OBITUARY-w/ Family Permission.

[beemerred]

One of the BMW MOA`s finest young men was killed in a small airplane crash late Thursday night. Garth Eppley, aka YB in IN ( Yankee Beemer in Indiana) took a small airplane from Bloomington, IN. to Lafayette, IN. for an audition/rehearsal for a summer opera project. There were four young IU music people on board and the pilot and all were killed. The rain and fog were so bad that although homes around the Monroe Co. Airport heard the crash it was five hours before the crash site was found. This morning Bill Eppley called me to let me know and asked me to make an anouncement on the BMW MOA network. I will make more posts as funeral arrangements are made. I have been on many rides with Bill and Garth and can not imagine the loss and heartbreak to the family. My and your thoughts and prayers will go out to the Eppley family. With much regret, Kerry W. Key aka beemerred

[riderR1150GSAdv]

This is by far the worst news I have heard in a long time. My heart goes out to the Epply family in this time of grief. :cry I am at a loss for words. This is so terrible.....

[tessler]

This is simply horrible, devastatingly sad news.
My heart goes out to the Eppley's and the other victims' families.

[Bokrijder]

I'm sitting at my computer in shock. Though I never met Garth in person, his personality and life were alive on these pages. What a tragic loss.

My thoughts and prayers for his family.

Motard

[Burnszilla]

I feel sick to my stomach.

News Story 1 (http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/breakingnews/local_story_111151732.html)
News Story 2 (http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/LOCAL/604210535/1006/NEWS01)
News Story 3 (http://www.wlfi.com/dsp_story.cfm?storyid=37721)
News Story 4 (http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/14396137.htm)
News Story 5 (http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4802138&nav=9Tai)
News Story 6 (http://www.wtwo.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=6414)

My thoughts go out to the family.

[RTRandy]

That is so painfully sad and shocking. I'm just sick to hear that. If you scroll down to other posts on the campfire,you'll see a post from him titled: I have a Job! Finally! which was dated 4/14/06

He was so proud and filled with so much hope and thrilled to be singing with the opera and he made a point to share his new success with everyone here.

It brings tears to my eyes to read that.

We gotta make every day count. God bless him.

[Mika]

This is stunning news. My heart goes out to the family. We share a loss of a fine young man.

[username]

this is terrible news. i'm in shock. my thoughts are with his family...

[Burnszilla]

Garth on the left.
http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/1792002-M.jpg
photo by: Kbasa

[boomyr]

Very sorry to hear about this. I got to meet Garth at Loraz's Solstace last summer and we rode home together along with Merrittgene, Woodnsteel, and RedHot. I found him to be a very enthusiastic, friendly and outgoing young guy.
My regards to Garth's framily.

[Grey_Matter]

This is absolutely heart breaking.

RIP Garth.

[PacWestGS]

Very sad news, makes me think of 'Buddy Holly' and 'Richy Valanze' at this moment; sometimes our next greatest generation are taken without notice. My prayers are with his family and his friends. This horrible horrible news.

Life is short enough, I hope he lived the parts he had with the same spirit he brought to all of on the forum.

YB in IN, RIP

Let's remember him at the rally.

Also where can we send flowers? Are there any other needs of the family at this time?

Russ

[bubbagazoo]

I have only been an MOA member since the end of January of this year and have not personally met any MOA members. I felt joy when Garth announced his summer employment with the Opera. And I have to say that I am feeling remorse at his passing. If it were possible for me to extend my condolences to his family and personal friends, I most certainly would do so.

[dancogan]

Lord! Our thoughts and prayers to Garth and his classmates and families. How sad and tragic. I exchanged e-mails with Garth and met him, sharing with him my son's love of music, who is also a graduate student hoping some day to get a job with an orchestra. Garth, we will miss you.

[Burnszilla]

from www.wthr.com:

Garth Eppley, tenor, was a native of Wabash, IN. He held a bachelor's degree in Voice Performance with Honors in Performance from Anderson University, where he studied with Fritz Robertson. His IU Opera Theater roles included Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Second Man in Armor in The Magic Flute, and the Lawyer in Peter Grimes. He was a frequent soloist with the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, with which he recently sang the role of Pilatus in Arvo Pärt's Passio. Eppley was also a frequent soloist with the Lafayette Bach Chorale, where he had sung on such programs as Handel's Solomon, Rachmaninoff's Vespers, and the Festival of Sacred Choral Music under the baton of guest conductor Craig Jessup of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Last summer, Eppley was a participant, along with other singers from the United States and Canada, in the Charley Creek Vocal Workshop, an intense program of aria and song study. He was a master's student studying with Timothy Noble at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

[Cliffy777]

Deepest sympathy to Garth's family. What a terrible loss.

