Belated Recognition for an Absent Comrade

[DCWilson]

In pensive moments I think about forum members from years ago who no longer post, and I sometimes try to resolve their status. I just confirmed that Richard Wayne "Dick" Stover, whose handle here was diamonback68, moved on ahead back in August 2018. He last posted just a few months earlier.

Richard "Dick" Wayne Stover Obituary 2018 - Harden Pauli Funeral Home

From his posts and some side correspondence I came to think of Dick as one of those friends one never actually has the chance to meet. Sadly the number of those now grows daily.

 

[ladder13]

Loooong time member and great guy, always willing to share his knowledge. One of the Lakeland show gang.

From 4 1/2 years ago.

https://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/609275-where-s-diamonback68.html?highlight=diamonback68

 

[pharmer]

I have exchanged email with Dick until maybe a year and a half ago. Just called his phone, voice mail full. Sent a text. I need verification, although it doesn't look good. I believe his full name is Richard Leroy Stover. Will report if I hear back. Truly one of the good guys. Joe

 

[ladder13]

Well, Dick stopped visiting the forum 3 months before the man in the link's death.

 

[DCWilson]

I have exchanged email with Dick until maybe a year and a half ago. Just called his phone, voice mail full. Sent a text. I need verification, although it doesn't look good. I believe his full name is Richard Leroy Stover. Will report if I hear back. Truly one of the good guys. Joe

Joe, thank you for looking further into this matter. With additional research it now appears to me that I confused the man I identified on the top post with the forum member diamonback68. My apologies to friends who clearly knew Dick better than I did.

Diamonback68 is now listed as "Absent Comrade" because a few days ago I asked Lee Jarrett to make the change based on Dick's six-year silence on this forum and my jumping to a conclusion after looking at only two or three obituaries. I would happily see that status reversed if Dick is alive but incommunicado.

 

[pharmer]

Well, Dick stopped visiting the forum 3 months before the man in the link's death.

He hasn't been well for quite some time. He's been through chemo several times in the past 15 years, CML (chronic myologenous lymphoma, I might be mistaken) and I know I haven't seen him since the Lakeland show was at the Lakeland Center (Now the RP funding center). Korean War vet (b 1934), he would be 90 this year.
I bought this gun on 04/21/2012 (according to the date stamp on the original), Dick bought the exact same gun from another vendor at the Lakeland show and would have got this one too: "Joe, If you don't buy it, I will."
Better times. Joe

 

[pharmer]

Joe, thank you for looking further into this matter. With additional research it now appears to me that I confused the man I identified on the top post with the forum member diamonback68. My apologies to friends who clearly knew Dick better than I did....

I still say he IS my friend, although I never got down to Sebring to see him and I now regret that. Joe

 

[ladder13]

He hasn't been well for quite some time. He's been through chemo several times in the past 15 years, CML (chronic myologenous lymphoma, I might be mistaken) and I know I haven't seen him since the Lakeland show was at the Lakeland Center (Now the RP funding center). Korean War vet (b 1934), he would be 90 this year.
I bought this gun on 04/21/2012 (according to the date stamp on the original), Dick bought the exact same gun from another vendor at the Lakeland show and would have got this one too: "Joe, If you don't buy it, I will."
Better times. Joe

I remember that conversation/post.

 

[DCWilson]

Well, Dick stopped visiting the forum 3 months before the man in the link's death.

Yes, and that fact helped me persuade myself that our Dick and the man in the obituary were the same person. In retrospect, that looks a little hasty on my part.