Dennis,
I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing.  I know that your  father was
certainly very pleased with the son that he raised. You have always  been so
helpful to anyone on the list with their mechanical maladies and  mysteries.
Generosity of one's time and knowledge is a learned behavior.  Definitely
something that you learned from the most important teacher in your  life; your
father. Please know that your Vanagon family is here for you and will  keep you
and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
David Clarkson

In a message dated 1/2/2009 12:40:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM writes:

My dad  passed away this past Monday. As I reflect my thoughts I have
realized that he  made the decisions that shaped much of my life. most important is
that he was  the reason for my VW involvement, especially Busses and Vans.

During  my younger years my family had limited means and at time both my
parents  worked two jobs. I am the oldest of 5 children born in 1960. September of
 1970, My mom while pregnant with my brother Daniel, (child 4) she got into
an  accident totaling the only family car, the Ford Torino Station Wagon. As my
 dad had zero mechanical skills they believed new was the only option. The
new  car was a powder Blue 1970 Standard Beetle.

Now a Family of 6, we took  a vacation to Lake George the following year. Yes
6 of us in a Beetle. Shortly  after that trip, my dad decided we needed a
Bus. Soon came the 1967  Splittie.

Starting at 13 I began doing some repairs on those  vehicles.   I spent 3
days doing a generator in the bus and then it  wouldn't run. I swapped the green
wires for the ignition points and the field  coil. At 15 I rebuilt the engine
in that Bus. Over the next two years I  learned the hard way about bolt torque
and other mistakes I made. I learned  much working on those two cars. The Bus
became mine in 1978 and I had it until  1981. It was replaced with a '69.
That was later replaced with a '72. The  Beetle went to my sister and she had
until 1985 or so.

Thanks to those  2 VWs I honed skills that got me started in Industrial
Maintenance. Been doing  that since 1980. In 1983 I started working for Estee
lauder as a Production  mechanic. Now I am the engineering manager for their
automated warehouse. All  this because my dad decided to buy the 2 VW's.

My brother Daniel, also  decided to go the mechanical route. He stuck with
cars and is really a Ford  fan. He has his own shop and towing company now. By
the way, Dan and I have  the same birthday, 10 years apart.

Kathy and married in 1983, our  honeymoon bus was the 1972 converted camper.
My third Bus, the first FUN BUS.  In 1985 we aquired a 1984 passenger Vanagon.
The Vanagon love began. It was  replaced in 1988 with the '87 Syncro westy,
still the current FUN BUS. even  though we joined the RV and Mercedes world,
there will probably always be a  Vanagon in our driveway.

My life shaped by my father's decision to buy  a VW.

While we didn't speak often since my parents moved to Florida, I  knew he was
there.

I'll miss him and I know he is ridding in my Bus,  (Vanagon).

Thanks for listening,
Dennis       =

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