|
Post by Mark O on Nov 17, 2011 12:26:35 GMT 9
Guys, I think a bunch of you probably just got the email about Erv from Sandy. We lost him on Monday.
I don't know what to say.
I've been sending him photos for the past month or so pretty regularly, and he just sent me some thank you emails a few days ago.
Wow...
Here's the email I got...
Hello, I hope that I have recognized all of Erv's computer friends and it will inform you all. I lost Erv Monday afternoon after 3 days in the hospital.......With his many medical problems then double pneumonia was too much for his body to handle. So the Good Lord came and took him home and did so very peacefully surrounded by all of his family. We are not having a Memorial Service until April 28th here in Colorado Springs due to holiday time, weather, out of town family, etc. Thank you all for being such a good friend to him. I will dearly miss "my best friend". Cheers, as Erv would say, Sandy
Speechless... :salute
|
|
|
Post by steve201 (deceased) on Nov 17, 2011 12:56:44 GMT 9
never met the man but my sincere condolences to his family..
may god rest his soul and keep him close.....
Rest in peace fellow warrior.....
Steve
|
|
Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,384
Location:
Joined: May 2005
|
Post by Bullhunter on Nov 17, 2011 12:56:49 GMT 9
God Bless him and his family. :god_bless_usa :salute
|
|
|
Post by Jim on Nov 17, 2011 13:06:31 GMT 9
I had the pleasure of meeting Erv in July of 2007, after having met Thud, Lee and Lani..... We had lunch with him in the KC-97 resturant just outside Peterson Field. And of course again at the 456th Reunion last year.... He was quite a guy!!!! We are the poorer for his leaving, heaven is the richer for his arrival.................. Thanks, "Chief O' the Facts" Erv... The Old Sarge
|
|
|
Post by Mark O on Nov 17, 2011 13:09:21 GMT 9
|
|
Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
|
Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 17, 2011 13:46:20 GMT 9
:salute :us_flag :salute
Erv has received his Final Assignment and now awaits the Final Muster.
It is always hard to lose a Warrior Patriot, and even harder when disease takes them from us too soon.
But the Lord never makes a mistake, and He issued the orders at just the right time.
Sandy and her family are in my prayers, and I know all of your prayers.
I pray the Lord will give her His Joy, in the midst of the sorrow of Sandy losing her best friend and companion of many years.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
|
|
|
Post by Gene on Nov 17, 2011 15:07:44 GMT 9
..... :fire_missle_ani .. :fire_missle_ani ...... :fire_missle_ani :salute :salute :salute
|
|
MOW
Administrator
Owner/Operator
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,821
Location:
Joined: September 2003
Retired: USAF, Civil Service
|
Post by MOW on Nov 17, 2011 16:40:51 GMT 9
My sincere condolences to Sandy and the family. We have lost a great friend. Gods Speed Erv
|
|
|
Post by jimpadgett on Nov 17, 2011 21:47:32 GMT 9
A great loss to his family and ours. Condolences Sandy.
|
|
Deleted
Currently: Offline
Posts: 0
Location:
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 0:16:06 GMT 9
God Bless
|
|
|
Post by adart on Nov 18, 2011 7:30:33 GMT 9
May the good Lord be with Erv and his family. God Bless you all. :god_bless_usa
|
|
|
Post by pat perry on Nov 18, 2011 13:46:45 GMT 9
Notes from friends of Erv:
Pat, please extend my sympathy to his family and all who knew Erv. He took me out to the air museum at the base when I stayed a month in Colorado Springs in 2008. I enjoyed talking to him. Karl Bossi 456th Weapons OIC
I am so sorry to hear about the sudden loss of Erv. He surely has left some big shoes to fill. Please accept the condolences of myself, the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the Castle Air Museum.
