he transferred to Pretoria, in 1971, I shipped his car, which he had left in my care, to Durbin for him. We were stationed together again at Antigua in 1974/75. I am not sure what his official title was at Mahe, whether it was Comm Manager or IM. He was the senior RCA rep on station, but all they had responsibility for was comm. At Antigua he was Instrumentation Manager and acting Telemetry Manager for Ascension. Go Figure. Some people might have a different opinion of Bob, but I found him to be one of the most straight forward people I met on the Range. He was strict on enforcing company policy and procedures but was very fair in dealing with individual employees as near as I could tell. I was the Supply Supervisor for Pan Am on both stations, so I dealt with Bob frequently business wise. If any business issues arose between our areas of responsibility, they were handled professionally without finger pointing and creating discontent. I believe he actually improved the Pan Am/RCA employee relationship on the stations where he was assigned.
- Jim Edwards sent this info about Bob Flowers: "Bob served in the Air Force . Duty in the Middle East among other places, He was in Pretoria in 1966-67, in Trinidad in 1968, Ascension at least part of 1973, Antigua as IM 1977, GBI as IM 1980-81, TEL-IV after GBI and Later SRO at the Cape.
- I remember Bob from Ascension when he was Telemetry Manager when I was stationed there 1971-72. Looks like us old timers remember different time periods of when we worked with Bob. No matter, it's just good that we can still remember!
14 AUGUST 2007, DEATH OF ART RAMSDELL REPORTED BY HIS SISTER:
- I received this email below, maybe someone can help her: "Art Ramsdell, who is pictured on your USNS Coastal Sentry photo, died July 31, 2007. I have been attempting to find Ed J. Gallagher to notify him and any of Art's other downrange
friends. I am Art's sister. Anyone who would like information
on Art's death and can identify himself as a friend, can contact
me at this email address: myrt@copper.net . I have a copy of one of Ed's
poems, he'll know which one. Signed Myrt Townsend (myrt@copper.net)
from Lewisville,Texas."
05 JULY 2007: ED BINGHAM (RCA), AGE 71 OF MORGANVILLE NJ DIED JUNE 28, 2007 :
- "Speedy" Collier sent me an email with details about Ed's death, which you can link to by clicking here. This is a memorial page that has more details, and has his picture and a guest book that you can sign.
Ed's wife Kathy signed the Range Rat sign-in book for him on 28 Aug. 2006 with these comments: "Ed Bingham, was down range from 1963-1969, as an RCA radar tech. He started out on GBI for a few months, then was sent to Ascension for a year. We were newly-married then, and I stayed in Recife for several months, where he was able to spend a couple of days every couple of weeks. He got a transfer to Grand Turk, where we remained for a year. (I was a volunteer x-ray tech at the local hospital for the base medic and the local British Dr. - Dr. Elizabeth Johnson). The Grand Turk technician was on strike!) Ed was then transferred to Antigua, where we spent our final 4 years downrange. Our second child was born there. Ed transferred to RCA's computer division in NY in 1969 and we moved to NJ, where we have resided ever since. Ed retired in 1999 from Hitachi Data Systems.
03 JUNE 2007, DEATH OF ROLIN EBANKS (PAA, CSR) REPORTED BY JIM EDWARDS:
- In an email received today Jim said: "I report with great sadness the death of Rolin Ebanks in Jacksonville FL on June 1st. Rolin was a maintenance/support supt
downrange for many years with Pan Am, and CSR. At various
times he was at GBI, Eleuthera, Grand Turk, Antigua and
Ascension. I understand from his family that there was a
memorial service on 17 June in Jax."
13 JUNE 2007, JERRY DUFOUR (RCA) DEATH REPORT :
- Jack Tolman forwarded me an email from Larry L. Smith with this news (edited slightly) as follows:
"Sorry to be the perennial bearer of ill tidings, but there was a death notice in the 02 June 2007 Florida Today paper for our good friend, Jerome E. (Jerry) Dufour, age 71, who died Wednesday, 28 May 2007. I had seen Jerry a few months ago here on Merritt Island and did not suspect he was having any health issues. His wife, Emi said it all started with Jerry’s car being rear-ended on his way home from work Friday, 28 May. The impact drove his car into a vehicle in front of him with enough force to break the seatback. Later at home he collapsed and was taken to the hospital with kidney problems and subsequently succumbed to a heart attack.
