[AMRadio] Fwd: Elmer

[Geoff]

On 2/4/2012 9:50 AM, John Tate wrote:
> What? I thought he died of old age? Am I missing
>   something here? Did Ashtabula Bill electrocute himself? This is an unreasonable
>   statement if he did not.
>

No, Bill did not electrocute himself.

In fact, the emails I got from Dave/W6PSS came from Bill's widow, and 
they went like this:

> Dear AM Lover & friend of  Ashtabula Bill!
> This email just in from XYL of Astabula Bill (*W8VYZ) *regarding his 
> declining health.  He'll surely receive the best care available at the 
> VA hospital.  Please give this email wide distribution to those not 
> included above and join me in praying for a full recovery our dear 
> best friend Bill (W8VYZ).  Bill has touched us all in many ways and 
> deserves much credit for keeping AM alive these many many years. 73 & 
> God bless him,  david
> From: sylviad
> To: W6PSS
> Sent: 9/24/2011 10:03:20 A.M. Central Daylight Time
> Subj: sad news
> Dear Dave, it's my sad job to tell you that Ashtabula Bill is not 
> doing well. He entered Hospice care at Erie VA hospital yesterday. I 
> took him in Tues and there was nothing they could do for him . I 
> wanted to bring him home to care for him but they transferred him to 
> the Hospice Unit there til that can be worked out. Will see the Dr Mon 
> and see where we go from here but not sure if we will have the time to 
> move him home. They are taking good care of him  there. Thought you 
> could get the word out to the Ham community and ask for prayers and 
> good thoughts for him. He is comfortable the problem is his lungs just 
> not getting enough O2 Luv Sylvia

> Dear Friends of Ashtabula Bill,
> Very sorry to forward below just in from Sylvia Dolvin regarding her 
> beloved Bill *(W8VYZ)*.  How much we'll all miss our old friend who 
> has done so much to promote *AM Radio. *We pray God will send the 
> Comforter to Sylvia and the family.  Perhaps we can all honor 
> *"Ashtabula Bill" *with cards, flowers and prayers for the family.  
> Will forward any funeral details when received.  Please give wide 
> distribution to this news - thanks!
> V/r,  w6pss
>
> ForwardedMessage.eml
>
> Subject:
> Silent Key W8VYZ
> From:
> Sylvia Dolvin
> Date:
> 9/27/2011 11:13 AM
>
> To:
> "W6PSS
>
>
> Ashtabula Bill passed away at 6:25AM this morning. He had a peaceful 
> going and me and other family members were with him. We were there 
> since yesterday morning. The good people at the VA covered him with 
> their special "Quilt of Glory" and had a nice service for him. How 
> kind and caring they are there and do honor to all our veterans. He is 
> at peace now. Luv Sylvia
>

> Obituary for
>
>
>       William C. Dolvin
>       <http://starbeacon.com/legacy/x597287075/William-C-Dolvin>  
>       "Ashtabula Bill"  W8VYZ
>
> Star Beacon <http://starbeacon.com/> The Star Beacon 
> <http://starbeacon.com/> Thu Sep 29, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT
>
> SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP --- William Charles Dolvin, age 86, of Sheffield 
> Township, died Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the V.A. Medical Center in Erie Pa.
>
> He was born April 18, 1925, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Charles 
> and Gladys (Miller) Dolvin. William was a Veteran of the United States 
> Army Air Corp, serving in WWII as a co-pilot in B-24 Liberator Plane. 
> On Feb. 4, 1956, he married the former Sylvia Hain in Hamilton, Ontario.
>
> Mr. Dolvin was employed at True Temper and was a 50 year member of 
> I.B.E.W. electricians union.
>
> He enjoyed fishing, hunting and was a member of the NRA. He was known 
> all over the world as a HAM radio operator, call letters W8VYZ.
>
> Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Sylvia Dolvin of Sheffield 
> Township; daughters, Laura Sargent of Monroe Township and Marion 
> (Frank) Houghton of Perry; son, Daniel (Amy) Dolvin of Ashtabula; 
> grandchildren, James (Sara) Sargent, Mike (Katilin) Guzzo, Justin 
> Dolvin, Maura Snyder and grandson-in-law, Steve Snyder; 
> great-grandchildren, Katie and Ryan Sargent, Tristin and Kyra Snyder 
> and Adelaide Kercher; brothers, James Dolvin of Odessa, Fla., John 
> (Hessina) Dolvin of Hubbard, Ohio and Kurt Dolvin of Australia.
>
> He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Glenn Dolvin.
>
> *Funeral Services* will be held 11 a.m., *Saturday*, Oct. 1st, at 
> *Gageville United Methodist Church, *with Pastor David Blood 
> officiating. *Military Honors* will be conducted by American Legion 
> Honor Guard Team Post 103.
>
> Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of Service, Saturday, at 
> the Church.
>
> GUERRIERO FUNERAL HOME, 6280 S. Main St., North Kingsville is handling 
> funeral arrangements.
>
> Obituary and condolences at starbeacon.com.
>
> AM Forever !!
>

> Dear friends of W8VYZ,
> This will probably be final on Bill.  As you see below, Bill's 
> surviving family members appreciate tributes and 
> comments you've posted on Internet. It's comforting to read they'll be 
> celebrating Bill's life on Saturday.
> *"AM FOREVER" & *73
> Subject: 	W8VYZ obit
> Date: 	9/29/2011 11:52:46 AM Central Daylight Time
> From: 	sylviad <mailto:sylviad at windstream.net>
> Reply To: 	
> To: 	W6PSS <mailto:W6PSS at aol.com>
>
> Dave, Bill's obit was in the paper today the newspaper  is The 
> Ashtabula Star Beacon to find it, so you can let it be known. I am 
> glad his suffering is over and he is at peace, he was ready to go. We 
> will have a great celebration of his life Saturday.Having been reading 
> the tributes and comments on line and we are all appreciating them 
> What a great guy he was! Luv Sylvia 

> This has got to be a first!  Below just in from W8VYZ's XYL Sylvia.
>
>     From: sylviad
>     To: W6PSS
>     Sent: 10/1/2011 10:01:01 P.M. Central Daylight Time
>     Subj: W8VYZ into the Wild Blue Yonder
>     It's late and the end of a long day, but have to take the time to
>     tell you that Bill's last send off was great! His ashes rest
>     inside 2 833's mounted on a transmitter tuning unit. He would love
>     it! He had full military honors and his grandson showed a video of
>     the  song with old Army Air Corps words of Wild Blue Yonder with
>     pics of thundering planes bombs etc etc. A nice turnout with lots
>     of remembering quite a few hams and lots of family. I think we did
>     him proud. Have pics for you to see when have more time to send
>     them Rapidly running out of steam so heading for bed Luv Sylvia 
>
> - - - - -
> We await these photo's with great expectations.  The two jugs were a 
> stroke of genius!  Thanks Sylvia!