I first met Ruth at the Zephyrhills
Airport back in the late '60's when I started skydiving. She had
been jumping for a couple of years by the time I started and, at
that time, was one of the few women skydivers around. She could
jump, and drink beer with the best of them and I remember thinking
way back then, this is one helluva woman.
Shortly after that, I had to go and
defend our country and I remember that she would have her class send
me letters to keep my morale up. We had to both go our respective
ways after that, husbands, wives, careers so it took a while for us
to get back together. Our first date was on Capt Mike Patterson's
"Baby Ruth" and that was it, we never looked back. We stayed
together constantly during this time and this is when many of you
became to know us.
When we married in July of 1990, some
say, (those that can remember) that, that was one of the BEST
weddings they had ever attended! Our theme was dolphins and I think
it very fitting that the donations will be to Island Dolphin Care.
It was shortly after our wedding that I started living with the
motto "I won't try to run Ruth's life.........and I won't try to run
mine either," or, more simply put, never piss off a Columbian.
Needless to say, this worked for almost 17 years of marriage and 22
years of sharing every aspect of life with the most wonderful person
I know.
Ruth was truly my partner in life and
I know you all miss her every bit as much as I do.