My Dad Passed Away April 17, 2010
04-24-2010, 01:41 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
My Dad Passed Away April 17, 2010
Retired Air Force Major David C. Stoessel passed away April 17, 2010, at the age of 82. He will be buried at Riverside National Cemetary with full military honors.
My dad was a career officer in the Air Force, flying the B-47 StratoJet, in defense of the country he loved, for most of his 20 year career. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He served during Korea and Vietnam and was in the Army during the occupation after WW2. After retiring, he continued to serve his country in a civilian role as a civil servant at China Lake, CA.
My dad never owned a corvette. He was a Ford man for most of his life. However, he did ride in mine before he passed away, and, by the look on his face when I got on it, I know he enjoyed that brief but spirited drive. His eyesight preventing him from driving, so he was not able to experience the thrill in the driver's seat. But I know he was able to imagine that thrill after being a passenger.
That corvette thrills me every time I get behind the wheel. I am so grateful that I got to share a little bit of that with my dad before he left us. Yes, I know its just a car and, in the global scheme of things, not that important, but its the little things like this that make life so special.
May he rest in peace. Let light perpetual shine upon him.
His loving son,
John
My dad was a career officer in the Air Force, flying the B-47 StratoJet, in defense of the country he loved, for most of his 20 year career. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He served during Korea and Vietnam and was in the Army during the occupation after WW2. After retiring, he continued to serve his country in a civilian role as a civil servant at China Lake, CA.
My dad never owned a corvette. He was a Ford man for most of his life. However, he did ride in mine before he passed away, and, by the look on his face when I got on it, I know he enjoyed that brief but spirited drive. His eyesight preventing him from driving, so he was not able to experience the thrill in the driver's seat. But I know he was able to imagine that thrill after being a passenger.
That corvette thrills me every time I get behind the wheel. I am so grateful that I got to share a little bit of that with my dad before he left us. Yes, I know its just a car and, in the global scheme of things, not that important, but its the little things like this that make life so special.
May he rest in peace. Let light perpetual shine upon him.
His loving son,
John
04-28-2010, 02:13 PM
#6
Heel & Toe
Member Since: Apr 2010
Location: Princeton nj
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Tailwinds
John:
Sorry for your loss but he sure sounded like one heck of a guy and he lived a great life!!
From a fellow pilot---may his flight west be ever so full of glory!
Sorry for your loss but he sure sounded like one heck of a guy and he lived a great life!!
From a fellow pilot---may his flight west be ever so full of glory!