[SheRidesABeemer]

I am so sad to hear this, there is no understanding why one with so much ahead for himself has been taken from us this soon.

Gail

[bullit7801]

:cry :cry
stunned, very sad and sick at heart.

tb, in shock.

[BubbaZanetti]

my god..........this is heartbreaking, i was just talking to him a few weeks ago, making rally plans for the summer.............wow, i'm speachless, my condolences to Garth's family..

[chasman]

I'm at a loss for words. Such sad sad news. Our heart felt condolenzes to Garth's family. You are in our prayers.


Chuck and Julie Manley

[CARVERBOATBOY]

This is tragic, my hart goes out to Bill and his family.

[SNC1923]

This is awful news and, as so many others have said, truly breaks my heart. I hadn't met Garth, but knew a great deal about him and his likeable personality through this website. I feel like I've lost a member of my family.





:cry

[Hodag]

no f$cken way
I put the cursor over the thread to see who, and it hit me like a punch right to the chest, I opened it, read it, saw his smiling face, his whole life before him, teared up, read it again

I only met Garth once, he was onbe of those guys you always will remember. he was special had a unique talent. Garth was a decent kid, a really decent kid. He sang a little, I was in awe.

My heartfelt sorrow goes to the family.

why?
why?
why?

[ybnews]

Reading this heart breaking news gives me the same horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach as when I read about the tragic loss of YB Greg McQuide.
Garth was another young, rising star with infinate potential to touch and improve all whos lives he encountered. We are all much poorer without Garths light shining.
Too sad,
Much too sad.
Dana Lewis

[Boingo]

Godspeed Garth

[ian408]

I am speechless.

God Speed to you Garth and to your family, my deepest sympathy.

Ian

[manicmechanic]

!!!
I hurt for his loss, and for his family. I met Garth last year, what a fine young man.

A veritable shame.

[ironMan]

WOW that is shocking news. I never met Garth but he was one of those rare people who’s spirit could be felt through his words. Reading his posts was like catching up with an old friend.

We will all be poorer for the loss.

[eddie]

I also never met Garth but read many of his post here.I am very sad to hear this.Our condolenzes to his family.

Julie and Eddie Layton

[dbrick]

This is just awful.

I didn't know Garth personally, but it felt like I did from reading his posts. I also have a music background, and know how tough a field it is, and I cheered for him when he announced he'd gotten a job.

My sympathies go out to his family. If there's a life after, I'm sure he's making celestial sounds.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Rest in Peace Garth, I never met you in person though I admired your zest for life and your relentless pursuit in what you believed in and loved, yet still found time for your family and relationships, bringing joy to hundreds if not thousands with your melodic sounds. You lived several lifetimes in the short time that you had on this planet, may your example inspire those of us that have not yet been called...

[Colt03]

Garth came out to our Pemi-River Rally a few years and rode to Maine for Lobster ! He was a welcome addition to the YB's !
We followed his issues and travels, bike problems and rescues. I was always amazed he had such a positive outlook and musical talents. I am sorry to see his time on earth cut short, We don't always know why this happens but can only suck it up and move foward.

Godspeed Garth, We will miss you.

[Visian]

God must have needed another rose in his bouquet, another voice in his choir.. :cry

Ian

[jgr451]

Sad sad sad.
He will be missed.

[MrsKbasa]

Garth on the left.
http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/1792002-M.jpg
photo by: Kbasa

Dave and I are hearbroken. Tragic.

[RedBeemer]

Damn, even tho I never met the kid in person, just on this forum, it hit me like loosing a family member. Nothing worse than loosing a child, nothing.
My heart goes out to the family.

[Braddog]

I'm sure you're singing in the big chorus in the sky now.

Like some others, I hadn't met Garth personally, but felt I knew him because of the way he shared his life events on this forum.

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends, of which apparently, there were many.
:(

[RevWillie]

I got the opportunity to meet Garth @ the Forum gathering in the beer tent in Lima last year. He was a good man,a involved young BMW rider, and a terrible loss to the Beemer family and the world.

