Sad News

[The Wild Rover]

I don't know if you knew this man or not, but this was just passed on to me by my friend Raul... Bill Blanton has passed away.
Bill was a regular for firms like PAE, and he worked in places like the Moscow Embassy in general. He was in the mechanical department mostly, as a plumber or General Foreman. He was a good man, and he will be missed. He was always good to me, and had a world and years of experience... Remember him in your prayers tonight.

[canes65]

Yeah just heard myself,Bill was a good guy-worked with him in Kosovo and Vietnam,he will be missed.

[whitts73]

Here's a BEER for you Bill. Enjoyed working with him even tough I am not his craft. Just a good man to have on site. May the god's be blessed with him there.
:cheers

[The Wild Rover]

This was sent to me, and after reading it, I was pretty choked up. This originally made me sad, but after reading it again later, it pretty much sums up how many of us will remember Bill. I am happy he went with dignity.
.:bigbeer Heres to you Bill. Death be not proud.

Please read the letter below.


"For those of you who do not know me, I am Evelyn, Bill Blanton's wife. Today I took time to go thru Bill's list of email addresses and check a little notebook he had with more addresses, so I could write to each of you. It is with great sadness to tell you that Bill passed away at 2 a.m., Saturday, August 4th, peacefully in his sleep. For those of you who knew him in Iraq, you probaby knew he came home early due to being severely jaundiced, arriving home on the evening of Feb. 14th. For those who may not have known Bill had been Iraq, I am sure you are not surprised to hear he was "out there" again -- you know how much enjoyed his travels and running into some of you unexpectedly as went place to place to work. I had a doctor's appt. set up for him the day after he came home - and he had a CTscan that day. The following day our doctor had him hospitalized - and he was in the hospital for 13 days. During that time it was discovered his bile duct was blocked by 10 gall stones -- so surprising considering he had had no pain whatsoever and actually came home, feeling perfectly well -- however, a deep gold color. We were then told that was known as "painless jaundice" and was a red flag to probable cancer of some organ. It was finally determined, after having his gall bladder removed and sent to pathology, it was gall bladder cancer - and possibly had already spread to the area near the liver, as these two organs are located in close proximity. Bill handled the news - and his illness - with a positive attitude, upbeat, with great hope for remission, such grace and courage -- never complaining - even joking with his doctors, nurses and others who were caring for him until I brought him home from the hospital. You know how his sense of humor could be -- and it never failed him. He went thru chemotherapy, begun after he was strong enough from his surgery -- first via IV infusion of two different chemos - all thru the month of April and into May - a total of 3 cycles -- and unfortunately, this chemo did not work -- a couple of weeks later he began another form of chemo via pill form which he was able to take at home. Between the 2 chemos, the doctors agreed it would be a good time to take him to upstate NY to see his Mother, other family there -- before he may not be able to make the trip. We were there a week and it did him so much good, in spite of becoming tired at times. Cancer of the gall bladder is very rare and there is no standard treatment -- such as with other cancers. It is more or less trying the best the oncologist can try -- and his oncologist consulted with other top specialsts in the field to ascertain the best course of treatment. However, this past Tuesday, he was told the results of his latest CTscan done the week before and it was very bad. Although I held onto a thread of hope the scan would show some remission, I knew that he was failing faster and faster. His weight had dropped to 169 by then -- his blood pressure now was low most days - he had lost most of his muscle tissue. Also, he had had 3 mini-strokes about 2 weeks prior - but suffered no ill effects from them. I was told the mini-strokes were no doubt caused by the cancer thickening his blood and causing small clots. The doctor, with tears in his eyes, told Bill it was now in God's hands and he perhaps less than 3 weeks left. Bill took this news as well as could be -- and we agreed not to spend the remaining days with sad faces and tears -- he didn't want that. So, so hard to do -- but for him I did my best to do that for him. He was put on Hospice care - to be done at home - the following day. By then, he was sleeping most of the time, had stopped eating anything -- and I hated to see him suffering, although I knew the pain medication was handling that -- but it still was so, so hard to see him like this. Friday night at 11 pm I gave him his scheduled medication and set my alarm for 2 pm to give his next medication -- and stayed with him for some time, laid down and listened to his steady tho somewhat loud breathing for some more time - then drifted to sleep for a little while. When the alarm went off, I got up, turned on my light - and realized the house was silent. I went to him and he did not respond to my touching his cheek and calling his name, his eyes were fixed and no pulse. From the position he was, it was obvious he had peacefully gone in his sleep -- he was very relaxed appearing, which even the police officer who came himself said the same to me to reasssure me he had been in no distress. In our county, it is mandatory when a person dies at home, even tho they have been under Hospice care, the local city police must come, as well as a detective from the County Sheriff's Office, the EMS personnel - and a representative from Hospice. Every single one of them was so kind and caring to me - and so respectful of him - they all helped me that long night. My heart is breaking over losing him -- but I could have never wished him to live longer as he was -- it was so hard to see and watch him as day by day he failed. He was such a private and proud person. Such a good man. I have heard him speak of each of you at various times -- mostly with stories of things that had happened - usually the funny or nutty things -- how this or that one had made him laugh or was a good friend and so on. I know it meant a lot to him to know each of you and he was always glad to get an email from any of you. He wasn't the greatest correspondent, I know - would hunt and peck his way along on his laptop. I do hope that it is one of you that is included in this message that encouraged him to see a doctor when you noticed the change in his skin color. He did tell me the name, however, I have not remembered it. If you are reading this message, thank you -- you may have given me more time with him. Had he not come home when he did, I may not have had the months I did with him. I know he made friends overseas on his various jobs, and I may not have found all the names and email addresses. If any of you know of someone else I have missed, would you please be so kind as to forward on my message to them. I had tried to encourage him to write some of you during his illness -- thinking perhaps it would be nice for him to receive some encouraging messages -- but as I said before, he was a private person and would not "bother" anyone with his troubles. He also made me promise not to "sneak" into his email and notify you either. But now, i am sure he will forgive me and not thump me on the head from "up there" for doing so. I was sure you each may like to know - and remember him with good thoughts of the times you worked with him. Each of you take care of yourselves wherever you are - and thank you for being a friend to Bill. Evelyn Blanton"

