John,

Read your post yesterday regarding Dick Marlow.

It was 7 years yesterday that Dick passed away in an airplane crash, he is always remembered and deeply missed on the 4th of July. Dick was my father-in-law and you were right in your description, he was a great guy. I just happened to Google his name yesterday and came up with this post.

Here is an update. My mother-in-law, Bev, was in the hospital for 4 months after the crash and we brought her home and provided live in help for the next year. She made a pretty good recovery but is now in assisted living due to dementia.

Piper was in the airplane and survived the crash. She appeared in the shade under one of the rescue helicopters after the crash. She lived with Bev until Bev moved to assisted living. Piper is happily living with my husband and I for the last year and continues to go for walks most days on the airport with us. She is a wonderful reminder of all that we loved about Dick.

My husband, Bruce, has been a pilot since the mid 70's and shared the love of aviation with his father. Given that I enjoyed the mode of transportation that flying offers, to fill the void of a fellow pilot that my husband loss with his father, and I wanted to know what was going on in the cockpit I decided to get my pilot's license. I have been a licensed pilot now for 3 and a half years. The more I fly the more I love it.

I hope this reaches you, I realize it has been a long time coming. Thank you for your heart felt post.

Karyl