With sincere sorrow for Erv's loss, Joe Pruzzo Chief Executive Officer Castle Air Museum
Pat P. :us_flag
|
|
|
Post by pat perry on Nov 19, 2011 2:16:56 GMT 9
Note from Sandy Smalley:
Hi Pat, Thank you for the kind words.......... You must remember that we both enjoyed helping to set up the reunion for the wonderful group of people. He so much enjoyed associating with all of you. Memorial services will be held 28 April 2012 here in the Springs. With the weather, holidays and out of state friends and relatives this will be so much easier on everyone. He and I had discussed this and this is his wishes. Will hear on his autopsy in a few weeks. With all of his medical problems the family, especially his three sons need to know exactly what was going on. We have been in touch with Jim G. and he is creating a down sized version of the F-106 silhouette that he put on the beautiful clock that was presented to Erv to be put on Erv's Urn. Know he will be smiling big time. Thank you again for being such a good friend to Erv. Sandy
Man, I sure miss him. I hope his sons or a friend will pick up his web site maintenance. It would be a shame to lose all of Erv's heart felt work done over the years. Think of the thousands of contacts he made in gathering all that data for others to enjoy. Think of all the memories he has reminded us of.
Erv was a soft spoken, diligent working historian for ADC and the F-106 family. When it comes to doing things for others he ranks right up there with Jim Gier, Marty Isham, Pat McGee, Mark Williams and Jim Scanlon. Pastor Jim, I hope you will write a prayer that can be read at Erv's memorial on April 28, 2012.
My keyboard is getting too wet to continue. Pat P.
|
|
|
Post by Mark O on Nov 20, 2011 7:43:48 GMT 9
Pat P.
Thanks for the update from Sandy.
I still can't get over how Erv and I had been chatting (A LOT) back and forth just days before this happened. In fact, I got my last messages from him last Thursday (November 10th, 2011) while I was driving from Texas to Tennessee. He told me how ADC was "taken over" so to speak by TAC in 1979, and they tried to remark the tail numbers. It didn't take! Of course he told me he missed most of it as he retired in September 1979.
I'm not sure I really belong in the group of people you listed me with, but am honored to mentioned. I too have been thinking about what will become of his web sites. We need to find out how to keep them going, or at a minimum get everything archived ASAP. If I can be of any assistance please let me know.
Mark
P.S. I'm back in Texas. Got back just before noon today.
|
|
|
Post by pat perry on Nov 21, 2011 7:06:06 GMT 9
Email from Sandy Smalley Hi Pat, We just finished reading the messages on the [F-106 Forum.......What wonderful words. I am sending you this Legacy site that the boys have put together for a nice long obituary........It is memorialwebsites.legacy.comYou can post it on the forum if you wish......... A very short obituary will be in out local paper tomorrow......... The boys want to know what is your thoughts on the web-site? I think Marty will take over the one that he and Erv did together........ We certainly do not want to have them disappear. Ed Weaver at the [Peterson Air}museum said we will go over that one later. We are doing ok. Had our "final visit" with Erv yesterday and he looked the best he has in a year........ Was very difficult but that was the closure we needed. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to him and myself. Sandy Text from the obituary website: On November 14, 2011 Erville G. Smalley, 71, peacefully passed into the hands of the Lord at St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs, CO after a courageous battle with cancer and other illness in the presence of his loving family. Erv was born in New Virginia, Iowa on September 19, 1940 to Harold Smalley and Ruby (Minor) Smalley. He was raised on his parent’s farm and graduated from New Virginia High School in 1959. On June 23, 1962 Erv married Sandra Ann Black in Donaldson, Michigan. Three children were born to this union: Raymond Scott Smalley, Steven Craig Smalley, and Todd Harold Smalley. Erv and Sandy lived in Kinross, Michigan for five years while he served at Kincheloe AFB. They then moved to Griffiss AFB in upstate New York for four years. Erv was stationed in Ubon, Thailand for one year (1972-1973), and was then stationed at Ent AFB, ADCHQ in Colorado Springs in 1973. He retired from the Air Force in 1979 after serving 20 years. