R.I.P. Torch (Don)
04-21-2013, 11:46 PM
#342
Race Director
Good lesson for all of us in the 50/ 60 age zone. Hopefully I will be as missed or thought of as well as TORCH. Seemed to be a real good guy with a passion for life.
Only the good die young, and 60 is the new 40...
God bless his family and loved ones....
Only the good die young, and 60 is the new 40...
God bless his family and loved ones....
04-22-2013, 03:50 AM
#343
Le Mans Master
Sorry to hear about your lost. He was a great contributor to the forum. He will be greatly missed
04-22-2013, 05:02 AM
#344
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08-'10
I am truely sorry to hear about Don and your loss. Don was a great guy and his loss leaves a hole in this forum as well as our hearts.
04-22-2013, 07:40 AM
#345
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Very sorry for your loss. My wife and I met Don when we were stationed at Eielson. We met at Sam's Club when the Budweiser Clydesdales were in town (1999?). We had our Vettes parked next to the beer wagon for photos. I can't believe he is gone.
My wife and I met Don when we were stationed at Eielson. We met at Sam's Club when the Budweiser Clydesdales were in town (1999?). We had our Vettes parked next to the beer wagon for photos. I can't believe he is gone.
04-22-2013, 07:43 AM
#346
Team Owner
So sorry for your loss. He was a great guy. Always enjoyed all his picture threads from flying to fishing to other wildlife and parts of Alaska.
04-22-2013, 09:46 AM
#351
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St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'10-'11-'12
Donald Dale West, 60, died peacefully in his sleep March 2, 2013, in Fairbanks.
He was born June 23, 1952, in Wichita, Kan., and lived in Alaska for 31 years.
Donald served his country in the United States Air Force as a technician and later as a command and control superintendant. He retired after 20 years of service.
After completing an outstanding career with the Air Force, Donald joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller. Fairbanks, Nome and Kotzebue were among the places he worked in the FAA. He retired from the FAA in September 2012, after 20 years of service.
He then became a flight instructor with ProFlite Alaska. He very much enjoyed teaching the art of flight to his student pilots. He also enjoyed working part time at the Fort Wainwright Commissary.
Donald married his best friend, Debra, in 1973 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. They were married for 39 years. Throughout the years, Donald and Debra were devoted to and cherished one another. They were as "one." Donald loved and was deeply proud of his two children, Allison and Guy.
Donald's passion in life was to fly his Super Cub, the "Torch." His flights to Dune Lake for trout fishing and his trips to moose camp with his buddy, Pat, were events in Don's life that gave him great pleasure, meaning and purpose.
Donald was a good, kind and gentle man. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Donald is survived by his wife, Debra West, of Fairbanks; daughter, Allison Vlaun, of Seattle; and son, Guy West, of Fairbanks.
He was preceded in death by his father, Neal West.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Rev. Frederick Bayler will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Special Olympics of Alaska, in memory of Donald West.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
He was born June 23, 1952, in Wichita, Kan., and lived in Alaska for 31 years.
Donald served his country in the United States Air Force as a technician and later as a command and control superintendant. He retired after 20 years of service.
After completing an outstanding career with the Air Force, Donald joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller. Fairbanks, Nome and Kotzebue were among the places he worked in the FAA. He retired from the FAA in September 2012, after 20 years of service.
He then became a flight instructor with ProFlite Alaska. He very much enjoyed teaching the art of flight to his student pilots. He also enjoyed working part time at the Fort Wainwright Commissary.
Donald married his best friend, Debra, in 1973 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. They were married for 39 years. Throughout the years, Donald and Debra were devoted to and cherished one another. They were as "one." Donald loved and was deeply proud of his two children, Allison and Guy.
Donald's passion in life was to fly his Super Cub, the "Torch." His flights to Dune Lake for trout fishing and his trips to moose camp with his buddy, Pat, were events in Don's life that gave him great pleasure, meaning and purpose.
Donald was a good, kind and gentle man. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Donald is survived by his wife, Debra West, of Fairbanks; daughter, Allison Vlaun, of Seattle; and son, Guy West, of Fairbanks.
He was preceded in death by his father, Neal West.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Rev. Frederick Bayler will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Special Olympics of Alaska, in memory of Donald West.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
Climb and maintain peaceful altitude, Don.
04-22-2013, 09:58 AM
#353
Team Owner
Oh wow! I always enjoyed the stories and pictures he shared here. I never got to meet him but could tell he was a great guy who made the world a better place by being a part of it. Sorry for everyone's loss. 
04-22-2013, 10:31 AM
#358
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St. Jude Donor '05
Best thoughts for Mrs Torch and family
Sure will miss him.
Sure will miss him.
04-22-2013, 10:43 AM
#359
Team Owner
I am so very sorry to hear of this.
I had the pleasure to get to know Don, to ride with him in TORCH over the backcountry of his beloved state of Alaska, and to meet his family. Don was an old-school man that many looked up to, and I have utmost respect for him.
RIP my friend. It was an honor to know you, sir.
I had the pleasure to get to know Don, to ride with him in TORCH over the backcountry of his beloved state of Alaska, and to meet his family. Don was an old-school man that many looked up to, and I have utmost respect for him.
RIP my friend. It was an honor to know you, sir.
He will be missed
04-22-2013, 10:45 AM
#360
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A long time ago, there was a post about who you would most like to meet on OT: My answer was Torch. We joined CF the same month in 1999. I read his posts and enjoyed his pictures for many years.
It is a real shock to learn of his passing.
It is a real shock to learn of his passing.