Allan Willobee

May 2nd, 1943 - June 26th, 2013

Allan's Memory Wall

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To Carolyn and the kids and all who were fortunate enough to know Allan Willobee;

My fondest memory of Allan, and there are many, will always be an adventurous moment in time where things literally came crashing in around both he and I.

Allan and I ('that Brunson boy') were both 15 and headed toward what we thought was the hallmark of adulthood - the obtaining of our drivers licenses...

Jack and Dot Willobee had turned over ownership of their exquisite 1951 Pontiac Chieftain, a sweet automobile, to both Hal and Allan.  Jerry had already begun the customizing process, the nosing and decking of the hood and trunk, the removal of the factory hood decoration and replacing it with body putty and then smoothing it over.  It was the cool thing to do for young boys err-r... Men.  Jerry had a drivers license, Allan and I did not.  Not that we let that stand in our way.  Allan could drive, just not legally.

It was about this time, the custom nosing and decking part, when Jack and Dot left on one of their frequent, but short weekend vacations.  These were always great times when Jack and Dot went on vacation because that was when all hell would break out at the Willobee compound.  It was like an open house for kids.  We had unfettered access to the boat, the Orchard Supply company's repair shop where we could weld stuff and make things and... we could drive all manner of vehicle.

Jerry was busy doing something else this particular day and the car was left alone in the garage when Allan and I decided we'd take it out and go out to the Compton's to see the Compton girls, whom we were quite sweet on at the time.

No problem - what could possibly go wrong?

With Allan at the wheel, we headed north on old 31, probably running about 65 as I recall and coming up on 109th Avenue, on which the Compton girls lived.  They were expecting us.

And then it happened.  There was the loudest cacophony of sound and wind and crashing of metal upon metal.  Visibility zero and someone - or something had thrown what seemed like sand in our eyes and faces!  What in the name of all that is Holy was going on?

The hood of the Chieftain had met the roof!  And at 65 mph!  Now Jerry had been busy, as I mentioned, doing nosing on the hood, which required disabling the lockdown latch of the hood release, which temporarily meant he had to tie it down with rope and drive slowly until the job was completed.  We did not know that part.  The wind vibrations at 65 mph had allowed the hood to cut through the ropes and well, you're getting a pretty good picture now about what was going on here.

Miraculously, Allan's quick thinking and his tall height allowed him to instantly jut his head out the driver's window and slow the whole sequence to a more manageable and safe stop.

The sand we were shaking out from our eyes and hair was actually the front windshield which was made of safety glass and it was literally everywhere.  There were no injuries.  The hood, however, was a much different matter.  It was toast.  There we were, Allan and I on the side of the highway with a hurt Chieftain... we had no tools.  Imagination and fear are strong motivators.  Suddenly we were maniacally  force-folding that hood back into unrecognizable position, jumping up and down on it to  mold it back into drive-able shape.  We did so at considerable speed and cost to the original Pontiac design and without further incident - and without windshield, made our way the rest of the way to the Compton's, according to plan, full-well knowing what lay ahead - a long drive and too much time to think about what we'd done - and all just to see girls.

Two young and tempestuous teenaged boys on a lark, and cruising for chicks, acting cool and now full well knowing there would soon be some sort of hell to pay.  We were some 10 miles from Erie Street and it was dark.  We somehow managed to get that badly wounded Chieftain back home without further mishap.

I can't remember what happened to us for it, I do know it was something we didn't want to have happen but Jack W. was a fairly easy going Dad and I'm sure he chalked it off to 'boys being boys', I can't speak however, for Hal... but I will tell you this; the best part of it all, was doing it with Allan.

I last saw and spoke with him at our 50th reunion last fall.  I've never known anyone who didn't like Allan.  He was curious and inventive.  He was eager to participate.  He was a tenacious worker - and the greatest of fathers and a consummate gentleman - he was Allan, and I shall miss him terribly and remember him fondly, forever.

Farewell, old friend.

Mike

Mike Brunson

Your hearts are heavy right now with grief. But in the days to come your smile will return as you remember the good times you shared with Allan. Our dear Lord Jesus suffered much so that one day soon we will no longer experience the pain and grief of losing our loved ones. Revelation 21:4 promises, "And He (God) will wipe out every tear from their eyes and DEATH WILL BE NO MORE, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore..." May these words bring you comfort and calm your aching hearts.

Joyce Freeman

I know that Glenn Scott would be very saddened by Allan's passing, but I am sure they have united once again to discuss their childhood years growing up together across the street from each other. Glenn always remarked that when Carolyn and Allan were dating, Allan would sleep on Glenn's couch when visiting Carolyn at MSU. Allan assisted at Habitat for Humanity until he took sick, always a pillar at Church, always helped wherever he could and yes always had a story or two. Carolyn, Art, Hal and all the children and family - my thoughts are with you during this time.

Jacqui Cowles

Dear Carolyn and family. I just returned home and read the news of Allan"s passing and I am so sorry to have lost this truly wonderful classmate. We graduated together in 1962 and he has been to all our reunions and had a chance to visit with some many of them each time. We will will miss him and please know that we will acknowledge his passing at our next reunion. A true friend to many will be dearly missed in so many ways Leslie, my dear friend, my heart goes out to you with the loss of your brother.

Dorothy Cutshaw

Dorothy (Peck) Cutshaw

Farewell my friend and classmate of so many years who lived only two blocks away during both grade and high school. We went from bicycles and sledding on the Maple Street hill to cars and trucks of all descriptions. How many miles did we travel together circling the downtown blocks? Around and around and around we went (like most everyone)... Allan was always the kind, understanding friend that everyone loved, respected and wanted to be around. My sincere condolences to Carolyn and the many, many friends and family that that will miss a simply great guy. Till we meet again... Farewell Allan...

Barry Miller

Dear Carolyn and family. Just read Mike Brunson's account of an event with Allen. I have the fondest of memories of spending time at the Erie St. house with Allan, Jerry, Mike Brunson, Greg Smith, Art Patterson and others. Allan was a kind-hearted decent man and will be sorely missed by many. Like Mike, my first car ended up at the Willobee Orchard Supply shop down by the river and received it's first red paint job. Oh what fun we had...what great memories. Carl.

Carl and Sue (Kirchner) Olsen

To Leslie and the entire Willobee family:
I am deeply saddened by the news of Allan’s death. He was one of the first to meet and greet me at our last class reunion. We had a number of nice talks during the 3-day event. It seems like he has always been able to recognize me at these functions over (all) these years and I of course always was able to immediately able to recognize him.
Rest assured, he will be missed by all until we meet again in Glory. My best to everyone in the family.
Art Schulenburg