John Palmer Sunstate Member

[Rotornut]

I received a call today at 3:45 pm Sat informing me of the Death of John Palmer at ROC due to Heart Failure. Paramedics were called and were unable to save him. John lost his lovely Wife several months back who was a very Talented Artisit.

But to Me I lost Much More than a Sunstate Member. I cannot help but Cry and pray for his Son and Daughter they have lost so much in such little time.

If you have Meet John Palmer you would never forget him. He gave Catfish and me a book he wrote of his Younder years when he was a Deep Sea Fisherman which happens to be one of the 10 top Dangerous Jobs. It was a book that I could not put down at nite. I read it all it was a great story of his life. When I gave the book back to John at Bensen Days we talked at great length about what I learned about his younger days. A talk I will never forget. A MAN I will never forget and a Man of his word.

Sunstate wishes to send all our Prayers and Thoughts to his Son and Daughter and all his family and friends.

Now my Friend you have your Golden Wings and are up there with a Great Bunch of Gyro Nuts. Till we meet again John.


MJ :(

[Screw]

Screw-In

I only met John today and he was a very friendly man with a great sense of humor.

I became aware of trouble when people started running and gathering. Apparently, as the story goes, John was talking with some of the guys and and began to faint. One of the guys caught him and helped him to the ground and he lost consiousness.

By the time I got there, Dan Leslie and another fellow were beginning CPR. I joined in as well, and the three of us were trying desperatly hard to save him. We just couldn't get a pulse and he never regained consiousness. The ambulance arrived and we continued CPR while the paramedics set up a defibulator and other equipment to transport. (Sorry about the spelling)

Gary (Johns friend) informed me later that John did pass away. God bless him and my thoughts are with his family and friends.

Screw-Out

[bartc150]

I'm glad John had the chance to fly gyros. I have the upmost respect for a man of 82 years old to learn to fly, especially gyros. He lived a great life, and was among friends doing what he loved to do, flying gyros. I can't think of a better way to go.

[Jazzenjohn]

I'm sorry to hear John passed. I talked with him at Mentone this year. What a great guy and a great example. He lived life as fully as anyone I've ever met. I think he told me he learned to fly gyros when he was 80 or 82 and also built his trailer (same as Ernie Boyettes trailer) himself. Amazing man, amazing life.

[Heron]

I just came from celebrating my friend Derryl's passing, we cooked his favorite dish and bought expensive scotch (he drunk the cheap ones) and as I logged in I picked this post to start my session, because is a Sunstate post and mostly it is good stuff going on.
What a scare to all present at ROC!
It is happening too often now that I am 54, lots of friends and family already passed 70's and any day can bring another message of someone crossing over.
My respects to the family and my support to all around him and ROC.
Now go lfy some in his memory!
Heron

[GyroRon]

I too will miss John. I saw his trailer and machine at ROC but didn't see him till this morning when I pulled up and saw a man being put in the ambulance. I really wish I had gotten a chance to at least say hi to him once more.....

I was also very confused about why his friend did not go to the hospital with him. The ambulances were barely off airport property and I noticed Johns Dominator tandem heading for the runway. The machine was in the air all day till late afternoon. Seemed quite disrespectful to me. :(

A momment of silence and prayer was said for John tonight at dinner. He will most certainly be missed.

[BUD ONEAL]

We lost a very good friend Bensen days in the early nintys.Ray Wooten had a heart attact in the air with C.F.I Steve Graves. Was quite a shock to all of us. Ray was not that old a man a,early seventys I believe.As our friend in Ala. said,we must be ready to meet our maker at all times,Not a quote.
Bud

[JRB549]

Hi Ron, just a thought for you. Ive been involved in ministry most of my life and I know we all are taken back by the sudden impact of the loss of a family member, friend, neighbor, or some one we might have been close enough to (gyro world) but never met.
People deal with emotions in many ways, and to Aline yourself with what that persons loved to do, no matter what it is IE flying gyros is considered very respectful. I'm sure everyone did what they could so you ask yourself what can I do,fly in memory.

[Rotornut]

Bud, Some memories are not that Happy. If I recall this was Hard on Steve also.
But as some have said he was doing what he wanted and was happy.
The ones left behind have to learn to deal with the loss/losses.

You go Fly and get your Fix, But Please Pre-Flight the machine first!
Want you around for years to come. Hope you had your annual check up with the
docs.? As for Flying John would Expect NO LESS FROM ALL OF US.

Give our LOVE to Rhonda and Hannah we miss you all. Love Ya Bud Take Care I hope to see you soon. MJ:)

ps/We spent the nite visiting Pete/Floria at the River side Campground all is very good for them and theirs. They all said to say Hello, and no more moving lol.

[Friendly]

I met John at Gonzales this year. It seems we started the flying season with him and ended the flying season with him. He certainly was an asset to the Rotorcraft community as a pilot and as a person of charactor.
I have some reseveration about flying at my age (53) and Johns performace inspired me. I just show his picture to my mother last week. She was in the hospital and I was sitting with her so I brought some PRA stuff to reread.
She smile and said that was "Amazing". That is the way I remember John. God bless his family with peace and comfort.

[ventana7]

Dee and I are so saddened to hear of John's passing. He was an incredible inspiration to everyone who crossed his path and he will be missed. Our prayers go out to his family.

Rob & Dee Dubin

[gyroblackwell]

I met John Palmer 2 years ago when he was just starting to get the gyro bug. I lived 5 miles from him, and he joined the Hidden Lakes EAA club with me. I had the chance to enjoy Johns company, meet his Wonderful Wife, and listen to John play Keyboards and sing!!

