He was one of Nature's Gentleman.

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.

http://www.majorpanic.com/images/woodwork/BB/dad.gif

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

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

Sincerely,
Rusty.

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)

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

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

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

Major,

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

Dan

Deepest sympathy Major.

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.

Condolences Major

What the others have already said.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Al

From us as well Mark,

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

Cheers.

P

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.

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

There's little that can be said to ease your pain.

Time will heal and the memories will remain. I feel for you and your family.

Major.. sorry to read about your loss. dont think that there is too much more I can add that others have said.

I was not as lucky as you to be as close to my father. He has been gone 6 years now and in a strange way I miss our arguments.

My condolences Major. Unfortunately I went through the same thing 20 years ago.

Ken

We live our lives with the knowledge that some day, we will have to bid goodbye to our parents. This is the way of the world. My father had a major stroke and spent the last 10 years of his life as a vegetable which was very difficult to accept. If you had quality time with him in his later years, you have been fortunate. To see your father go is hard but much better than a parent having to say farewell to a child. That is something we all wish won't happen to us.

Be thankful for the guidance and that you had a good relationship with him. Many don't.

As the Furey's wrote:

I never will forget him,
for he made me what I am,
Though he may be gone,
memories linger on,
I'll miss him, my old man.

Please accept my sincere condolances Major.

My Grandfather was one of the same gentlemen. Ungortunately I never got the chance to know him as he died when I was only eight. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing of your Dad.
I dread the day it happens to my Dad!
I Went to a funeral this week for a mate's Dad & it sure does bring a tear to the eye to stand there & feel such a loss.
Remember the good times & feel lucky to have had the time with him you did.
May his memory never fade.
Regards Rich.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Major.

Mick

Condolences to you and your family MP. You know that your forum family are with you at this time.

Regards from Adelaide
Trevor

Damn. :(

Major,

I am sorry to hear your news but I am heartened to hear of the wonderful relationship and respect you and your father shared.

Deepest sympathies for your loss, Major.

Rocker

:(

I am sorry major, it is not easy but please be strong.

Sorry to hear the bad news, Major.

To all,

My sisters & I would like to thank all who have responded to the post with their kind words.

And a special thanks to Gumby for this;

I never will forget him,
for he made me what I am,
Though he may be gone,
memories linger on,
I'll miss him, my old man.

These words have touched the family profoundly.

Sorry to hear of your loss Major

My deepest sympathies Mark. You are blessed in that you have had him with you for so long, there are many of us who had to give them up so much sooner. In some past posts I have sung praises about my Dad as you have just done. Always wish there was just one more time that I could've told him how great he is/was and how much I loved him.

Take strength in this sad time, as those fond and lovely memories will always be with you, more so, they will get stronger and more cherished as time goes on.
Best wishess to you and the family.
Take care

Deepest sympathies to you and your family.

You will cherish the memory of your dad for all time.


Tim

Deepest sympathies.

I still have mine but lost my MOther in 97, it was a cruel slow process with cancer creeping up and catching her unawares, we still miss her.
I have an old friend (85) who has been through numerous military encounters in the RAN (Commander) and when he heres of anyone dying of a heart attack his comment is now 'lucky bastard, I hope that's what I get'.
I undersatand his point.

Alas it happens to us all one day, Major and family we all feel for you.
May your father rest in peace.

Major, you should make a memorial heirloom peice in honor of you father, it will help the family to remember a good bloke who was a their father for many years to come.

my deepest sympathies major,i lost my dad 13 years ago you always miss them but cherish the memories that you had

greg

I'm sure you made him proud to be his children, and from the sound of it he made his life worthwhile, toast him regularly :)