Jerry was a top notch RCA Range Rat and was respected and liked by all who knew him. He spent the majority of his time downrange at Grand Turk & Antigua working in the MIPIR Radar section and enjoying life with friends and a “Crown and Ginger.” Along with his wife, Emi, he was a longtime saloon keeper in Cocoa at the Big Que Tavern where many happy hours were enjoyed by many people, Range Rats and the “normal” populace. Emi is understandably devastated by this sudden and tragic loss. A Jerry Dufour Memorial get together was planned for 17 June 2007 at the Big Que Tavern in Cocoa on Dixon Blvd."
15 MAY 2007, ONE MORE RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Jack Tolman wrote me in Feb. 07 that Walter R. Falk of Augusta GA had passed on, Jack doesnt know what islands he worked on or if he was just an uprange PAA employee, Falk retired after 40 years with Pan Am Airways and Johnson Controls at Cape Canaveral, FL.
- If you knew Walt Falk and can remembers working with him and where, please send me your input.
07 MAY 2007, WHILE SEARCHING THE WEB RECENTLY ...I LEARNED THE DEATH OF ANOTHER RANGE RAT:
- John Handschin who lived in Fort Pierce FL died on 13 April 2007. John worked for Pan American World Airways as supervisor of Meterology aboard the tracking ship USNS SWORDKNOT, and at the downrange station of Ascension Island. He also worked at Swan Island (Honduras) weather station, worked with the US Coast Guard North Atlantic Weather Patrol for several years acting as supervisor aboard the USNS SAMPAN HITCH and also aboard the Coast Guard Cutter, YAKUTAT, on ocean station "Bravo". In later years he was a science teacher at Crosby Junior High School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- 14 MAY 2007, Bob Baker from Crestview,FL knew John "Jack" Handschin and he provides this info: "He was Wx Supv on the Sword Knot when I came aboard as SOM in Jan 61, and I believe he was still
there when I left in Aug 61. I had lost track of him until I read of his death in your 07 May 07 notice. He did a good job, and had a very "wry, dry" sense of humor. He seldom failed to refer to Pan Am Division Meteorologist Gerry Finger as "Ferry Ginger". His Wx Obs team consisted of Phil Reichert and Karl Doughty for most of that tour."
- If you knew Handschin and can remembers working with him and what year(s) they were please send your input.
12 APRIL 2007, ONE MORE RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Jim Edwards writes: "Just learned recently of the march 22 2005 death of Jim Whimore (aka "Lurch") from brain cancer. Jim was a Comm Troop on the
ships in the 60's. He worked for me on the Sword Knot and also the Vandenberg. A real nice guy and a good worker."
6 APRIL 2007, ANOTHER RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Don Smith, a relative of Terry Smith emailed me that "Terry passed away on March 10th, 2007 after a quick bout with Pancreatic Cancer. Terry worked on all the ships as well as down range sites". Terry signed the Range Rat sign-in book in Dec 2005 with a comment that he worked at "Cape Timing & Firing, Tel-4, DLM engineer".