I would propose a major toast to his memory and to our memories of our time with him at the Friday gathering of the Forum Folks. He would have appreciated the honor I think. :beer

[BEinIN]

Laura and I just returned from Bloomington. The loss we feel is totally unimaginable. The reality hasn't sunk in yet. Tomorrow we will be making plans for the funeral service. Kerry, thanks for posting the obit. I will post the arrangements when we have them made.

To all of Garth's and my friends on the forum and in the moa. Thank You! I look forward to seeing you all at a rally in the future. I must go now my tears are making it hard to do this. Bill

[Belg]

One more person I would have enjoyed meeting, gone before the chance arose.

May the Roads in Heaven outshine the nicest of roads on earth. We'll all be looking for someone to lead the ride when we get there.

Godspeed.

Mark

[PacWestGS]

Laura and I just returned from Bloomington. The loss we feel is totally unimaginable. The reality hasn't sunk in yet. Tomorrow we will be making plans for the funeral service. Kerry, thanks for posting the obit. I will post the arrangements when we have them made.

To all of Garth's and my friends on the forum and in the moa. Thank You! I look forward to seeing you all at a rally in the future. I must go now my tears are making it hard to do this. Bill


Bill and Laura,

Our deepest heartfelt condolences to the both of you. If there is anything I (we) can do to help, please ask.

I just can't believe it has happend.

God has a plan for each of us, and there are sometimes we question his grace, but there must be a higher calling at this time for Him to have taken Garth so early in life.

My blessings are with you at this time of your loss.

Peace be with you.

Russ

I'm crying too, it's just too much right now.

[selil]

I was in Lafayette Thursday night and never heard a thing on the news... This is very very sad news.

[Rich]

I too had never met Garth, but almost feel as if I had just by hanging out in here and reading his posts.

To Bill and Laura, know that we are all thinking of you and will have you in our thoughts and prayers.

Garth will me missed by all of us.

Rich

[EastTNBeemer]

I'm sorry to hear the sad news. My prayers are with the Eppley family. :(

[threeflys]

From a fellow Hoosier, my thoughts and sympathies are with you.
Chris

[einnar]

The sounds you hear on earth are now a little duller. The level of optomism and energy a little lower. It's noticeable, and missed. I was just starting to get to know Garth, via events, emails, etc. Truly one of the special ones is gone. He brightened everything around him.
Bill and Laura, if you need anything, let us know.

[RebeccaV]

Bill, my most heartfelt condolences to you and Laura.

I knew Garth mainly through this forum, but did have the pleasure of meeting him in Lima. I remember being worried when he posted his thread that he was stuck in SD with what turned out to be a bad starter.

I feel like I've lost a member of my family.

[Ron_B]

My sincere condolences to his family and friends

[Colt03]

I was talking to my wife Susan about the plane accident, trying to make sense of why a young man in his prime is taken from us.

She was quick to respond " he must have been a very talented musician, all the great musicians seem to go that way. " So Garth, you have left this planet the same as Buddy Holly, Hank Williams SR, Lynard Skynard, Stevie Ray Vaughn and I am sure a few I left out. So I hope you get to meet them up in heaven and show them how you Sing !

Bill and Laura, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless,

[BradfordBenn]

Bill and Laura-

I am so sad and heart broken to hear the news. I am just in shock. You have my depest sympathies and condolences but that seems so shallow... Garth, Bill, Laura and the Epply family you are in my thoughts.

I was lucky enough to have ridden with Garth a few times as well as gotten to hang out with him at various events. The MOA and the world are made a little less enthusiastic by his loss.

[BMWGypsy]

I am heartsick at this news. My condolences to the Eppley family. This community will never be the same.

[barryg]

Didn't know him personally, like a lot of you. Knew him from the posts on our forums. One of our family is now gone, but he will not be forgotten and he will be missed. My condolences to his family.

[BobFV1]

RIP Garth

[olsalt]

Bill & Laura

I too had the distinct honor of meeting your son at last years Summer Solstice, and I was totally devistated by the news. I will be the first to admit it brought tears to my eyes. So young, so full of life and enthusiastic about his future. Having lost a son, I know your pain.

I shall never forget sitting around the campfire with nothing but the sounds of the night as background music, and listening to the sounds coming from his throat. The singing sent chills down my spine. What an incredible young man you have raised. We are all worse off from his loss.

