Rusty's Final Flight

Thank You Mike ,,, Rusty rest in Peace my Friend may you fly hi and land gracefully . You will bee missed !!

My ole bud.

Thank you Mike, Ron , Kim for keeping us informed and displaying wonderful memories. Rusty was a true family man with a wonderful father son relationship. My son worked with Rusty when he attended one of his earlier contests. Rusty was very appreciative of that and would offer a phone call sporadically to see how we were doing. Rusty, you touched the hearts of many up here in the north. Rest in peace my friend.

I have never met Rusty, or even spoken to him on the phone.  Just the odd message back and forth.  Today I am as sad as if a friend across the road had passed away.  Rusty was a man of peace, a man of character, a man of integrity.  You could tell those things just by the way that he wrote.
When I joined this forum my first memory of him was a video of him flying his Little Satan with an RR-1 in the church yard across the road from his home.  From there I saw him quickly grow in his passion for flying the stunt pattern.  Considering his health challenges he has done a remarkable job of adding to our hobby and helping to influence those (like me) who were never quite as committed as he was.

Our hobby has lost a great man; small in stature but huge in heart.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Mike.  If you speak to Holly please pass on this Aussie misfit's sincere condolences and assure her that Rusty has truely touched hearts around the world.

Oldenginerod.

my deepest condolences. I'm very sorry, I hope you rest in peace.
Someone close to the family, please let him know that from this side of the world a person remembers him with great affection and respect. I could see a great man there as well as an excellent passionate about model airplanes.
Thanks Rusty ...

I am sorry to hear this. He will be missed.

Phil

Ode to Rusty RIP,



Found a real good vid flight of Rusty doing what he loved.

I have never met him but we spoke once in 2018 briefly on the phone when during one of my overseas trips I landed in Charlotte and was contemplating to visit him. But our plans did not work out due to my tight schedule. Too bad..our global paths crossed even if at different times as he and I both worked in the Middle East and I felt we shared some vision and sympathy for that world.

Once he posted that he was very particular about expressing himself with best literary precision, and while it was not that easily recognized by a non native speaker like me, his high standards of thoughts always transpired to me even accross language barriers.

I join the non- US members in asking you CEF friends to convey my sorrow and heart felt condolences from Hungary to his family.

Darn it! Rusty and I had chats with each other here, and on video at the Stunthangar nights on the internet. Always interesting conversation with him about any subject. He will be missed by many!
My condolences to his family.

Light winds; Tight lines!

londke3 wrote:Sadly Rusty's wife Holley informed me that Rusty passed away this evening and her exact words were "Rusty has taken his final flight". We all loved this guy so I leave you with this. Rest in peace my friend. Only we who have experienced flight truly understand why the birds sing.

Thanks, londke3 for informing us of Rusty's passing. In the Salvation Army, we would say that "he has been promoted to glory". I knew from his hints of various difficult health issues he was facing, that he had not much longer to be with us, and thanks for the beautiful poem.

If he knew the Lord personally, then those of us who know the Lord too will one day see him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (WEB) wrote:For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,  then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Tesalonicenses 4:16-17 (NBLA) wrote:Pues el Señor mismo descenderá del cielo con voz de mando, con voz de arcángel y con la trompeta de Dios, y los muertos en Cristo se levantarán primero. Entonces nosotros, los que estemos vivos y que permanezcamos, seremos arrebatados juntamente con ellos en las nubes al encuentro del Señor en el aire, y así estaremos con el Señor siempre.

May be I am saying this prematurely as I am sure it is already on the hearts of those close to Rusty. It may be helpful when his obit is out that someone could post a link to it. Then those who wish to attend, or send flowers, words of condolences to the family or other helps may be able to do so.

Rest in peace, Rusty.

Thank you Mike

Rusty was the first very close personal friend that I never got to meet F2F.

Ever since my MC accident, Quit 50 year smoking habit, 2 strokes, and my Alcohol rehab..Rusty had a knack to sense I needed a shoulder, motivation, swift kick in the pants...he , like me was an insomniac and would call me sometimes late in the evening or very early morning. In fact since I got sober last month I have been expecting a call from my dear friend...

