R.I.P. Torch (Don)
04-22-2013, 10:24 PM
#381
Team Owner
Don's approach to life was fantastic and inspirational. His appreciation for the natural beauty of the world and his willingness to share it with others is nothing short of admirable. I always made a point of reading his threads and wished I could have been in the back country as well. I will think of him whenever I wander into the wilderness.
04-22-2013, 11:20 PM
#383
Race Director
Member Since: Oct 2008
Location: Common courtesy and common sense are not common.
Posts: 11,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13
So sorry to hear this. I was lucky to fly with a Ketchem Air bush pilot on an Alaska hunting trip and always admired the skill and bravery of the bush pilot.
He lived a life that many of us envied, best wishes to his family
He lived a life that many of us envied, best wishes to his family
Last edited by BobbyC3; 04-22-2013 at 11:22 PM.
04-23-2013, 09:13 AM
#385
Moderator
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Posts: 40,056
Received 3,570 Likes
on
1,615 Posts
So sorry to hear. My condolences.
My condolences.
04-23-2013, 12:36 PM
#389
Team Owner
04-24-2013, 02:33 AM
#391
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2002
Location: 30 mins north of Charlotte NC
Posts: 9,386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn.....He has been posting here since before me, for 11 years I have seen posted in front of him, behind him and had good and bad words with him. He was a solid fixture here you could always count on bringing awsome pictures that make you dream of living his life for a day.we did not get along worth a crap, but with that being said, it saddens me to see him go.
Have a safe final flight up old guy
04-24-2013, 12:37 PM
#394
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2001
Location: One Particular Harbour
Posts: 16,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruise-In 9-10-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10,-'13
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Don's approach to life was fantastic and inspirational. His appreciation for the natural beauty of the world and his willingness to share it with others is nothing short of admirable. I always made a point of reading his threads and wished I could have been in the back country as well. I will think of him whenever I wander into the wilderness.
04-24-2013, 12:45 PM
#395
Team Owner
Donald Dale West, 60, died peacefully in his sleep March 2, 2013, in Fairbanks.
He was born June 23, 1952, in Wichita, Kan., and lived in Alaska for 31 years.
Donald served his country in the United States Air Force as a technician and later as a command and control superintendant. He retired after 20 years of service.
After completing an outstanding career with the Air Force, Donald joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller. Fairbanks, Nome and Kotzebue were among the places he worked in the FAA. He retired from the FAA in September 2012, after 20 years of service.
He then became a flight instructor with ProFlite Alaska. He very much enjoyed teaching the art of flight to his student pilots. He also enjoyed working part time at the Fort Wainwright Commissary.
Donald married his best friend, Debra, in 1973 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. They were married for 39 years. Throughout the years, Donald and Debra were devoted to and cherished one another. They were as "one." Donald loved and was deeply proud of his two children, Allison and Guy.
Donald's passion in life was to fly his Super Cub, the "Torch." His flights to Dune Lake for trout fishing and his trips to moose camp with his buddy, Pat, were events in Don's life that gave him great pleasure, meaning and purpose.
Donald was a good, kind and gentle man. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Donald is survived by his wife, Debra West, of Fairbanks; daughter, Allison Vlaun, of Seattle; and son, Guy West, of Fairbanks.
He was preceded in death by his father, Neal West.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Rev. Frederick Bayler will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Special Olympics of Alaska, in memory of Donald West.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
He was born June 23, 1952, in Wichita, Kan., and lived in Alaska for 31 years.
Donald served his country in the United States Air Force as a technician and later as a command and control superintendant. He retired after 20 years of service.
After completing an outstanding career with the Air Force, Donald joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller. Fairbanks, Nome and Kotzebue were among the places he worked in the FAA. He retired from the FAA in September 2012, after 20 years of service.
He then became a flight instructor with ProFlite Alaska. He very much enjoyed teaching the art of flight to his student pilots. He also enjoyed working part time at the Fort Wainwright Commissary.
Donald married his best friend, Debra, in 1973 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. They were married for 39 years. Throughout the years, Donald and Debra were devoted to and cherished one another. They were as "one." Donald loved and was deeply proud of his two children, Allison and Guy.
Donald's passion in life was to fly his Super Cub, the "Torch." His flights to Dune Lake for trout fishing and his trips to moose camp with his buddy, Pat, were events in Don's life that gave him great pleasure, meaning and purpose.
Donald was a good, kind and gentle man. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Donald is survived by his wife, Debra West, of Fairbanks; daughter, Allison Vlaun, of Seattle; and son, Guy West, of Fairbanks.
He was preceded in death by his father, Neal West.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Rev. Frederick Bayler will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Special Olympics of Alaska, in memory of Donald West.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
I never had the opportunity to meet Don, but always enjoyed his posts, insights and approach towards life and hoped to meet him if I ever got to Alaska. He will be missed and the world will be poorer without him.
04-24-2013, 12:49 PM
#396
Team Owner
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I am very sad to hear this. Don was a great person and I think we all liked to live vicariously through his posts about hunting, flying and living in Alaska.
My condolences for your loss.
My condolences for your loss.
04-24-2013, 02:38 PM
#397
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 3,352
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I was so shocked to hear of Donald passing. He was a man that I would have like to met in person. He was always very complimentary to me about my son who is also in the Air Force. I will surely miss his input on the forum. You have my greatest sympathies, and know that Donald will be greatly missed by all of us here.