- 6 APRIL 2007, AN EMAIL LETTER FROM KENNETH SMITH JR, BROTHER OF TERRY SMITH: Kenneth writes: "I, sir, am the youngest brother of Terry Smith who as you know is no longer with us. I miss him a great deal. I am also a historian and I teach high school which is only relevent in that what I am proposing is going to take years. In memory of my brother and in honor of all of the rest of The infamous Boys from RCA I would like to write your stories. Please contact me if you are interested in sharing your
stories". His email address is kensmith0130@comcast.net
MARCH 2007, JACK TOLEMAN FORWARDED AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE WHO NOTIFIED HIM OF YET ANOTHER RR DEATH:
- Thaddeus "Thad" John Linder died 08 March '07. Thad was born in Dayton Oh and came to Brevard County in 1956 with his family. He was a graduate of Satellite High School and was employed as a radar technician for 30 years for RCA and CSR. Toleman's friend had this to say about Thad: "We just learned of Thad Linder's death after a battle with cancer. Thad came down Range in the early 70's when so many young family members hired on to be Radar Operators. Thad appeared as the poster child for the Endless Summer and introduced surfing to the Range. He was a super quick learner and one of the few guys to actually complete a CREI course with honors. As he matured at the Radars uprange he became a real outdoorsman and enjoyed his pair of Rotweilers, SUV with balloon tires and Budweiser. He was a good troop and mastered the mystery of the MOTR (Multiple Object Tracking Radar AN/MPS-39) operation and was working at the Merritt Island MIPIR at the end. Some oldtimers will remember his father, Tom, as a real gentleman and as Pan Am Data Handling Engineering Manager left his imprint on all the Range computer/DHS systems. Regards, LL"
MARCH 2007, FRED PERKINS EMAILS ME OF ANOTHER RR DEATH:
- Jack Ryals passed away 07 March '07. Fred worked with Jack at Ascension and Antigua and think he may well have worked at other stations also. Jack was a communications technician.
26 FEB. 2007, JOHN GLADDEN REPORTS DEATH OF WIFE OF FRANK MAHONE:
- Violet Mahone passed away 23 Feb 07. John says: Frank was Comm Manager on Antigua when he was there in 1974 and that Frank passed away some time ago. Some of the other Range Rats might want to know about Violets passing, since she was down range with Frank and many of them knew her."
- You can see her obituary by clicking here.
11 FEB. 2007, FRED PERKINS TELLS OF TWO NEW DEATHS:
- Ed Munger passed away sometime in Jan 07. Fred knew Ed at Trinidad
in 1963, and that he served earlier on the Globetrotter Van in Chile,
and pretty sure at other range bases, but am not sure which ones.
- Lou Holtkamp passed away the morning of 04 Feb 07. News was received
from Bruce Watson. Lou was PAA Weather Supervisor on Antigua and
Ascension, and served earlier on Eleuthera, possibly other bases. He
later moved to the Cape as Weather Supervisor, and Fred believes he retired
from that position.
NEW INFO (May 2005):
- Joe Makeever did some super sleuthing and found some helpful info on range rat William S. Czipulis (Bill Czip) which was enough for Charlie Elgas to further investigate by writing to Czip's last mailing address, a relative wrote back that Bill died July 12, 1999 at age 85 of a heart attack. Makeever writes that Bill was on Ascension when he arrived in 1964 and Bill left when RCA did that first big layoff in 1972. Bill's last station was Ascension with RCA in telemetry. When Bill left the range he worked for Pratt & Whitney until retirement.
Range Rats who I know have died, (and I will list the stations I knew them from): John Facker (RCA-DOM, GTK, ASC), Bert Berthelsen (RCA-GTK), Joe Collins (RCA-GBI), Frank Gorski (RCA-GBI), Cecil Nelin (RCA-GTK), Ted Dell (RCA-GTK), Al Blancett (RCA-GBI, ASC), Lefty O'Dell (RCA-GTK), Tom Elder (PAA-GTK).
RECENT NEWS MAY 2007:
Charlie Wright signed the RR Sign-in book 28 Mar. 2007 and said "Bob Shaffer died in N.Y. in the '80's and Bob Husby died at
Freeport GBI in '92. They were true Range Rats, the likes of
which I still miss".
NEWS FROM 24 MARCH 2007:
Dale Beadle of Louisville KY, who signed the RR Sign-in book in 2006 said that Herb LaLoge, his father-in-law had passed away a few years ago. Herb worked for RCA at GBI in the 70's and worked for RCA approx 6 years.
