Click on the link below to read the obituary of a truly amazing man.

My dad's friend Bill passed away last week. I've known this man all my life. He was another one of those home-town fixtures with great stories and a warm, caring smile.

When I was a kid, Bill was just another guy I could find hanging out with all the other "old guys" at the hardware store. He just seemed to be around. He married a Sorenson (June), my dad's friend Ralph was a Sorenson, her mom was a Jenkins, but a Yost by marriage. These names are all over my hometown history. Crows, Crumps, Sorensons, Ballingers, Swansons (my crew), Yosts, Jenkinses, we were all there since the beginning.

My dad told me that Bill once planted a kiss on his girlfriend June; "if that car wouldn't have been a convertible, that kiss would have melted the top off!" I had a wonderful conversation with my dad about Bill tonight, and I could hear such admiration and awe in his voice.

Bill flew in the Army Air Force. He flew P-47s and P-51s in WWII, then flew many other planes in civilian life. He kept several planes throughout his life and flew over town on the Fourth of July each year. My brother flew with Bill a time or two, and has never forgotten the agility of the plane and Bill's steady hands on the controls. In later years, Bill was the only pilot allowed to fly one man's vintage P-51 in airshows.

Bill was a cool guy. Much cooler than my dad. Most of his old fart friends seemed damn cool.

I'll miss you, Bill.