Dad worked for Continental / United Airlines for 27 years, 8 months, 3 days. Out of those 27+ years of his career, Dad was a lead mechanic for at least 15 years. He was very well known at Hobby and many of the folks there really liked him as a person and his work ethics.
He always wanted to get on to day shift as a lead mechanic, but there were several people in front of him as far as seniority. So for many years, dad worked a 4/10 graveyard shift Sunday – Wednesday nights. We would have supper as family by 5ish, Dad would go lay down for about an hour and then he would get up and leave by 7:15pm or so to head to work… that was the type of life style that I grew up with.
The guys/ladies at Hobby have been very supportive in this whole process. They are a very caring group of people. Mom wrote up a thank you note to everyone at Hobby and I delivered it to Dad’s supervisor tonight, August 17, 2014. I was talking to Dad’s supervisor and I looked over to Dad’s computer and felt emptiness. It truly felt weird being there at the hanger knowing that Dad was supposed to be working tonight and he wasn’t.
Dad is no longer physically with us today, but his legacy at Continental / United Airlines will be with us forever.