NEWS: UPDATED 24 MARCH 07:
FAMILY SIGNS IN FOR FATHER WHO WORKED DOWN RANGE: Read the RR sign-in book entrys of Dec 19, 2005 made by Blair Simpkins for father Jerry Simpkins who died in 2003 and the entry Jason Simpkins signed in for his father on Sept 29, 2006. Relatives are invited to sign the RR book when a range rat has died. These were interesting reads, especially since both sons spent some time downrange too.
NEWS FROM 26 AUG 2006:
Fred Perkins reported that Bud Creech passed away on August 24 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. Word was received today from his wife Pat via e-mail.
NEWS FROM 30 MAY 2006:
David Booker of Tallahassee FL, emailed me his dad, James "Shorty" Booker passed away on May 22. He was 88. Shorty started with Pan Am in February, 1961 and retired on GBI in 1980. He worked in shipping/receiving and was club manager for many years while on GBI. He was also stationed at San Salvador, Eleuthera, Grand Turk, Antigua, Trinidad and Ascension."
(Webmaster note: Shorty had just signed the RR sign in book on 21 Jan 06, and had just turned 88. He was living in Donalsonville, GA).
NEWS FROM 17 APRIL 2006:
Fred Perkins has reported that Sully (Maynard) Sullivan died on 14 April 2006. He was a Comm Center Leader on several of the D/R stations including Antigua, Ascension and Pretoria, perhaps others. He performed the same function on the Mainland for several years before retiring a few years ago. Sully was an avid golfer, who for many years helped keep the Antigua inter-island golfing team on the winning side more often than not.
NEWS FROM 8 JAN 2006:
Robert "Bob" Johnson wrote me recently to report the
of Arden Stenman who worked on GBI when we were there during the late 60s - early 70s. Bob writes that Arden started on Eleuthera in the early 60's, where he worked in communications. He arrived on Mahe' during the summer of 64 and I believe he stayed there for 2 years. After that he was stationed at GBI, in command control, from 1966 until the first cutback in 1970. From there he went to Thule Greenland with RCA and some time after that went to Kwajalein with Kentron. He returned to the range in the early 80's and was stationed at Antigua for about 5 or 6 years. After that he returned to his home town in Michigan. Bob talked with his niece and learned that Arden passed away about 2 years ago. Bob said he knew Arden had cancer really bad.
NEWS FROM 29 OCT 2005:
Wanda Tipton Haaland has reported that her father Charles Donald Tipton, (known as "Tippy") and worked for Pan Am had passed away in 2003. She said "we joined him on Grand Turk, Antigua and GBI and I have wonderful memories growing up on the islands". He also spent quite some time on Ascension.
NEWS FROM 25 OCT 2005:
Ann McEntire has reported that Dargon McEntire,who worked for RCA on Turk, Ascension, Trinidad and Antigua in the 60's and early 70's passed away in 1996.
NEWS FROM 12 SEPT 05:
Fred perkins wrote: I got a telephone call earlier this evening to say that Gene Cone had passed away last night. Gene was ABOM and/or BOM for PAA at a number of locations, including Trinidad, (where I knew him) GBI, and Eleuthera, possibly others.
Anyone who has more info. on Gene Cone please pass it along for these pages.
NEWS FROM AUG 05:
Bob Baker of Destin, Florida reported that Don Young, 78, of Los Alamos NM, died August 19, 2005 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Don enlisted into the U.S. Navy at 17 and served with distinction during W.W.II. He was attached to the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts which took part in the largest Naval battle in history at Leyte Gulf in the Philippine sea. His ship was sunk during the battle and he survived for three days clinging to a floating net. Don worked for RCA as a radar technician for several years in such places as Mayaguana, San Salvador, Cape Canaveral FL, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Wallops Island VA., and the Bahamas. Don left RCA in 1973 and joined ITT/FEC and worked at VAFB until he retired in 1990.
NEWS FROM 17 AUG 05:
Bill Stewart said "another death to add to your list is I. P. (Irvin Paul) Gillmer, He was on ships for a number of years - Several FS boats, several C1 ships and the Twin Falls".
