Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Non-Petro Discussions Non-petro Discussion and Showcase Petroliana Collectors Memorial Page

This is a memorial page of petroliana collectors who have passed on. Hopefully, their names and locations will bring back recollections of good times in the past when they were active in the hobby.

Ron Baker, West Warren, MA
Cathy Barber, CT
Chris Barnes, LA
Dick Bennett, Santa Paula, CA
Rex Benson, Owenton, KY
Kenny Black, Louisville, KY
Lynn Robert Braun, SC
Bob Burbage, South Carolina
Mike Carson (bruzer75), Grants Pass, Oregon
John Chance, Iowa Gas, IA
Art Childers, Evansville, IN
Boyd Church, Richlands, VA
Deryl Chew, Knightstown, IN
Bill Crain, Medina, OH
Bill Crutchfield, IL
Ted Czerechowicz (TC), Ontario
Ray Day, Indiana
Shorty Denton, Morristown, TN
John Donahue, Mt. Clemmons, MI
Jeff Drake, Kankakee, IL
Mel Egbert, Cincinnati, OH
Dale Evoy, Terrace Bay Ontario
Ace Feek, Lake Chelan, WA
Bill Fortune, (wfort39663) Santa Fe, NM & MO
Glen Gaines, Louisville, KY
Pat Gilley, Sylvania, OH
Bob Goldman, Silver Spring, MD
Wendell Groff, Albequerque, NM
Dan Harris, Putnam Station, NY
Dewey Henderson, Waynesboro, VA
Chris Holt, St. Clair, MI
David Huddleston, Louisville, KY
Irv Kane, Missoula, MT
Cliff Lauten, Greensboro, NC
Rick Lewis, Knoxville, TN
Robert Liter, KY
Jack Lovegrove, Swords Creek, MI
Earl Ma, Honolulu, HI
Bob Macmeccan, Hampton, VA
Tom Martin, Manhattan Beach, CA
Jim Masson, Shawnee Mission, KS
Jim Mattson, Valley Glen, CA
Carl Maxwell, OH
Ray May, Bonfield, IL
Robert McVey, Savannah, GA
Jack Mendenhall, Buellton, CA
Alvin Mielke, Swanville, MN
Bruce Miller, Lawrenceville, IN
Bill Montigill, Riverside, CA
Kyle Moore, Cordell, OK
Nick Moore, Easley,SC
Robert Moore (Moore798), Osage County OK
Fred Munns, Augusta, GA
Wes Nilson Laporte, IN
Mike O'Hern, Taylor Ridge, IL
Dave Parr, Terra Haute, IN
Jeff Pederson, General Petroleum Museum, Seattle, WA
Chuck Pergl, Penfield, NY
Lee Pergl, Penfield, NY
L.F. Perry, Georgia
Pat Quail, Bettendorf, IA
Mike Rhein, Minnesota
Larry Robertson, Muskegon, MI
Dwight Sawyer, NY
Ed Schwartz, Deerfield, IL
Luke and Jean Sconyers, Ashburn, GA
Patrick and Barbara Shimmin, Temple City, CA
John Simmons, Center, Mo
Kevin Stephens, Alabama
Bob Strauss, Hillsboro, Oregon
Wayne Swearingin, Chicagoland Show, Peotone, IL
Kent Swensen,died 5/1/2016,Murray, Utah
Stan Thomas, Salisbury, PA
Ron Throckmorton, Wildwood, MO
Gary Turner, Gay Parita Sinclair, Ash Grove, MO
Dave Wahl, North Dakota
Bill Walsner, Lancaster, CA
Tom Whitlatch, Ohio
Charlie Whitworth, Jeffersonville, IN
Roger Winchell, Litchfield MI
Wayne Woodrum New Carlisle, Ohio
John Wright Mt. Vernon, OH

Replies on this topic with shared memories of the departed are welcome. If there are additions or corrections, please send me a PM, email or post a reply on this topic.

Special thanks to Wayne Henderson and Ed Natale for assembling the initial list.

Remember the good time the first gas bash with my son up in Seattle at Jeff Petersons place. The General Petroleum Museum. My son loved the dog.

Kent Swensen,died 5-1- 2016,Murray Utah. He wasn't a member here because he didn't have a computer, but i'm sure a few on here will remember him. He was pretty active in the Salt Lake City area.

Thanks Dave for mentioning Kent's name , the guy was a perfectionist in everything he did and truly was the best friend anyone could ever ask for. He will be missed by everyone who knew him . Peter

Robert Liter, KY

Ray May, Bonfield, IL

Wayne Swearengen (sp?), promoter of the Chicagoland shows in Peotone.

Bill Crutchfield,IL

Jeff Drake, Kankakee, IL

First picture is my favorite picture of Rex. He was going to eat the whole pie. Nita put a stop to that!

Second picture is Ray May at his auction. Ray's auction was on Friday and Saturday. He started a new collection on Sunday.

Carl Maxwell

Dewey Henderson, Waynsboro, Va. He wasn't a member either, no computer. He was know as "The Pump Doctor" at the shows. Super nice guy.

Thank you to everyone involved in putting this list together.

Memories for sure. My signature says it all for me.

Larry

I am sure Roger Winchell has found a "Roman" "Duplex" "Erie 50" by now and has his eye on a couple "Others". Hey Rog," IF you hear of any great deals happening down here, let me know before you tell JOHN. May God bless and watch over you. Your friend, Dan.

Jim,

Thanks for posting this reminder...

DB (Dick Bennett) made me feel welcome on this forum, plus I learned a lot from his posts. I think I was part of his grasshopper posse though he did not call me that, instead called me 'a gurl' and a 'decorator' (big insult from him lol) which was true! I love the look of the stuff.