With every challenge Rusty had these last few years and his uncanny ability to stay positive and work hard to recover, I think I fooled myself into thinking there was no rush to make the trip to Columbus and visit him. I am so ashamed of my complacency in this.

Yesterday and now the news today I have been very sad and contemplative and praying more then normal.
Rusty was a believer in prayer.
I am confident the LORD meet him at the gate with a big JOB WELL DONE RUSTY.

RIP my dear friend. My prayers now are for your grieving family

I admired Rusty for his willingness to share his knowledge and his adventures on this forum. He always posted positive comments and words of encouragement to all. He will be missed. Rusty left us with great memories as we are able to always view his posts and videos.
He's in a pain free place now. May Peace be with Rusty, his family and all of us on this Forum.

I guess I am one of the lucky ones who was able to hang out with Rusty several times. I will miss him, not just because he was fun to fly with, but mostly due to the fact that he was a genuinely great person. The world needs more like him. I would settle to just have Rusty back though. Gone too soon. Love ya Rusty!

Ron

Oh, I’m sad to read this! I never met him in person but he was sure easy to like online. Prayers for his family.

I’m now in possession of the World’s Smallest Traveling Engine and was just looking through the notebook journal that goes with it today. Rusty left his mark there as well.

Rusty mentioned Wayne many many times. In the picture the fellow wearing the yellow Triple Tree t-shirt is Wayne.

Post  dckrsn on Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:02 pm
I want this picture on my shirt!
Bob
Pre-order your Cox Engine Forum T-Shirt!

This is one of the saddest days I've had in many years when I saw the announcement about Rusty.
I called him periodically over the years especially when I saw his keys quiet for awhile.
About three weeks ago on my last call I could tell that the pain and meds were beating him up badly and he said that his hands were so deformed he could not type anymore.
I visited for most of a day with him several years ago and we horse traded items I brought for what he didn't need anymore.
It only took a few minutes to realize Rusty was a truly intelligent guy on many subjects and many levels but was so humble, friendly, and helpful the he would the best friend to anyone who met him.
His family lived near the Ft. Jackson US Army Base for many years and immediately I thought of the last words of Gen. Stonewall Jackson said after being mortally wounded by friendly fire at Chancellorsville:
" Let's go over the river and drink some cold water in the shade of those trees"
I'll end with Rusty's favorite tagline " See you in the funny papers Friend " ........
Steve.....

I've been pretty much without words since this news broke. I was actually taken by surprise. Rusty is one of the toughest guys I've gotten to know, he always seemed to recover from whatever was bothering him... how often do you hear of people who've been on dialysis for more than 15 years, let alone 30? It wasn't that long ago since he was talking about getting back out in the field after work on his hip.

Rusty joined this forum over 9 years ago. He applied to be a moderator not too long after. He was one of the most active members here. Getting to know him myself (unfortunately never getting to meet him in person), I can't think of anyone who didn't get to like and respect him. He was very passionate and knowledgeable, and he was always willing to share it. You don't have to go far to see he made many friends on these forums.

It's hard to believe that we won't be hearing from him anymore. Rest in peace Rusty.

My condolences go out to Rusty’s family.

I never met Rusty but we did trade PMs a few times.  I sent him a couple of engines and parts over the years. I know the last care package I sent lifted his spirits as it was after his hip surgery.  

I’m glad he was able to receive both traveling engines. I believe there is an entry from him on the TE1 engine as well. Those pictures of him with the TE2 are what it’s all about. Bringing forum friends, and family together to have fun and to make memories.

Light winds and tight lines my friend.

I never met the man, but I could see from his posts and videos that he was good people. I send condolences to his family from northern Wisconsin.

londke3 wrote:
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
"Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God."

Mike, I really appreciate your use of this poem, "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr, WWII Fighter pilot. Written following his test flights in a Spitfire.
Memorising this peom was the only thing that got my mother through the trauma of losing her eldest son (my big brother) to a flying accident. It portrays very well the feeling we get when we "slip the surly bonds of earth". A truely spiritual feeling.

Like many of you.. I too find it hard to believe that Rusty is gone. He was just such a strong person and positive presence here. Rest in peace Rusty. I will miss you.