Anyone who has more info. on I.P. Gillmer please pass it along for these pages.
NEWS FROM 27 JULY 05:
Benny Juhl said "Just wanted to let you all know that Robert Hankel (RCA/GE 56/62) died about 2 years ago".
NEWS FROM 08 JUNE 05:
Jim Edwards wrote: "I noticed that you listed many deceased range troops . Here are some more from the Pan Am side that I can think of:"
Andy Bennett - F/S Chief at many stations.
Derek Coetzee - South African that worked at Pretoria, ASC, ANT, GBI (and perhaps others) as Air-conditioning mech.
Harry James - Brazilian that started at Recife as motor pool mech. Later
worked at GTK, ANT, GBI, ASC. Ended his career as Base Manager, ASC.
Jim Collins - was an SOM on ships , Base Manager at ASC and Trinidad.
Mel Bobier - Supply troop on ships and at Mahe. Later was in F/S at ANT.
Finished his career at Jonathan Dickinson.
Wayne Rollins he started as a weather troop and eventually became Base Manager at ANT and ASC.
Lou Loper - Fuel tank cleaner and multi-purpose maintenance man from GBI to ASC.
Norm Ray - Motor pool chief , M/S supt , and eventually Base Manager at
ELU, ASC, and GBI.
John J. (Sixpak Jack) Bohrer reports in June 05 that another Range Rat passed away:
Nunzio (Frank) Spina. Jack writes: "I knew him on The USNS Vandenberg T-AGM-10. Frank lived in Cocoa, FL and Passed away 23 Dec, 2004. He worked with me and Russel Fowler in the Data Handling Section."
NEWS FROM MAY 05:
Michael McKinney who emailed me reported these deaths:
Frank Smith/ Antigua Comcen,
Oscar Eswine/ Antigua Txmtrs,
Jacques Bernier/ Antigua Txmtrs,
Bob Burgess/ Antigua and Cape Comm Centers.
NEWS FROM MAY 05:
Tom McCarthy noted in his May 2005 email: "I was scanning the list of those who have made their final journey, and I can add Homer Tilley (Ops Planning) and T. C. Knowles (Radar Engineering)".
(I believe both of these were up-range people).
NEWS FROM MAY 05:
Walt Wisnicky in May 2005 noted in his email that Bob Hankal who worked in radar at St. Lucia died in 2004 in Orlando.
Does anyone have more info. on Bob, where he worked after St. Lucia, etc.?
NEWS FROM MAY 05:
Fred Perkins sent me in May 2005 the obituary of Richard "Dick" Peach who had died on May 15, 2005. It briefly stated that "Dick began his career of 35 years with Pan American Airways, where he joined the Long Range Missile Tracking Service and that he was a member of the original 'Range Rats'."
(He must have started with PanAm in 1953 then). Does anyone remember Dick Peach and can they provide anymore details on his work with PanAm and the Range?
12 JUNE 2006, John Gladden sent this comment about Dick Peach: Dick was quite a character. He was foreman of the roving construction crew when I knew him in the
late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a person of high
intelligence and good humor. He probably chewed more cigars up
than he smoked, but he usually had one in his mouth if he was
not eating. His crew had great respect for him as I am sure he
had for them. Sorry to hear that he has moved on to that big
construction site on high. JLG
NEWS FROM MAY 05:
Ben Laroche writes in May 05 that a friend of his for many years passed away in Oct of 2003, by the name of Tab Coleman who worked for Pan Am as a flight line mechanic. He thought Tab came down range to San Salvador in 1959, and in 1961 he went to Ascension and stayed there until March of 1992 when he retired.
Fred Perkins has reported on these deaths:
Joe Clarke had passed away. Joe was the site chief at Saint Lucia (SLU) in 1958-1960. He eventually wound up in Ops Planning at the Cape and Len Mashburn Len was stationed at Saint Lucia (SLU) in 1957, and several years in the D/R office at PAFB.
