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 Linda Baker, West Warren, MA Cathy Barber, CT Chris Barnes, LA Don Beaver ( Don Beaver) OR Dick Bennett, Santa Paula, CA Rex Benson, Owenton, KY Kenny Black, Louisville, KY Carl Bomstead CA Rick Bonenburger (Bones) IN 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 Dave Ellis CA 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 Richard Hobbs CA 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 James "Sam" McIntyre, Richmond, Virginia 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 Ed Natale, Sr. NJ Wes Nilson Laporte, IN Mike O'Hern, Taylor Ridge, IL Tom Oxtoby (aviojnd) ND 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 Les Reincke Sr., Iowa Mike Rhein, Minnesota Larry Robertson, Muskegon, MI Dwight Sawyer, NY Ed Schwartz, Deerfield, IL Luke and Jean Sconyers, Ashburn, GA Charles Shaver, (hornsrus) Lamar, MO Patrick and Barbara Shimmin, Temple City, CA Jack Sim, St. Louis, MO 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 Jimmy Tindera (JimT) Cleveland, Ohio Les Towner (gasgeezer) 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 Scott Wright, Parker, Colorado Joe Yocom (jkyocom) GA
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.
Last edited by Oldgas; Wed Jul 09 202508:38 PM. Reason: Update with additional names
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
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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
Darin Sheffer Always looking for Mobil and Marathon items I don't already have!
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 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.
Everything Cities Service Specializing in old Gas Pumps kwfrith@gondtc.com Cell#-701-739-6133
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!
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
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.
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!!
Drive with Care and Buy Sinclair!! I buy Sinclair globes, signs, cans, ect.
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!!
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 received word that Linda Baker passed away in February, Linda was wife of Ron Baker of West Warren Mass. Ron and Linda were well known in the show circuit, I shared my space with them at Hershey for many years, Ron was also a promoter along side me, of Mass Gas Bash. May they now rest in peace together. Miss you two.
"Remember, history that is forgotten is doomed to repeat itself!"
Back in 1999 when mom recruited me into helping find me stepdad a gas pump for Christmas is when I found out who the Bonenburger guys were here in town. Little did I know I would get into collecting and I blame part of my collecting on these guys from seeing there collections. I know many of the old guys know who Bob and Rick are and have seen there collections. I found out Rick passed away last night and he will be missed by many in the gas and oil hobby as well as the car comunity! This is not a reflection on his gas and oil but a small part of his car collection.
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Looking for anything from Hoosier Pete, Platolene 500 and Red Bird.
Hate to see another old timer with passion for the hobby pass. Hope he had a younger relative that he passed his passion onto. Our prayers go out to the family.
I enjoyed doing a little business with Rick over the years. Always a very cordial guy, and full of hospitality. Refreshingly old school all the way. He will be missed. John
Always had a great time at the Evansville Petro Peddler swap meet that Rick and Bob hosted for decades. They enabled many in the petroliana hobby in the Midwest to expand their collections and build relationships. Sorry to hear of Rick's passing.
"Bass Master" sent this to me: "I just found out last night that JimT (Jimmy Tindera) had passed away on 4-4-23 . I have been trying to contact him for a little over a week, and he had not replied, so I googled his name and Cleveland Ohio, and his Obituary showed up. Saddened to see that as I was looking to hook up with him this weekend since i will be heading to Cleveland Clinic. Jim and I both worked in concrete and would call each other a couple times a year to see if the other retired yet. Since covid, time has gotten away from us as I see he retired in 20 and I in 21. I was really looking forward to catching up this weekend. Post his obit on Oldgas if you could, Brian"
