At the graveside service Carmen (Dub’s daughter) opened with the fact that when you flew with Dub, he would fuss with knobs and such to adjust the plane fuel just right to get what was called “Full Rich”.
“Dub lived a ‘Full Rich’ life.” – Carmen
My dear friend “Dub” passed away about a week and a half ago. It was unexpected, he had a stroke that became complicated by a subsequent heart attack. Dub had just had his 79th birthday a month ago.
I adored Dub. I met him when I was 15 years old. He was from Georgia and a Korean War Veteran. When I met him he was a business man, owning a small chain of Auto Part stores. He had two daughters the same age as my sister and I. How I met Dub was a funny story in itself, and if you knew Dub, “funny” was always a part of your Dub experience.
There was a popular drinking hole next to one of his stores. When it got crowded there, patrons would park next door in his auto part store parking lot. This was a particular peeve of his. (Later I would tease him that it wasn’t that they took parking spots for his busy store, but that they got to start their partying while he was still working!) One evening my mother left said “drinking hole” to drive home, and her car was gone. She came back in, rather perplexed and confused. The bartender, without hesitation, yelled down the bar “Dub! Did you have Chris’ car towed?” Without looking up from his drink, Dub said, “A maroon mercedes? Sure did!” And that is how Dub came into my family. He was by nature one of the kindest, most gentle of souls. He apologized to my mother, drove her home and had her car delivered to her home the following morning. They became fast friends from that moment on. He used to say it was his pick up line, but admitted he wasn’t always so lucky as he was in meeting my mother!
Me & Carmen
His daughter, Carmen, as a result, became a lifelong friend of mine. My mother taught her how to snow ski which led her to a life in Steamboat Springs, CO and the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics to watch her friends compete. She visited me in Upstate NY during that time, came to my grandparent’s farm in NE Pennsylvania and then visited me regularly while I lived outside of Washington DC. In 2001, Carmen came to live with me there while she began her adventure of living and working in DC, which she did for 5 years before returning here to Sacramento. We shared in the care of my mother and we shared in the disaster of 9/11.
After Dub retired and sold off his piece of the stores. He learned to fly, and got his private pilot’s license at the age of 63. My mother had pulled Dub into the world of SR-71/U2 pilots from Beale AFB, as that was our world. Bob Powell, an SR and U2 pilot taught Dub to fly and to overcome his fear of flying, which was profound.
George (Montana's BF) and Dub in his hanger in 2007
Eventually, Dub owned outright or some part in over six small airplanes, built his own hanger, and spent almost every day there. If I wanted to see Dub when I was visiting, it was understood it would be at the hanger and/or in the air flying over beautiful Northern California. It was a rare treat to have Dub come to you for a visit, unless you were at a small airport diner.
Lake Oroville
Dub had more stories and jokes and fun than most people. You couldn’t have a conversation with him without feeling better, being uplifted and complete with full belly laughs. It wasn’t an act, it was who he was, day in and day out. I am not alone in how I felt about him.
When I was visiting once he asked me what my itinerary was for the week. When I told him I was going to Chico to visit some elderly friends (my childhood friend’s parents) he said, “Oh let me fly you up there.” I was taken aback a bit, he couldn’t be serious. Yes he was. I called to make sure this elderly couple could actually drive to pick me up at the Chico Municipal Airport first and they could. So off we went and I had instructions to call Dub 30 minutes before I was ready to leave, that’s all he needed. When we landed, the Corbin’s were sitting outside at a picnic table waiting for us. Dub came over to meet them and said, “Well I fed her breakfast but you’ll have to take care of lunch. She doesn’t eat much.” So typical of him to start his conversation with a giggle.
Montana's turn to fly
He took my children flying, he took guests of mine over the years, who were visiting California, flying. He was an instructor and would often have them take the plane off. His humor was always a joy for me as he would pretend he was confused about what he was doing on the runway through his checklist, “Let’s see what does this do? What else do I need to check here?”
When Dave got sick and was in the hospital in Marysville, Dub was over there visiting him almost everyday. Dub was so distressed and so so worried about me and Dave. He called me, he hugged me, he voiced his concerns. Later, as we moved to California and onto Dave’s treatment, Dub continually told me how impressed he was with how I handled everything, how strong I was, how proud he was of me. Dub wasn’t an outwardly serious man, so when he offered these deeply, honest, emotional compliments and support to me, I knew he meant them, I knew they were heartfelt. It was deeply touching.
Dub knew no strangers as they say. He had a good memory and a quick wit. He pretty much knew everyone from the powerful to the downtrodden and treated them all with admiration and respect.
View of the Buttes flying in the valley
Sutter Buttes
One of the unique things about flying in the valley was our little known claim to fame, The Buttes (check out the link). The Sutter Buttes are considered the smallest mountain chain in the world. It used to have missile silos there during the cold war. The silos are still there, but no longer active. Both the Buttes and its airspace where restricted, when I was growing up, but are no longer. One little road that goes through the center. We always flew over and around the Buttes. Dub said one of the nicer things about flying in the Valley was that when he left the Valley and came back over the mountains he always knew exactly where he was when the Buttes would come into view.
On Friday, in a private, family, graveside service, Dub was buried at the foot of the Buttes with a beautiful view of them. He was laid to rest in a handmade, pine box built by a cabinet maker friend of his who approached the family to allow him to craft it. Dub was a simple man who did not like funerals and memorials. He did not want any of it, but agreed to at least a casket. As a Korean War Veteran he had an a honor guard and a folding of the American Flag that was presented to his grandson, Christopher. The musician there to play taps also treated us to some beautiful bagpipes. Carmen ended the service with singing in the sweetest voice a song sending her father to The Lord. It was lovely and it was perfect.
Kit Plane Under Construction 2007
The day before his stroke, Dub, who had started building a “kit” plane when he was 75 with the help of some friends, finally got it finished and up for its first test flight. It was actually captured on video tape. This photo shows it under construction way back in ’07.
On Saturday, a memorial will be held at the hanger with all his eclectic friends gathering to tell stories and find some emotional comfort in sharing of this unexpected loss of our friend. I’m helping out with some of the organizing of it and its going to be a great party. No matter what we do, he would be annoyed we were going to all this trouble, and we are doing our best to do it in a way he would be able to “put up with!” Keeping it simple, yet fun. It will be a blue jeans party where he would probably say, “well you can brush your teeth if you want, maybe comb your hair, you know… but don’t do anymore than that!”
Dub & Carmen
Dub surely did live a “Full Rich” life. You know how you meet people in life that really are an example of good livin’? Dub was one of those people, who would just make it all seem so simple, so easy, just not that hard. I was privileged to meet two of his sisters this week (he was one of seven) … Carmen calls them the “southern belles”. I had more fun imagining the three of them all together just razzin’ each other and picking on each other to no end. It was confirmed that that is indeed what would occur pretty much non stop when they were all together.
Damn! I’m really, really going to miss Dub! Dub would probably say to me, “Yeah, I know. But you know Lori… we had some great times together, didn’t we?” Yes Dub, yes we did.
Thank you for sharing that Lori. Dub sounded like a real character, a real friend to all.
Your and Dave’s life was richer for knowing him.
Sid
Dub sounds like a real character – it’s good you had him in your life! 😀