Another local one bites the dust. (California)

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Another local one bites the dust. (California)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 05:54 pm:

Most people never had an opportunity to know him. I received an email this morning that Bob Edwards has sadly passed away. I bought my coupe from him several years ago, and have known him since 1967 when he was just a shy kid a few years older than I was at the time.
Although strictly a local guy, he belonged to several San Francisco Bay Area clubs, including the Santa Clara valley Model T Ford Club.
Bob was one of those special people that was always there when someone needed help with something, whether it was a model T repair, doing the work that keeps the clubs going, or cleaning the rain gutters on your house (a true story).

It is a bit long, and off topic, but one of the best tales I ever heard.

Several years ago, I was at a swap meet, looking at something, when Bob walked over and we chatted for a couple minutes. Bob then wandered off back to what he was doing before. Then this fellow I had never known walked over to me and asked how well I knew Bob? I told him that I had known him for many years and that Bob was one of the finest people anybody has ever known. He said "Do you know how wonderful he really is?"
He then went on to explain; This fellow was someone Bob knew through one of the clubs, and lived outside Gilroy, about fifty miles South of where Bob lived at the time. About a year earlier, he was supposed to go up to San Francisco to check on something for business, at a very early time in the morning (don't question me about the timing, I never figured it out either, however the man seemed very sincere). While driving into San Francisco, well in the middle of the night, a drunk (?) slammed into his car, totaling it. The car winds up in a safe spot on the side of the road, the police come out, do their thing, then leave the poor fellow with his car in a bad part of town. His daughter lives several miles away, but he cannot get a hold of her because she turns off the phone at night and won't turn it on for many hours. He tries to call a cab, they won't go pick him up in the area he is stuck in, and he doesn't want to walk as far as he would need to to meet them. So he ponders to himself "Who can I in desperation call just to get me a ride to my daughter's home?" So, at before 3:am, he calls Bob. He tells me that he explained to Bob his desperation to just get to his daughter's place, where he can pound on the door and she will allow him a place to sit comfortably until he can make arrangements to get himself and his car back to home.
In less than thirty minutes, Bob pulls up with his pickup and trailer. He says Bob insists on loading the car with his winch onto the trailer, and asks about the meeting (which the fellow says he will just take care of on another day). Bob would have taken him there if he wanted him to.
Bob then takes the fellow and his car down to his home, outside Gilroy, (about 80 miles). Unloads the car where he wants it, then heads back home where he can drop his trailer and go to work for the day (arriving only a bit late).
The fellow then says, "I tried and tried to pay him for the help, but he refused to let me even pay for the gas! How many people do you know that would go that far for someone. That is what a wonderful person Bob is."

Actually, I did already know how great Bob was. I could tell a dozen stories about him.

My condolences, Mark.
Wayne Sheldon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 06:20 pm:

Wayne,

Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. My condolences to you and his family.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Sayer on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 06:24 pm:

Sorry for his loss,

Eric and Jen in San Diego


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Williams on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 07:20 pm:

Bob was a great guy I got to chat with him on sevral occasions. I also bought parts From him also. He will be missed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kirk Peterson on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 08:20 pm:

A few years ago I looked at a very nice 17 runabout Bob had for sale. We were not able to agree on a price. But I was really impressed the way Bob handled our negotiations. Now that in my mind is a very kind man.

My prayers are with Mark and the family.

Kirk Peterson


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Haynes on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 10:26 pm:

Bob Edwards really was THE GUY who would, in fact, give you the shirt off his back. He was a great guy and I was very much saddened to heard of his death this morning.

We who dealt with him are better for having done so, those who didn't, cannot appreciate what they missed. Bob was a unique guy and, as so many have said of others before, I can't believe he's gone. We are all worse off for his passing.


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