He was one of Nature's Gentleman.

[MajorPanic]

I've been away from the board for a few days.

I've been with one of nature's gentlemen, he's been ill for some time. He lost his fight for life at 21:17 last night.

He was always there for me when I needed him. He guided me when things went awry in my miss-spent youth & helped piece togeather shattered dreams. He has guided my life for as long as I could remember. I didn't realise most of the subtle ways he has guided me throughout my life until recently.

He had seen it all from the advent of the aeroplane to world wars to the personal computer & he embraced it. He served in the RAAF & he regularly sent me jokes when he was in his eightys.

He was my friend.

He was my father, and I will miss him dearly.

[Grunt]

Really sorry to hear this. My deepest sympathys to you and your family.

[Rusty]

Know what you're going through, brother. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

Sincerely,
Rusty.

[Cliff Rogers]

G'day Mark, sorry to hear it..... I haven't been down that road yet so I can't say I know how you feel.

Here's a little something that was reprinted on an order of service for an old bloke I new who flew for the RAF in the war, he was 93 when he passed on last year.... I thought it was good at the time I read it so I'll pass it on.

IF ...
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are loosing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors as the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life for, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And loose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor loose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count worth you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a man, my son!

(Rudyard Kipling)

[beejay1]

Condolences old chum.
A friend and a father in one is special Major and youll have lots of very fond memories and experiences to share for a long time to come.
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

[Driver]

Deepest sympathy, Major.

We lost my Dad some years ago. He was of similar vintage to your Dad - perhaps a little older - and cut from very similar material, judging by your post. My Dad served in the RAF, not the RAAF and like your nature's gentleman, he was born in an age when transport was mostly propelled by horses. He went on to work with De Havilland Mosquitoes - in their time the very pointy end of aeronautical technology - and made mostly from wood! He lived long enough to see the advent of space exploration and the Internet.

I will always miss him and when things get tough, as they do on occasion, I think of him and realise that he had it far tougher then I ever have and none of it ever changed his basically optimistic outlook.

Col

[Daddles]

I'm sorry to hear that mate. I can't imagine a world without my Dad and yours sounds like he's had a similar impact. Rest easy mate.

Richard

[DanP]

Major,

A touching and heartfelt message. You and yours have my deepest sympathies.

Dan

[echnidna]

Deepest sympathy Major.

[Sturdee]

My sympathy too, Major. I know it is tough to loose one's father, especially as you had a great relationship with him.

Often we don't realise and think about the hardships they went through and sacrifices they made to make things better for their children. Those who still have parents please cherish them.


Peter.

[namtrak]

Condolences Major

[ozwinner]

What the others have already said.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Al

[bitingmidge]

From us as well Mark,

I have been there and understand the true meaning of the word "loss".

Cheers.

P

[jow104]

Janet and John are sorry to hear of your loss.
Nice to hear you had a good father but your memories will not be lost.

[TassieKiwi]

I'm so sorry MP. This is something I dread, excacerbated by 3000km of distance in his later years. My thoughts are with you. Don't forget to remember the good times too. Kia Kaha.


Dennis & family