Reflective memories, in their own words, from Robin and Stefani Ward: At the age of 15, through different jobs, Skip saved enough money to build his own car. He found all the parts needed through various places, junk yards, bosses' yards, whatever. The day came when it started up, and he drove it around the neighborhood as his father and uncle were on the front porch. Skip's father was none too pleased, and took a hammer to the vehicle. Skip fixed it, again drove by his father and uncle, this time with his finger up in the air! I heard this story 3 times, by 3 different men, but it must have been a sight. This man could fix anything that had a motor! He knew every nook and cranny, every noise, good or bad. And he fixed it, with no problems. During the '89 earthquake, he was in a big machine, and did not know what was happening. He felt the machine swaying and kept yelling at whoever to stop it. Finally, he came out of the machine, only to see all 300 plus employees running. He went out and saw the ground rocking and rolling. That's when he realized he was riding out an earthquake. The day he proposed to me in a gorilla outfit. .. I heard the garage door open and the car leave the house so he could go to work (or so I thought.) Nope, he was in the house getting in his gorilla outfit. I saw a shadow, I called out to whoever, "I have a bat!" The shadow kept getting closer. Finally I started to slightly scream out Skip's name. I heard a weird noise, turned on the light and I see this gorilla on his knees with a ring, asking me to marry him! Oh, no way! Skip took off the mask, asked me again, I said "No, ask me next week, after I recover." We spent 24 years of wedded bliss together. This man is the Love of my life! The Best thing to ever walk into my life! Bonfire… you needed to call the fire dept in the a.m. to inform them of your plans. They acknowledge it, you then start bonfire, keeping an eye out for whatever, winds, brush, shrubs, homes…Not Skip! He decides to start it at night, kerosene, diesel, gasoline, you name it! Well… we lived near a highway, and a deputy sheriff driving by saw this humongous flame and calls the fire department. They show up, tell Skip do not add anything to that fire. Me, being a pain in the butt (lol), got off my chair and handed it to him! The fireman told me and Skip to knock it off, or we would be arrested. They put out the fire! LOL Skip would do anything for anyone, no matter how big or small. Family first. Friends forever.