Our long-time friend, former TWA Pilot, John Gilman, lifted on his final flight this morning at 5:00 A.M.. He had clearance to reach Heaven, and I know he did. John flew while my brother was also piloting for TWA. They lived in Kansas City and attended the same church. Their wives became fast friends. John's wife, Jeanah, had been one of Ann's best friends as they attended Nursing School in Houston. After we all had retired we traveled together RVing across the West. John was great fun around a campfire. He became a minister after retiring, but had been a dedicated Christian since High School days in Oregon. It was brain cancer that finally got him.
John was one of very few pilots who foiled a hi-jacking attempt. It was back when that was popular. He told about it on Nightline a couple of years ago. It is a great story. No one was killed but the hi-jacker was shot. He recovered.
John decided after he retired he wanted to finally get his college degree. He went back to school and got it. He said it was interesting to be in classes where the students were so young.
John was successful at everything he ever tried....except golf. The game was not kind to him. He took lessons, practiced, and had all the right clubs, but the low scores eluded him. He would not ride in a cart. He always walked. He never beat me and I never beat John. He would beat himself by trying so hard. He was always a good sport about it. A real gentleman.
Kansas City was simply too far a trip for the two of us. The service is tomorrow evening. We will be there in thoughts and prayers. It will be a celebration as John would have wished.
