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Thread: Torch, Don West

  1. #1

    Torch, Don West

    Don West known as Torch here at .org passed away Saturday March 1st. We and I have lost some one in the Fairbanks area that will be greatly missed.

    Best wishes to his children and wife. Don was instrumental in keeping all us AK pilots that much safer and even more a real kind and wonderful man.

    Mike Allen

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by mghallen View Post
    Don West known as Torch here at .org passed away Saturday March 1st. We and I have lost some one in the Fairbanks area that will be greatly missed.

    Best wishes to his children and wife. Don was instrumental in keeping all us AK pilots that much safer and even more a real kind and wonderful man.

    Mike Allen
    Oh, MAN....that is terrible news! I tell my students what they are missing with the current AFSS system in the Lower 48....a flight service station where you can actually walk in the door and brief face to face with, and who knows the country, it's weather patterns and most of the pilots in the area. That personal touch is so important, and Don was one of the REALLY good ones to brief with and to just visit with. His passing is indeed a HUGE loss to the Fairbanks community and to all northern Alaska aviators. Those Dune Lake trout won't know what to do with themselves now.

    My prayers for his family, he will most certainly be missed.

    MTV

  3. #3

  4. #4
    RIP Torch. You will be missed. Prayers.
    "If you put the Federal Government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Milton Friedman

  5. #5
    Wow! That's some surprising news that comes out of left field! Had he been sick - dealing with some kind of illness? Condolences to family and friends. Sad news indeed!

  6. #6
    Rest in Peace. The fish won't miss you but we will.

  7. #7
    Torch was supposed to head this way this year to visit his family,, I was planning on meeting him for a cold one.... Keep that thought Torch, someday we will.. Condolences to his family and friends...

  8. #8
    Blue Skies Torch
    Last edited by OLDCROWE; 03-04-2013 at 06:57 AM.
    "Illegitimis non carborundum"

  9. #9
    Torch was a huge part of SC.org. Great contributor. Encouraging. Kind. He will be missed. May the Lord Bless his family.
    God Speed my friend, see you on the other side.

    Bill
    Very Blessed.

  10. #10
    Very sad news, indeed. Just retired, and no doubt had been looking forward to many good years closer to family. Blue skies, Torch, and may your family find peace.
    Gordon N4328M
    My SPOT: tinyurl.com/N4328M (case sensitive)

  11. #11
    Very sad news. Thanks for sharing this.

  12. #12
    Could somebody post a good photo of Don on this thread?

  13. #13
    Shucks. That was not the news I had expected, nor wanted. I got to meet Don a few years ago while hanging around the airport waiting for weather. He was top Shelf.

    He will be missed.
    I don't know where you've been me lad, but I see you won first Prize!

  14. #14
    Don West in PASK Selawick Alaska in Front of a new Cessna Caravan.

  15. #15
    Wow - Tragically surprising news. Torch will be greatly missed, his quiet sense of humor, his annual hunting thread, his wonderful trout fishing pictures. Godspeed Don, I'll be keeping a good thought for your family's peace as they struggle with this challenge.
    Stand your ground, don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here. - Capt. John Parker, Lexington April 19, 1775.

    Gunny

  16. #16

  17. #17
    What sad news. I always appreciated his demeanor on this forum. I had the pleasure of meeting in Valdez and enjoyed the beyond the forum Don and much as I enjoyed reading posts from the Torch. All the best to his family.

    Jerry
    If it looks smooth...it might be

    If it looks rough...it is!!

  18. #18
    I didn't know Don but it always brings sadness to loose any fellow aviator. We are a small group of people with a common passion of flying. My prayers go out to his family and close friends.............from a fellow pilot in Kentucky.

    Steve

  19. #19
    That is such bad news! Don took the time to teach this pasture flyer how to navigate in and out of Fairbanks air space and stopped by to check in on my daughter and me while we were camped at Fairbanks. I was looking forward to repaying his kindness when he was in Kansas seeing family. Gods speed . Doug

  20. #20
    Always enjoyed reading Don's posts on this web site, ' will miss him a lot.
    When a prang seems inevitable, endeavor to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity, as slowly and gently as possible.— advice given to RAF pilots during W.W.II.



  21. #21
    Wow. Not what I was expecting either. So sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and prayers to Don's family.