Garth
In the words of Vince Gill " Go rest high upon that Mountain, for your work on earth is done" :(

[kbasa]

I took this picture last summer in Lima and remember thinking, here are a couple of guys that are going to be the future of this organization.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/29416719-M.jpg

Garth, we hardly knew ya, but we loved ya just the same.

I got a note from Garth one time wanting to know if we were going to be around for lunch one day. He and his buddy were driving across the country over Christmas break and were headed to SF. We took them to Yank Sing, a great Dim Sum place here in SF, where they were properly mystified by the food. Apparently, they weren't big on seafood, but most of the stuff Yank Sing sells is. They managed to get a decent meal and were having a ball.

We wandered out for a walk down the Embarcadero, which is where I snapped the photo Burnszilla put up.

Thursday evening, I was in Chicago for business, (actually, all of last week) and I had a classical station on in my hotel room. They started playing some opera and I was digging it pretty well. I had my book and the opera made me think of Garth. I thought it would be cool to learn more about a musical genre I know little about and it would be cool if someone that knew, like Garth, would be willing to give me some suggestions about what to listen to. Come July, I'd have to ask him.

The next morning, while I was getting ready for work, the Chicago news had a story on about a plane that went down in Indiana. I didn't think anything of it and went on, worked and flew home. As we landed in SF, and taxied in, I was able to turn on my cell phone, where I got a text message from Burnszilla telling me Garth was gone.

So sad. So young. So full of promise. Such a loss to anyone that knew him.

My condolences to Bill and Laura. You did a nice job and raised yourself a fine young man. We thank you for that and want you to know our hearts go out to you.

Dave & Tina

[iRene]

Garth had the right stuff. There was that disciplined/Midwest sensible in conjunction with the musical/artistic that made for both a fine rider and accomplished singer. I so looked forward to seeing him at events! And I'm glad to have bragging rights to having known him.
He represented to me the things I was hoping for the future of the MOA, and I was looking forward to buying a front row seat when he would eventually came to the east coast professionally.

I am so very, very, VERY sorry.

[Motorman]

My condolances to the family. Fair weather and smooth roads forever to the departed.

Live each day as if it were the last you would have. No one knows the sum of their days, enjoy them, live them, do what you can to make the world a better place for your having been there. All we leave behind are memories of what we were, leave good ones when you can and be honest to thine own self.

[BlackFly]

Garth lent us his happy and confident persona whenever he was around. We always looked forward to his 'guest' appearance at motorcycling events. I had hoped to hear the Tenor as his career blossoms.

We are Most saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the families of his friends.

Sadly,

Fred
BFF

[RatSnake]

My deepest sympathy to the Epply family. Another life cut far too short. I had the distinct pleasure to hear Garth sing at the last summer solstice. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

Dennis Murphy
Third Lake, IL

[BradfordBenn]

At the family's request, I have started a thread where we can share memories about Garth. It is at http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=119183#post119183

[osaiyid]

A death of a dear one hurts badly, expecially an untimely one. My deepest condolences to the Gath's family.

[Muriel]

This is such tragic news. If I remember correctly, Garth was the young man who jumped in the river to pull out some tents at Charleston Rally . . . he is the young man who saved someone's dog who was zipped up in the tent. He was such a happy person, always smiling, always willing. I emailed him recently to ask if he would help locates some old Motorcycle Owners of Vermont records from a charter member's basement should that member need help (not able to tackle the stairs at the time), and he graciously agreed.

I first met Garth at the Trenton Rally when he was in Camp Trenton. I am so terribly sorry for his loss. I never met his parents, but I hope to some day. My heart is with you both. Garth, I never had the opportunity to hear you sing, but I hear you now.

Muriel Farrington

[j-budimlya]

Some folks say "damn motorcycles"

I have too frequently had to say "damn small planes"

Some losses are too hard to put in words....

RIP Garth

[Motorman]

Some folks say "damn motorcycles"

I have too frequently had to say "damn small planes"

Some losses are too hard to put in words....

RIP Garth

Don't blame the plane for the operators error. Flying into weather is not safe or prudent.

[j-budimlya]

Don't blame the plane for the operators error. Flying into weather is not safe or prudent.

My comment was about "relationship" only....

