Author Topic: Roy Trantham (Read 4906 times)

Chuck Feldman · « **on:** March 17, 2014, 07:15:26 PM »

At 5:30 pm Roy Trantham passed on. I will miss him always.

Chuck Feldman

Mike Keville · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2014, 07:47:05 PM »

Oh, wow...I don't know what to say. Roy was among the nicest people I ever met.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2014, 07:55:17 PM »

That is a great loss. Roy was a heck of a tough competitor and an all around interesting guy. I used to enjoy his stories from his racing career, not many people knew he had driven some Winston Cup races back in 1968.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2014, 07:57:10 PM »

... fixed

Paul Walker · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2014, 08:12:31 PM »

Roy was a very nice guy. I first met him at a GSSC meet. We ended up sitting next to him at the banquet. In the discussion I mentioned that I liked his leadout guides. He said he had some, and almost before I got home a package if them were at my house. That's the kind if guy he was. I will surely miss him.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2014, 08:23:02 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on March 17, 2014, 07:57:10 PM

...and the correct spelling of his last name is TRANTHAM.

Chuck knows that, its just a typo.

It reminds me, though, of the first time I encountered Roy, back at my first Brodak's contest. I was flying intermediate and was looking over the competition on the score sheet before officials started. I noticed a name I had never seen before, Roy Tran-Tham, and I started looking around for an Asian dude. About that time a slightly bandy-legged guy in a cowboy hat stumped up, looked at the score sheet, and scowled "What in the Hell is that!!???!!" and then swooped over to the registration the table and sorted out the spelling of his name. That week was the first of many battles I had vs Roy in intermediate and advanced and one of the few times I got the best of him.

Roy sure loved to fly! The next Brodaks, neither Roy nor myself was happy with our performances in classic advanced, and we were trying to scrounge practices flights. Next thing I knew we were both down at the airport on the ramp in front of his Cessna 402, grinding out dozens of practice flights!

RandySmith · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2014, 09:54:07 PM »

Quote from: Chuck Feldman on March 17, 2014, 07:15:26 PM

At 5:30 pm Roy Thranthum passed on. I will miss him always.

Chuck Feldman

Very sad, we are losing too many, Roy was a really great, and interesting guy, and was one of the type people you wanted to be around. Roy will be missed greatly

Randy

Robertc · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2014, 02:30:22 AM »

Very sad for me. When I moved to Florida in 2002, Roy heard I was a C/L stunt flier and invited me over. That started a great friendship
with Roy, his wife Lucia and several dogs. When I moved away, I always went back to visit. I left a plane there so I always had one to fly,
but really it was just to hang out with Roy. Things just won't be the same....

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2014, 05:56:46 AM »

I had heard that Roy was very sick. Unfortunately I never met Roy. I had heard all good about him. He was on my list of people who I wanted to meet. God Speed Roy.

Alan Resinger · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2014, 06:50:54 AM »

I met Roy at the GSSC a couple of years ago. A real gentleman and all around nice guy. He will be missed by all that knew him.
Alan Resinger

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2014, 08:42:51 AM »

Roy was an ever present fixture in the southeast contest arena. He was my nemesis when I was working through the skill classes, and we had a laugh or two about that over the years. Add Roy to the list of far too many losses as of late. We need everyone in this event, and we are better off for having them, especially our nemesis that motivate us to do better, heh. As I understood it at the time, Roy beat one type of cancer, only to be left weakened and susceptible to yet another type (blood or marrow I think?). Knowing Roy, he fought it with everything he had to give, he was that kind of guy.
It won't be the same without him.
EricV

bob whitney · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2014, 08:52:06 AM »

Roy had a very dry sense of humor, i met him at VSC a few years ago, at one of the evening get together i mentioned that i used to race motorcycles ,i little while later Roy handed me his cell phone it was Jim White who i used to race with. the next time i saw Roy ,i showed him some funny compromising pictures of Jim from way back ,he asked if he could have them, i asked if he was going to show them to Jim ,he says hell no ,i am going to show them to his Wife, that was Roy

john e. holliday · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2014, 08:58:55 AM »

What a shock. I didn't know he had been sick. Can't remember when I first met/seen Roy. I do remember watching you guys down in Stuart at the soccer fields. Mentioned to him about his over head 8's with the old time plane. He thanked me and proceeded to fly it the way I liked it to be flown. Last time I seen him was at a VSC.

Les McDonald · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2014, 09:53:01 AM »

A very sad loss. I was aware Roy had some health issues and constantly thought about giving him a call to find out he was doing-------
I enjoyed my visits with Roy and my old running buddy Jim White at The Naked Lady Air Ranch. My wife Roberta loved hanging out with Lucia and Shelly (Roy & Jims' wives). Heaven only knows what they talked about! Always a gentleman, Roy was a very smart and interesting guy.
I'm attaching a photo of Roy and Jim in front of Roys' beloved Packard.