    I have never met him....but he seemed to be a very positive person and a fine ambassador to aviation. He will be missed indeed!

    cafi

  22. #22
    My dream of owning a Supercub has Torch's name attached to it forever with all the words of wisdom he shared on this site. RIP Torch.

  23. #23

    Re: Torch, Don West

    There are quite a few people here you don't have to meet to know they are quality people, and hope to have the pleasure of meeting some day. Torch it's certainly one of them.

    Rene
    -Rene

  24. #24
    I never met Torch, but I will sure miss him. Always enjoyed his posts, pictures, and comments, whatever the topic. My deepest condolences to his friends and family.
    Baloney is still baloney, no matter how thin you slice it.

  25. #25
    this would be a title NimpoCub's Avatar
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    Very sad news. Miss ya Don, the sky will always be blue above the scud!
    Nimpo Lake Logan... boonie SuperCubber
    200mi (300km) from nearest stoplight... just right! - "Que hesitatus fornicatus est"

  26. #26
    Dang, that is sad news. Never met him but felt like i new him from the regular postings he made. Sorry to hear this. Prayers to the family!

    Lance

  27. #27
    I am sorry for this news. I have never met Don, but his reputation was exceptional, greatly appreciated by those here who I think a lot of. My greatest sympathy to his family, friends and loved ones.

    Randy

  28. #28
    An iconic member, with tremendous insight and experience in Alaska, here are some of the threads he started if you want to reminisce:

    http://www.supercub.org/forum/search.php?searchid=931956


    Disappointed I never met Torch.
    -- 8GCBC: 2100A, 31136.R, 8.566, C3000A
    A&P, ATP, SES, CFII, MEI

    Fly with me here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXI48e1heuo

  29. #29
    God speed and blue skies. Alaska will miss you Don. Prayers for his family.

  30. #30
    I always admired Don as well, he was living the dream so many of us wished for. Can't add anything more to what everyone has said about him. I do know that its not the end Don, only the beginning of a great new adventure that he will love.

    Bill
    If I had to pick one plane, it would be the Super Cub. Im going to build one and try to find a 180 to put in it. I will need your help. Thanks

  31. #31
    Smooth skies Don. We are all richer because you shared your adventures with us.

    Glenn
    Last edited by cubdriver2; 03-03-2013 at 10:12 PM.

  32. #32
    Don was a great guy, he and I meet in the 1980's. He was always there when I needed a Biennial flight review. He has parked Torch right across from my cub on the float pond ever since he got floats for his cub. RIP old friend, deepest sympathy to his wife Debra and son. May you always have smooth air and a tail wind.

  33. #33
    GumpAir's Avatar
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    Don was the voice on the other end of the radio for the years I flew out of Kotz, keeping an eye out and helping me get home.

    Godspeed.

    Gump
    I'm an ex-citizen of nowhere, and sometimes I get mighty homesick.

  34. #34

    Torch, Don West

    Such a loss of one of the main contributors to this forum.... Don, you will be missed...RIP...

  35. #35

    Torch, Don West

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve's Aircraft (Brian) View Post
    Such a loss of one of the main contributors to this forum.... Don, you will be missed...RIP...
    You said it better than I can. Sad news for sure. RIP Torch.

  36. #36
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    We are all diminished.....

  37. #37
    Wow, so sorry to hear. God bless him and his family. Torch will be missed here

  38. #38
    In Time of Sorrow...

    May you see God's light on the path ahead
    When the road you walk is dark.
    May you always hear,
    Even in your hour of sorrow,
    The gentle singing of the lark.
    When times are hard may hardness
    Never turn your heart to stone,
    May you always remember
    when the shadows fall—
    You do not walk alone.

    From Saint Patrick's Breastplate

    Christ be with me
    Christ before me
    Christ behind me
    Christ in me
    Christ beneath me
    Christ above me
    Christ on my right
    Christ on my left
    Christ where I lie
    Christ where I sit
    Christ where I arise
    Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
    Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
    Christ in every eye that sees me
    Christ in every ear that hears me
    Salvation is of the Lord.

  39. #39

  40. #40
    Very sad news. Though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I will miss his posts. God Bless Don and his family.
    "Why is it wives can't just accept the biological mystery of guns reproducing in gun cabinets, and let it go at that?" - Patrick F. McManus

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