[Megga Watt]

OH My GOD I did not realize who Bill was until after reading this letter. Bill worked for IAP at BIAP as a plumber with a friend of his that had just got kicked out of the country for doing something stupid. He use to joke about what he did I just don't remember what it was now. I remember meeting him after coming back to BIAP from a remote site and sitting in the defac talking with him. I asked if he had tinted eye glasses becouse his eyes were yellow. He replied no he didn't but he had been sick the last couple of days from what he thought was food poisoning. I looked him straight in the eye and said it looked like jaundice to me and that he needed to have the medic have a look at him and take some test. Well 3 days later he was headed home for some more tests. That was the last anyone ever heard from him. Wow sorry to hear it went so far as to cause his demise. I am still floored after reading this letter that was one hell of a eye opener, I will let all his friends know at BIAP know what has happened. If there is a email address or mailing address I know alot of the guys would like to send there respects to his wife.

[The Wild Rover]

I'll send it to you....

[TheJester]

For all those interested, you can send your respects to:

Evelyn Blanton
2681 E. Washington Ave. Apt 19
Eustis Fla 32726-5215

I'm she would be surprised to see just how many of us construction guys out here really liked him.

[RatBrother]

Mrs Blanton,
I am so sorry !!!!I am busy with work and Robert Fairly has taken so much of the attention !! I Knew both people From the Moscow Job.

I worked , under your husband there.
I had heard about Bills cancer before. But nothing more until tonight.

Bill was Truely a great guy . When he spoke, people listened !

I Apologize for the delay, But I am sure it is still in your mind.
WE here at Ratpack ,,, might need to think about a support group , for the survivers. !!