CCF Has Lost A Family Member

Thank you all for prayers, well wishes, donations, and love for John.
I just got home from his service and it was nothing short of beautiful. I tried several times to hold back my tears as a lump was in my throat the size of a softball it seemed at times.
I gave the message of the CCF family to his Mom and Wife, of how much John was loved and meant to us. They both cried, as well as I. It was very hard to take.
There were family photos of John as a little boy with his brothers and sisters with his Spider Man costume on...I almost lost it.
Then, other life photos and finally, his marriage and newborn children.
His mother spoke who must have been an angel. She was more composed than I and all I can do was again, hold back tears. A truly beautiful woman. Now I now where John came from.
On a sidenote, for those of you that don't know, John was an Electrical Engineer assigned to the 775th Test Pilot Squadron at Edwards Airforce Base. He worked on several aircraft systems including the F-35, F-15, B-1, F-117, B-2, B-152, to name a few.
He was incredibly talented and extremely intelligent with information of any kind.
Before ending the services, we saw a video of John playing the piano (his passion) to the song "I could sing of your love forever".
He had it memorized..no sheet music and a natural pianist. It was amazing.
I never told my friend how much I wanted to start playing the piano but now..I guess he might know never knowing I was a musician.
I ended the day driving East to his final resting place and found the cemetery. Little directions were given, but I saw his Fathers headstone and Johnny's flowers from yesterday right next to it, and knew this was him.
I sat and reflected with him for about twenty minutes before leaving back for my home.
I said my final goodbyes and how much I loved him. I will visit his grave at least once a year, with love and joy for having known him :-)

I just saw this thread and it's so sad to know that someone on CCF had passed away.
Rest in Peace.

Great read Dave, now.. we have the softball too...

Thank you Dave. That is a beautiful tribute.

Thank you all for the kind words.
There is not one of us on here that wouldn't do the same.
I'm not special but it sure means a lot.

It's a shame that it takes a tragedy to remind us of our humanity, but ultimately the people in our lives that we care about is what our humanity really is all about and it hurts to lose them.

Like many others who posted in this thread, Johnny's friendly responses to some of my initial posts made me feel welcome and directly lead to me opening up and becoming a participant and not just a lurker.

Very well said, and Thank you for representing CCF and updating us.

I remember that picture well Bob. This was before I knew him.

Here is the only picture I have with him at the 2011 Long Beach Coin Expo.

Left to right are SA4H, delaner, myself, and John.