Les McDonald · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2014, 09:58:24 AM »

Here's another photo of Roy and I in front of his very immaculate Stearman.

Robertc · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2014, 11:29:34 AM »

Sorry Les, Roy would be the first to tell you that's it's a Navy N3N. Different plane than a Stearman. It's the Navy trainer, all metal.
I got to fly with Roy a few times in this plane.
Roy had two Packards, the '38 behind Roy and Jim and also a 1941. The 1938 was in the movie "The Notebook".
A group of us would fly on Saturday mornings, go back to his place, load up in one of the Packards and head
to Ruby Tuesday for lunch - a tradition of sorts for a while.
Roy was an engine guy. Loved tinkering. He was very instrumental in getting the Double Star 40 and 54 BB going.
Had on going emails with Sergey Ivanoff of Moldova who makes them.
Here's a picture of myself, Dennis Toth, Sergey, Roy (in his familiar hat) and Sergey's niece who did the translating.
Roy flying Old Time at VSC 2010 in second pic
Double Stars. I got to take the pics for the ad - Roy's engines
Another of Sergey and Roy in 2006

Les McDonald · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2014, 12:37:13 PM »

Robertc,
Thanks for the correction on the plane. I had always assumed it was a Stearman and never did fly in it. The offer was made but I simply don't like to fly, especially in someting that doesn't have a roof!
We also did the "Go to Ruby Tuesday for lunch in the Packard". Loved every moment watching Roy turn that big unassisted steering wheel.
My relationship with Roy was casual compared to many of you guys and I can't imagine how empty all of you must feel. I know Bob Whitely just took a hit.
I have reached out to Dennis and Chuck for funeral information so if anyone finds out anything please post it here or let me know.

EddyR · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2014, 12:58:27 PM »

Sorry to hear that. I new Roy as long as anyone here. When he first flew CL he thought everything had to be big. 800+Sq" old time models.
Thanks for the good times Roy.
Ed Ruane

Elwyn Aud · « **Reply #18 on:** March 18, 2014, 02:43:11 PM »

Sorry to hear about his passing. Only got to meet Roy a few times but he seemed like a heck of a nice guy. Prayers going out for his family.

Bill Little · « **Reply #19 on:** March 18, 2014, 05:31:03 PM »

I am saddened to hear of Roy's passing. He was a special guy to all who knew him. I met Roy at Huntersville years ago, and once we realized we were both from Asheville, NC, he warmed up pretty quick. I never got a ride in his plane to the VSC like Tommy Luper, but I enjoyed being around Roy each time I saw him. I last saw him at the Georgia meet Tom Dixon puts on and he had food poisoning so we didn't spend much time together. He is flying with a great bunch of guys on those perfect circles in the sky.......... and maybe hanging out with some racing buddies from his early life.

Bill

Robertc · « **Reply #20 on:** March 18, 2014, 06:02:44 PM »

When Roy had food poisoning.... Roy loved to compete and Roy was really sick that day, but he wasn't going to let
the fact he could barely stand get in the way. He had us getting his flight box, plane, lines, carrying it to the circle,
pulling him out of the chair and helping him to the circle so he could fly and he did, though not very well. It just really
bothered him that being sick got in the way of flying.

Will Davis · « **Reply #21 on:** March 18, 2014, 06:03:37 PM »

Roy will be missed by all of us from the Carolina Gang,

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2014, 06:12:07 PM »

Roy came to Tucson periodically to fly with us and it was always a plesant occassion. Very nice guy and a very knowledgable engine guy! His development work with Serguey (SP?) really reaped some different, light, and fine running engines for stunt!
Roy was a very plesant gentleman to be around and will be missed here!
I was surprised and saddened by this news today at VSC.

Randy Cuberly

Michael Massey · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2014, 12:39:09 AM »

I am very sorry to hear the news. I met Roy a few times at GSSC. He will be missed.

Mike M

Chuck Feldman · « **Reply #24 on:** March 19, 2014, 06:04:34 AM »

Services;

Forest Hills Funeral services
2001 SW Murphy road
Palm City, fl. 34990

772 287 8484

Friday March 21
10:30 am & 12:00pm

Robertc · « **Reply #25 on:** March 19, 2014, 09:12:15 AM »

Services for Roy will be

Friday, March 21 at 12 NOON
Palm City Presbyterian Church
2700 SW Martin Hwy
Palm City, FL 34990

bob whitney · « **Reply #26 on:** March 19, 2014, 11:56:43 AM »

OK, which is it

Robertc · « **Reply #27 on:** March 19, 2014, 12:29:30 PM »

The service is at the church noon on Friday. The post from Chuck is the Funeral home.

Author Topic: Roy Trantham (Read 4906 times)

Eric Viglione