October 2006 169
A MODEL AIRPLANE—an Unfinished
Dream: Bill Rourke was a 91-year-old man in
Burke Hospice and Palliative Care. Bill was a
retired New York State accountant whose
hobbies included woodcarving and detailed
statuettes of animal and human characters
which he painted and decorated.
In the last few years, Bill began building
remote-controlled model airplanes. He began
building a sophisticated 6-foot-wingspan
Piper Cub, but it was unfinished. The J-3
model was a small replica of the brightyellow,
tail-dragger J-3s that are often flown
even today.
Bill became seriously ill and was admitted
to the Burke Hospice at Valdese, North
Carolina. One day he told his Hospice
Chaplain Ted Swann of the unfinished
project—a model airplane that he had
painstakingly started and thought would
never be finished. When he learned about
Bill’s love for building model airplanes, the
chaplain brought his personal model of a J-3
Piper Cub for Bill to see. He sensed Bill’s
deep disappointment in not being able to
finish his project.
The chaplain knew that unfinished
business often spells grief for those who are
dealing with end-of-life issues. He inquired
about the unfinished J-3 Piper Cub model kit
and was invited to view it. Bill had almost
finished building the fuselage and the wing.
His family permitted the chaplain to take the
kit, and he sought someone with expertise in
building model airplanes.
He turned to Leland’s Toy Plane and
Train Hobby Shop in Hildebran, North
Carolina. Leland’s referred him to Mark
McClellan, president of the Catawba Valley
Remote Control Flyers club located near
Hickory, North Carolina. Upon hearing about
the need for someone to finish the airplane
for a Hospice patient, Mark was interested
and volunteered to take on the project.
Mark would have approximately a week
or two to finish the project in order for Mr.
Rourke to see it. He immediately began to
sand, install sensitive electronic controlling
devices and the engine, and iron on the
covering for the airplane.
In the meantime, the Hospice chaplain
advised Bill that a professional was indeed
finishing his airplane for him. Bill was happy.
He had talked of his unfinished work and
how his hands failed him when he tried to
work on his model. Patient Rourke’s illness
became more serious. Some days he
responded only with one-word answers,
sleeping most of the time.
On Good Friday, the chaplain received the
stunningly beautiful, bright yellow model
from Mark. He brought it to the Burke
Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Mr.
Rourke had slept most of the day. His
responsiveness during the day had been
slight. The chaplain told him that he wanted
him to see what he had started to build, and to
see how beautiful it was.
Bill was amazed. He cried and said, “Oh
my God, oh my God. I never thought it would
be finished. How can I ever thank you?” The
chaplain held the tip of the long wing so that
Bill could stroke the wing with his hands. He
stroked it softly, gently, and cried. He was so
very, very happy. Bill said, “You almost gave
me a heart attack.”
Bill’s business was finished. Earlier he
had affirmed his religious faith. The chaplain
prayed with him and he went to sleep. He
was calm and peaceful. He died two weeks
later.
Bill wanted his airplane to be given to
South Mountain Children’s Home, and at his
request, the chaplain delivered it to Chris
Jernigan, the director of the home, the day
before Bill died.
Quite often, unfinished projects will need
and involve other caring people. Mark
McClellan sensed a pressing need, and
responded with a willingness and personal
dedication to meet that need. Mark, Burke
Hospice and Palliative Care, and the family
and friends of Mr. Bill Rourke, deeply
appreciate you. Thank you.
In the last two weeks Burke Hospice and
Palliative Care, Chaplain Ted Swann has met
many of the Catawba Valley Remote Control
Flyers, and has been profoundly impressed
with their community spirit. When Mark
heard that the airplane had been taken to
South Mountain Children’s Home, he
suggested that his club would provide hot
dogs and the opportunity for some of the
children to fly remote-controlled planes at
Allen’s Field. The members practice flying
their models almost every Saturday and
afternoons on Sunday.
Visit the club Web site at www.cvrcflyers
@charter.com.
Mark McClellan with finished airplane.
Chaplain Swann with the J-3.
Chris Jernigan is the director of the South
Mountain Children’s Home.
Until next time, go teach a kid to fly.
District IV
Bliss Teague, District IV Vice President; [email protected]
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia
Bliss Teague
Vice President
625 5th Ave. SW,
Hickory NC 28602
Tel.: (828) 324-2164
Fax: (828) 267-0956
[email protected]
Associate Vice
Presidents
George Abbott, Raleigh NC;
(919) 848-6719;
[email protected]
Randy Elliott, Radford VA;
Home: (540) 239-0645; Office:
(540) 994-2316;
[email protected]
Chuck Foreman, Kill Devil Hills
NC; (252) 441-5855;
[email protected]
David Jones, Newport NC;
(252) 727-4750;
[email protected]
John Kirchstein, Newark DE;
(302) 731-2831;
[email protected]
Tom McClain, Arlington VA;
[email protected].
Richard (Rick) Moreland,
Edgewater MD; (301) 261-7366;
[email protected]
Steve Moulton, Chesapeake VA;
(757) 421-4545;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator:
George Fryer, Fayetteville NC;
(910) 867-9524;
[email protected]
Contest Coordinators:
RC: Andy Kane, 305 Natick Ct.,
Silver Spring MD 20905; (301)
785-3022; [email protected]
FF and CL: Jim Coffin, 4604
Hollbrook Dr., Annandale VA;
[email protected]
D i s t r i c t I V Volunteers
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/10
Page Numbers: 169