I have lost too many friends from this particular activity...and the causes were all over the map...

It's just sad when it happens...

And I am a big fan of bikes and planes....

[Bob_M]

I knew Garth from the forum. Watching his young life unfold with optomism and promise was a joy to behold. To see that taken away is a tragic shock.
Sincere condolences. :cry

[BEinIN]

Here is a link to the Funeral Home.

www.mcdonaldfunerals.com


Garths official obituary is there also.

Weather permitting. Garths last ride with me.
If anyone wants to ride in and stay over friday night. Saturday morning I plan on taking the same ride that Garth and I last did together.

Back in November we put a fresher heart and legs in the original "Red Pony".
I think Garth posted a link to some pictures on smugmug. Anyway, It was a nice sunny November day and we took the bikes out to check out the engine/tranny swap. It is about a 60 mile loop around the reservoir area here in Wabash. Meet at my house at 247 Falls Ave. Wabash Indiana say around 11 AM saturday morning.

Bill Eppley

[Voni]

Bill and Laura,

Hugs across the miles. We, like others have said, can't imagine the sorrow. But how proud you must be of the wonderful joyful young man he grew to be.

Thanks for pointing out his smugmug account. More beautiful memories there.

http://gartheppley.smugmug.com/

Voni and Paul Glaves

[dzimbric]

Bill and Laura,

My heartfelt condolences to your family. Words cannot express my feelings of this loss.

I am glad I was able to spend some time with Garth and yourself.

[oneflag]

I live in southern Indiana and I am a new member. I heard about the crash on the news. I was attending an adult Sunday school class last Sunday and one of the gentlemen in class new family members of some of the plane crash victims. He asked that we pray for the families. I never met Garth but I took it personal when I later found out he was a BMWMOA member. And from reading the forum such a great guy. What a small world! He will be missed.
GOD Bless!

[BEinIN]

I appreciate all of the condolences offered up on this site. My son was my heart and will be missed. I want you all to know that the last night of my son's life, he and all of his friends on that night were having so much fun. We were told by people who drove them to the airport that they were laughing and full of joy. These were all such wonderful, talented young adults. It was just an accident-there is no understanding, no need for blame. The need here for all of our families is for your prayers. I often heard Garth speak of these wonderful friends and we knew one of them very well. Plain and simple-love never dies. So to my baby, Garth, Georgina, friend, Zach, Chris and Robert, May the Lord Bless you and keep you until we meet again. Please don't make any comments about Georgina. Her parents are in so much agony-I know, because I held both of them. It was just an accident.
Laura Eppley

[xsPain]

I really wanted to come up with something clever to say, but everyone has said so much already.

It is often not the length of ones life, but quality of the time that really matters. Seems like he, and his friends, did well in that regard.

[beemerred]

It`s 7:30 here in St. Louis and I`ve been home from Wabash, IN. for a couple of hours or so.Sitting down reflecting on the week-end with a cold Bud, Wilco playing on the computer, and what I thought would be a broken heart. It hurts but I`m also inspired. There were lots of young people of faith at the funeral and they were so thoughtful. They did not question A) their faith B) their love for Garth C) place any blame on the pilot! There was lots of Garth stories, pictures, video`s, singing (wonderful, powerful, and meaningful) and most of all the sharing of sorrow- spreading the pain and sorrow over a larger pallette to try and help Bill and Laura and the rest of the Eppley family suffer a little bit less. I think it did for now but that they will have time in the future that their hearts will sink and they will think about what might have been. Today, before I left we took a short ride that Bill and Garth took one lovely November afternoon after they had worked on Garth`s K75. It was mostly the "rounders" ( it was great meeting Jeff ), some of Bill`s local riding friends ( even some Harley guys that could not have been more supportive), the Dean @ Anderson College who had become more than that with Garth , and a few other assorted friends like a tired old redhead from St. Louis. The ride was just another way of saying Good Bye to Garth. I know from talking to Bill and Laura that they were truly impressed by the thoughts and comments made about Garth here on the Forum. Laura asked Bill if he and Garth actually knew all of these people who have responded and Bill told her that all of the comments were from kindred souls and spirits of BMW motorcycling people who know Garth and/or Bill truly on many different levels and that all the replies are heartfelt sentiments from people who care. Speaking as one who also cares, Thank You Bill and Laura for Garth, a Man who will be missed. beemerred