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Erv founded Timberline Taxidermy in 1979 in Colorado Springs. After building a successful business and reputation as a wilderness and wildlife artist, he then sold the business and began a late career working for the United States Post Office. Erv earned three academic degrees: an Associates in Applied Science and Avionics Radar Technology from the Community College of the Air Force in 1979, an Associates of Arts and General Studies from Pikes Peak Community College in 1979, and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management from Regis University in 1981. Erv was a member of the Masonic Lodge Unity Lodge 142 in Eads, Colorado and a Scottish Rite Mason with the Valley of Marquette in Michigan. He was also a member of the Al Kaly Shriners in Pueblo, Colorado. Erv had a knack for learning new technology, developing three websites during his retirement years including the Peterson Air Force Museum website, and two military history websites dedicated to the F-106 aircraft. He loved gardening and tending to his flower beds, hunting and fishing, traveling, and volunteering at the Peterson Air Force Museum where he, among other tasks, developed unique posters of various aircraft histories. As an avid outdoorsman, Erv enjoyed yearly fishing and camping trips to Saskatchewan, Canada with friends and family. One of the biggest joys he had was traveling to Alaska over a year ago with his three sons to fish the Kenai River for salmon, and go deep-sea fishing for halibut. He is survived by his wife Sandra Smalley of 49 years, three sons – Ray, Steve and Todd, three daughter-in-laws – Jen, Linda, and Tina, six grandchildren – Ryan, Sara, Lindsay, Naomi, Cooper and Henry, four honorary grandchildren – Summer, Riley, Gage and Ethan, and one great-grandchild in utero. Erville’s mother and father and sister-in-law Nancy preceded him in death. Surviving siblings include his brother Roger and wife Barbara, brother George, sister Myra and husband Warren, and sister Darlene as well as fourteen nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Shrine of Remembrance in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Sandra Smalley at 3942 Iron Horse Trail, Colorado Springs, CO 80917. Erv had several charities he donated to including the Peterson Air Force Museum and One Nation Walking Together among others. His wife Sandy will see that a memorial donation be made in his name as checks are received. Shrine of Remembrance was entrusted with the arrangements.
|
|
MOW
Administrator
Owner/Operator
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,821
Location:
Joined: September 2003
Retired: USAF, Civil Service
|
Post by MOW on Nov 21, 2011 22:23:43 GMT 9
I emailed back Sandy and Pat P and have offered up whatever website admin, hosting, maintenance or anything else that may need help with to to ensure and of Erv's sites, data and incredible research is never lost. I standby to take on any task or responsibility to make sure Erv's legacy continues.
|
|
|
Post by Jeff Shannon on Nov 22, 2011 21:38:38 GMT 9
Rest In Peace Erv.... :salute :us_flag
Our thoughts and Prayers go out to Sandy and the family.
|
|
|
Post by oswald on Nov 24, 2011 23:46:18 GMT 9
I for one am thankful today for Erv's contributions to this forum. May he rest in peace.
|
|
|
Post by pat perry on Jan 28, 2012 2:51:19 GMT 9
An update on Erv Smalley's memorial service.
Email from Sandy to the Old Sarge: Jim,
As promised, here is the finished Urn.......You would not believe how beautiful it looks.
Know we have someone smiling just looking at it.
Thank you for doing this and a message from the Director of the Shrine of Remembrance.....he said to make sure to tell you that he has never seen anything so beautiful............So hope that makes your day. Know come April we will hear alot of wonderful remarks so I will make sure I tell them whom the Artist is.
Thank you again, Sandy
Pastor Jim has written a prayer for Erv's memorial in April and we will publish it afterward. Sandy had asked Jim to make one of his aluminum Delta Darts for Erv's urn. Notice the inscription and Erv's favorite sign off, "Cheers". Also note the Masonic symbol.
Sandy will let us know the details for the memorial service in April for those interested in attending.
God Bless our two Jims for helping remember a truly fine man.
Pat P.
|
|
|
Post by Tom Dlugosh on Jan 28, 2012 3:40:03 GMT 9
Jim,
I can't think of a more fitting or beautiful tribute.
|
|