| Author | Message | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 2090 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.85.14 Rating: N/A |
Hello Members, My name is Shawna and I am Richard's eldest daughter. I reside in Florida but am currently in West Virginia with other family members trying to console and provide comfort for my Mother. We are so very saddened by my Father's passing. I had a trip planned this coming October to visit my parents and it hurts that I was not here soon enough to see him one more time. Every morning since I have been here with my Mother I have looked forward to reading all the email from the members. It is so nice to read everything that has been posted and I just wanted to let you know that we appreciate everyone's kind words and reflections. A lot of the postings and comments about him sound so much like my Father...I can tell that many of you have gotten to know him very well! We know that he loved the Bus Nuts and spent many hours on the computer with all of you. This was one of his daily and favorite things to do. I just wanted to let you know that my Mother and the rest of the family appreciates everything that has been said and done on the web site for my Dad. We all so very thankful that Hilary (my niece) was able to provide the information to you and show us how to access your site so that we can enjoy the responses from the members. Thank you so much for everything that has been said...it has been so helpful to us and it is wonderful to know that he has touched so many members and that you appreciated all his input to the club. He truly loved the Bus Nuts! Respectfully, Shawna | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 2091 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.85.14 Rating: N/A |
Hi everyone... This is Hilary, Richard's granddaughter. I also wanted to thank you all for your kind words and support during this very difficult time. Losing my Grandpa was very hard on me. He was more like my Dad than anything. I spent A LOT of time with my grandparents and I was really close to him. I have also enjoyed reading everyone's comments, and like Shawna said, they do sound like him. And to the people he may have been hard on sometimes, don't worry...he was hard on all of us too! That was just his nature and he wanted to make us better as a person, which he did. Someone had written that he was a "walking Encyclopedia", which is VERY TRUE. Not only about buses, but everything else as well. I am very proud of what he had accomplished during his life from growing up on a farm in West Virginia to starting two very successful companies. I would like to include a couple paragraphs from a speech and from his obituary... "I started International Computer Power in my garage with a government order for four small power converters rated at 2000 watts. On the factory floor now is a power converter with a rating of over 2 million watts. Arguably the largest flywheel power converter in the world with more than enough power to feed 200 homes. I was approached years ago by the owner of a luxury yacht who wanted something that would allow his American manufactured yacht to connect to shore power while visiting foreign ports. We were successful in developing a product to fulfill his needs and have since installed over 300 systems aboard luxury yachts worldwide". From his obituary, "In high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society, Fire Dept., National Thespians and band. He had received numerous awards and patents for his contributions to the marine and computer industry. He served four years in the Air Force as an Airman 1st Class and received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Japan Occupational Medal, Good Service Medal as was part of the 3201st Boat Squadron. He was Honorably Discharged in June 1953, a veteran and a Shriner". These boards and everyone here really meant a lot to him. He loved talking to everyone. He really did have a wealth of knowledge and loved to share it. That's the way he was. I know he was always talking about upcoming rallies and how he would like to go, it just depended on how he felt. And I think it really bothered him that he just didn't have the energy to drive that far. I don't mean to go on and on, but I just really wanted everyone to know how important he was in my life and how important you all were in his. Again, thank you all for your wonderful support, comments, thoughts and prayers. He was a great man and will be missed by all. ~Hilary | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1110 Registered: 7-1997 Posted From: 24.239.12.139  Rating: N/A |
Thank you Shawna and Hilary. It is such a pleasure and privilege to hear from you. Your stories and remembrances have struck a chord very close to home. Spending a lot of time with your grandparents can bring you very close, so Hilary, we understand the significant loss you now bear and we grieve with you. God bless you both. You and your families are in our prayers. Again, please do stay in touch and let us know how you're getting along. Ian | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 347 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.208.220.202 Rating: N/A |
Thanx, Hilary, Shawna...Wonderful....what a board...what great "friends" we have here...and extended family. And thanx, Ian for your remarks....and for the opportunity you provide to see the pictures and "feel" the outpouring of this family. Makes it all a much smaller world. RCB |