Old Iron (Wendell Groff) was a sweetheart. We had a lot of PM discussions, and I found him very generous in his knowledge and thoughtful in his opinions. Also loved his 'yard art.'

Miss them both...

Larry Robertson passed away January 9. A topic about him is posted with a photo here:
http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=702194

Roger Winchell passed away on October 3rd, 2017. Miss you, Dad!

Bill Fortune (wfort39663) of Santa Fe, NM & formerly of MO passed away on Friday, Oct 12, 2018. Bill was a serious petroliana collector of gas pump globes, pump plates, salt & pepper shakers, sign pole thermometers and more.

Photo courtesy "minuteman" Thanks, Kim.

Bob Goldman of Silver Spring, MD passed away on Saturday November 24, 2018. Bob has been a long time collector at Carlisle, Hershey & Columbus. He has also been a member of the Mason-Dixon Gas Swap Meet Committee for many years. Recently Bob has been selling at these shows to begin his down sizing. Bob is one of the good guys in the hobby. RIP Bob.

Bob Goldman

We lost our friend Doug Doneth Tuesday.. AKA BlackT.. RIP my friend.a wealth of knowledge was lost with him..

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/a...-doneth&pid=195595300&fhid=12794

Sad news Mick.....sorry to hear. I bought a couple things from Doug when he did Michigan Gas years ago. Since I don't sell anything I still have the Texaco plates, I'll remember him when I look at them.
Darin

My dad Mike Trotnic, Parsons KS, passed away back in 2015. He wasnt a member here but quite active in buying and selling antiques throughout most of his life. He didn't understand the internet and just prior to his passing did he acquire a smart phone but loved face to face deals.

So sad about Doug, damn he was younger than me. Talked to him several times. RIP Doug

So sorry to hear of Doug's passing. I talked with him a lot thru the years and really enjoyed our conversations! He was a very knowledgeable collector.

Sorry to hear about Doug, thanks for letting us know Mick.

Never met the man Mick but certainly read and valued his opinions. He will be missed on this site.

Man, one by one the old ones are going away. Had to check just to make sure I was not listed yet.

So SAD about Doug's passing news.

When I joined the site in 2008, I was patient with the "Veteran" members since I was a "newbie" & mainly read discussions amongst "Veteran members". Learned from my toy
experience to NEVER confront a "Veteran" member unless had solid facts to back myself.

Right away, I noticed Doug was one of those "super" veteran members with great wealth of knowledge (Texaco). it was amazing to see professional discussions between Doug & DB.

During a post about "Rotating globe holders", Dough mentioned he knew a person that made them. I sent him a PM & Doug gladly offered one to me. Whoever made the rotater, did a great job.

I loved Doug's attitude when asking him questions about TEXACO privately. Doug loved to answer my Q's & shared photos of his friend's collection with me. Killer collection!

He will be greatly missed!

Like to add , I didnt see their names but may have missed them . The great Canadian collector and donor of Heritage Park , Calgary , Alberta , Canada gas pump Legend , Mr Ron Carey . Also many years ago Tom Stackhouse Ontario , Canada legendary collection . My friend spinner clock specialist and clocks of all kinds , , Robert Olds , Talmadge , Ohio , always at Carlisle and Hershey . All great collectors . RIP guys

Dave,

Thanks for mentioning : Mr Ron Carey! He was a true legend that contributed so much for Museums in CANADA for future generations to enjoy.

Personally, I do not get enough of the photos of the Calgary museum. A visit is a must.

I have seen a picture of Ron with Tom Schilling of San Diego (man, his collection is amazing).

Would love to hear stories from Tom about his friendship with Ron.

MTrotnic that episode , one of my fav all time episodes . Your dad was a really cool guy

Hen you are so right him and Tom were big buddies .

Thanks for mentioning Ron Carey. Ron and I worked on at least a hundred pump projects over the twenty plus years together. I first met Ron in La Hunta Colorado at Meril Bubblits place. Ron at one time purchase pumps from Meril. who restored pumps years ago and is now gone also. Ron's son Shon is now finishing up many of the pumps that Ron never had time to finish before his accident. Shon stopped by my shop in January and we had a lot of good memories and stories of Ron. Husky Oil built the Heritage Park Museum in Calgary and Ron donated over three hundred restored pump, signs and several old oil field trucks to the museum. Ron also did business with John Linton of Arizona in the drill bit business for drilling oil and water wells. Ron, John and I went to lunch in Gilbert A.Z one afternoon and I wish that I had taken a voice recorder with me to capture some of their great stories from past experiences. Ron was also CEO of the Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep Foundation in the Western U.S.A. Ron also purchased unrestored pumps from Tom Schillings then transported them back to Calgary for restoration and yes Tom also has a great collection of pump, sighs and globes. If I ever had any questions concerning very early gas pumps I could always contact Ron and he had the information I needed and if I needed any parts he always seemed to have extra parts available.

Bruce.

Keith Case

Jack Sim

Tom Hilliker (nochevys)

My grandfather Les Reincke Sr. He was an early collector/dealer of globes and pumps in the late 70's and 80's. He always told me I was too late to get into this hobby. If he only knew!!

Kyle Moore from Oklahoma,visited him in the early 70's.At that time he had over 800 globes plus the hundreds of signs and pumps.

I had the privilege of meeting Mr.Reincke and was invited to his farm to see his amazing collection of globes.

A great visit to IOWA! He also dealt in windmills if i remember correctly.

I have just learned that Ed Natale's dad passed away this past week. Mr. Natale was a very quiet & polite gentleman. Ed, sorry for your loss.

So sad, it was always a pleasure to see the Natale clan

Ed Natale