Bill Runnels passed away

[Marcel]

From Bill's son:

Hi everyone. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 93. I cant begin to tell you how much your kindness meant to him. You were a bright spot for Dad in every since of the word. I must tell you, that the day before he passed away, he was talking to his old bomber crew mates who died in 1945. They were never far from his heart. God bless you all for the love and adoration you showed my Dad. I can tell you this with certainty, that Dad was everything you perceived him to be. A wonderful husband and father and a true war hero. Thank you for honoring him the way you did.

Mark Runnels, Bill's first born

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Damn. Rest in peace. Blue skies and tail winds forever Bill.




Marcel, can you please move this to it's own thread?

 

[michael rauls]

The number provided for Bill is not a good number. Sorry folks...

Thanks for trying. All we can do now is keep our fingers crossed.

From Bill's son:

I don't even know what to say. All I can think of is my deepest condolences to his family. ...... .Heavy heart.

 

[herman1rg]

Your Father was a great man, be proud.

 

[MiTasol]

Your father was the only person I followed on this forum and I enjoyed every one of his posts. As herman1rg said, be proud.

Mi Tasol

 

[fubar57]

 

[MIflyer]

All I can say is that he literally graced us with his kind and inspiring presence. What a rare and wonderful opportunity it was to "chat" with him.

 

[Gnomey]

Very sad news indeed. Bill was a great man and it was a pleasure to read of his experiences.

 

[horseUSA]

Thank you for your service and your time here!

 

[rochie]

very sad news, R.I.P Bill, so honored to have chatted with you for a short while on this forum.

 

[michaelmaltby]

very sad .... such a together man ... alert and always interested.
Condolences to NofK

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Mark - your dad was a joy and a treasure to our forum. Condolences to you and your family.

 

[pbehn]

Such sad news, rest in peace Bill.

 

[vikingBerserker]

My deepest sympathy.

What an absolute pleasure he was to know. I will forever be grateful for the stories he shared with us.

Blue skies my friend as you rejoin your crew.

 

[mikewint]

I am totally speechless...there are no words. I truly thank God for his short time here and his posts. They made the past live again for a time

 

[Glider]

The world is a better place because of people like your father, and the world could do with more people like him today. It's been a joy interacting with him in the forum.

This is the music I always think of at times like this. Fanfare for the Common Man, for he is anything but common.

https://loc.gov/item/ihas.100010429

Suggested credit line: Library of Congress, Music Division

 

[Wurger]

With all here. My deepest sympathy and condolences to all the family..

Rest In Peace Bill.

 

[Airframes]

Mark, I am deeply saddened to hear this news.
To have 'known' Bill, and shared his memories, was a great privilege and honour.
His passing has at least left us more the wiser, due to his 'memoirs' gratefully received on this forum.
May he rest in peace, and enjoy blue skies and fair winds.

 

[Crimea_River]

It was a pleasure and honour to converse with Bill in the too short time that he was here. Very sad to hear this and my sincere condolences to Bill's family

 

[MIflyer]

Here is story I had meant to tell to Bill and I think is appropriate to mention here.

A father and his little girl were out walking one day in WWII Occupied Holland. There came a great noise in the air, one so loud it shook not just the air, but the trees and buildings and finally even the ground itself. It was a US Army Air Force 8th Air Force bombing raid, hundreds of B-17's and B-24's flying over Holland on their way to a target in Germany.

The little girl began to cry. She did not know much about the world yet, but even children in WWII Europe knew that loud noises usually meant terrible things.

The father got down on his knees, hugged his daughter, and said "Don't cry! Don't cry! It is nothing to be afraid of! Those are the sounds of the wings of the angels!"

Bill Runnels is flying once again with the Angels.