[KYHAM] John Bell, K4RBH, Silent Key-Arrangements-etc

[Jeanie Dalton]

I just got off the phone with John's wife, Sue.  Other than the fact that=

she has not slept for 48 hours she is holding her own.  She is trying to
let as many people =

as possible who are in John's address book know of his demise.   She is
surrounded by John's daughters and other family members.  =


I told her about the web page/guest book that Pat Spencer, KD4PWL
established in John's honor.   Thank you so much Pat for doing that for S=
ue
and the family.  I sent her the url and she is probably looking at it now=
. =

She has not been on her computer for a couple days.

Anyone who wishes to email Sue, please do so at :      =

skb859@insightbb.com
I am sure she would appreciate any words you would want to send.  I have
forwarded to her some of the BARS/Kyham comments to her.   =


On Monday, at the BARS regular monthly meeting, the membership present an=
d
the Ernie Farmer Award Committee ( again those present) voted unanimously=
 =

to award to John Bell, K4RBH a special Ernie Farmer Award even though the=

deadline for nominations was not yet over.    Last night, Tuesday the 8th=
,
upon hearing =

that John may not survive the night, Harold O'Donnell/K4HOD , Bill
Devore/N4DIT,  Mike Pugh/KA4MKG and myself, Jeanie/KB8QLC  upon
approximately 2 hours notice
went to John's house and presented to him a framed letter and that he had=

recieved a special Erie Farmer Award.   Many thanks to Bill Devore for hi=
s
rush job of the letter.  The  plaque has been ordered and a rush job was
put on it.  I now hope it will be ready for the funeral.  Sue wants to
display the plaque and the letter and all his awards.

John was dozing in his computer/radio shack chair he fairly recently
purchased and loved.  The chair had been brought upstairs so he could
recline somewhat and be
comfortable.   We entered his room and spoke to him with our names and ca=
ll
signs.  After each of us spoke, he  reacted and tried to speak to us.  I =
of
course, called him,
"Darlin".   We presented to him the framed letter and he simply would not=

let go of it.  He couldn't talk very well, but we felt he was acknowledgi=
ng
the award as best he could.

The time for the traders net was upon us and Marc, KG4QFW was net control=
. =

I positioned the radio there by him so he could hear.  Those of us who ha=
d
been there with him moments before told him hello on the radio.  Marc,
knowing he was there, "checked" him in.  I stayed by his bedside till the=

net was over and John reacted and dozed and reacted again as his name was=

called on the radio.    John reacted to key words and callsigns.   John's=

final net was over.

The arrangements are as follows:  Kerr Brothers on Harrodsburg Road. =

Viewing/Visitation is  Friday the 11th of July at  11:30 am to 2:30pm.  =

The funeral service will he held after the visitation.   There will not b=
e
a graveside service.   =


Those of you that can attend please do so.  I know this will mean alot to=

Sue and to his children. =


This is a sad time for all of us.  A great "darlin", friend, comrad has
left us and joined all the other silent keys at God's side.


Jeanie Dalton, KB8QLC
President Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society =