Fred Perkins & Glenn Brown said these next two were recent deaths, April 05?:
Joe Petrone was radar manager on San Sal in 1963 and went to Asc as Inst Mgr in 1964, and was an IM on several range stations over the years, He spent a long time managing a Navy Program in Puerto Rico, and Fred believes Joe retired as a Vice President in one of the post RCA companies. and Walt Brock was a comm guy mostly at Mahe and at Pretoria and later went to Arkansas and became A CPA around 1970.
Charlie Elgas reports that this Range Rat has died:
William S. Czipulis (Bill Czip) (RCA telemetry/Ascension 1964-1972), died July 12, 1999 at age 85.
Dave Stark reports that these Range Rats have died:
Ernie Glaser (Cape Telephone for years and later ASC from about 1970 to ??)
Ira T. (Tom) Bedwell (ASC 1968-1970 TRI 1970-1972 & Ship Rat: Arnold, Redstone, Obsevation Island....) Died in Jamesville, NC in 2003. Tom was Dave's ex-son-in-law.
Art Hensley reports on 10 April 05 that this Range Rat has died:
Jim Eschleman.
More Info from Art Hensley(May 2005) about Jim Eschleman:
He was on the Range in the 50s at St. Lucia. When I ran into him it was at Gemini
Mission Control on the Cape. He worked there from project Mercury, Gemini and until the site was closed after the AS 204 fire. He returned to the Range in Central Computer Complex then
to Range Comm. He went to work in Cape Tech Control until hewas graduated from BCC, and went to work on KSC in EnviromentalHealth where he retired.
(Aug 2005) Bill Stewart had this to say about Jim Eschleman: he is mentioned in Gene Krantz's book, "Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond".
Fred Perkins wrote in May 05 that he met Jim Eschleman for the first time in over 40 years at one of the RCA Oldtimer picnics about 3-4 years ago and that he worked with Jim at Saint Lucia (SLU) 1958-1960 and believes he worked in comm.
NEW INFO (Oct 2005: Bud Creech wrote in Oct 05 that he knew Jim Eschleman on Ascension: The greatest cw and teletype operator, Jim worked fo Arbe (Mack-the-knife) McDowell in the comm center somewhere between mid-58 and 60.
Jerry Blackerby reports in Oct 05, that this Range Rat has died:
Fred Teague (RCA telemetry/Fernando de Noronho). Jerry says that his Range Rat friend then went to GBI for a short while before transferring to Patrick as a Technical Writer and later transferred to Brevard, NC and on to Goddard.
Jerry lost touch after 1976 and recently found Fred's family in Las Cruces, NM. where he learned that Fred had gone to work there about 1985. Fred died of a heart attack about 1988. -- Another one gone.
Jay Marshall reports in Apr. 05 that
Jerry Simpkins, GTK, Rose Knot, Pretoria, died in 2003. Survived by wife Jean and two sons. Read the Dec. 19, 2005 entry in the RR sign-in book by Jerry's son Blair and the Sept 29, 2006 entry by his other son Jason.
Wally Tubell wrote in May 05 and tells about quite a number of his old friends and colleagues have passed away:
Woody Bozardt, Donnie Gray, Mel Patrick, Norm Shows, Roy (Pork Chops) King, Ed Lauden (Ed left us about ten years ago). Andy Porter and Charley Mendez both passed away about seven or eight years ago, and Joe Petrone died recently. Andy, Charley and Joe were three of the most effective and best liked (loved?) managers on the Range in the old days. All three were real "people managers" who cared deeply for the guys (and in some cases gals) that worked for them. Others that some of the old Range Rats may remember are C.T. Powers, Clancy Bireline, Charley Feast, Red Dodson, John Sandlin, Wayne Gould, Sam Doughty, Sam ("Never spit to windward") Candler, Doug Price, Jim Falkenstein, Konk Martin, Hank Henry and Andy Conrad. (Andy Conrad was our first MTP Project Manager; he later moved up the ladder and ultimately became President of RCA Corporation in the late 1960s.)
End of Range Rat Deaths.
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