John was doing what he loved to do most. Fly that Gyro !! I will miss john, But I will Honor his wishes .... he once told me while We were putting together his Gyro trailer ..... " You gotta live for the here and now "

To John: Thank you John for being my Friend, fellow gyro flyer, Welding teacher, and floridian !
When I take the Gyro-deer up for it's first flight .... I will dedicate that flight to John !


Tim Blackwell
10-09-2005

May he fly with the Angels !

[automan1223]

I was witness to the heroic attempts to save Mr Palmers life. The members that were first responders kept their heads and if my memory is correct took turns performing cpr. Even though I do no know Mr Palmer personally, he was a member of our gyro family. And I feel a deep sense of loss.

He showed us all that its never, ever too late to try something new and enjoy living, life and freedom that comes from the spirit of flight.

I was debating on going to ROC, due to the weather report, rain etc. My uncle told me something that rang in my ears during this tragedy. My uncle told me "that this is not a "dress" rehersal"......"when you are on your death bed, the last thing you are going to say to yourself is, darn I wish I worked more....."

I am glad I joined my old friends and made new ones. I am dissappointed that there was not more time to share. This morning when I was tying down my stuff. It was a bit of joy to see Chris Wilson, Scott Essex, and Kevin .......From savannah...... flying and burning it up one last time....

Jonathan Weis
Oriental, NC

[Jazzenjohn]

< My uncle told me "that this is not a "dress" rehersal"......"when you are on your death bed, the last thing you are going to say to yourself is, darn I wish I worked more....." >

I like that! Your uncle was a very smart and observant man.

[RayPierce]

George Lambert Of McCaysville, Georgia and John Palmer enjoying ROC.

[stuart]

I met Mr Palmer at the Gonzales flyin last year; the fact that he had started a project like learning to fly a gyro at 80 with no previous experience in any aircraft was an inspiration to me.

[automan1223]

I was also very confused about why his friend did not go to the hospital with him. The ambulances were barely off airport property and I noticed Johns Dominator tandem heading for the runway. The machine was in the air all day till late afternoon. Seemed quite disrespectful to me. :(

A momment of silence and prayer was said for John tonight at dinner. He will most certainly be missed.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, ron I met the folks that drove up with Mr Palmer as his guests at the quality inn where I was staying they were canceling reservations and packing up. and I realized that his yellow 2 pl was flying too. They were in shock but if your in shock I dont know what you are doing flying. I would not mind an explaination either. And I am not trying to be disrespectful either.

Jonathan

[MikeBoyette]

I spoke to my Dad yesterday, He said Gary was following John's wishes. Dad said that John had expressed to him if anything were ever to happen to him that Gary should keep flying. John was that way very unselfish, I will miss him. I would like an explaination about taking a child on someone elses lap. That is not cool, too bad Mr. Presnell was not around to witness that. If Charlie were there I am sure after he got through picking the teeth out of his butt, gary would agree that it probably was not the brightest idea.

[Caribean_gyro]

There should be a place where we post all timers and person that contibute in our sport, With knowlege and human been. I have ben involve in gyro since 1982 and I have know every person via the magazine and some airshows. But the newbies need to know and also pay respect to the old folks that have contribut in a way to get the gyro where it is.

I beleived this forum is here to stay. lets do it here. Plus lets nonimate also living persons and what they have done in our life to make a change. Is good to pay ribute when we are alive.

please let me know.

Chuck Peterson

[Jazzenjohn]

I talked with John for quite a while at Mentone, and I know he would have wanted everyone to keep flying and not feel bad for him. I'm sad he's gone, but I can't imagine a better way to go, or a finer example of living life to the fullest than he gave us.

[Rotornut]

Ray thanks for posting this pic of John. I was not informed of the date and time for his funeral so I missed it TODAY and am VERY SAD. As a Member of Sunstate I feel as if I was left out of the information LOOP.

To those that attended from Sunstate I sure Wish they Would of thought of all members of Sunstate who would want to pay their respect and be there to Honor him as he so much deserved.

I have very fond memories and will always hold them close to my heart of John and his family. But it hurts to not have had the option to attend.

To My Friend John, I will always see you FLYING and Smiling and I will miss Our Talks and trading books to read. Wear those Wings with Pride John cause you so deserve them. LOVE MJ :)

[automan1223]

I was organizing my photos I took at roc and came across some photos of Johns machine. I cannot tell if he is in either seat. The photo date was on the 8th saturday. and the time date stamp says 11 am and change. Judging from the cloud cover I say its a lot earlier than the time stamp as it was sunny out by then. (I dont always keep the time stamp accurate, but the date I do) I seem to remember taking these photos from a distance before I flew and that was aprox 8-10 am. If someone wants the uncompressed photos send me an email.The camera was in zoom mode so the quality is not the best.

Jonathan

[Jazzenjohn]

That might be John in the back seat. You can send the uncompressed files of the first and second pic to me at John@ash.st Thanks

[Hognose]

Rest in peace, John.

Heart attack is not that bad a way to go. There may or may not be a jolt of pain but loss of consciousness is mercifully quick.

cheers

-=K=-

[Harry_S.]

Bless you Kevin.


Cheers :)

[Jazzenjohn]

Knowing that we all must die someday, and although I will miss him and wished I'd had more time with him, I can't think of a better passing than John had. Amongst friends, doing what he loved, without indignity.

I didn't know him as well as some others here on the forum. I talked with him at Bensen days and for a few hours in the shade between his and Ernies trailers at Mentone (He built his trailer himself !!, he copied Ernies trailer because he thought it was the best).
We talked about learning to fly gyros and his becoming a BFI so he could fly a 2 place. He made room in the schedule for me to get a few hours training with Gary.
I couldn't help thinking he's done more since he turned 80 than I've done in the last ten years.

His was a life well lived.