John A. Dunlap, K8RRQ, of Toronto, Ohio, passed away at Trinity West Hospital (Steubenville, Ohio) on February, 24, 2012, after a lengthy illness. He was instrumental in operating several VHF and UHF repeaters in the Toronto/Steubenville, Ohio, and Weirton, West Virginia, areas for many years. He was solely responsible for recently securing the new antenna site on the WTOV Channel 9 television tower in Steubenville, Ohio (Jefferson County), for the 147.66/06 repeater, which has greatly improved 2 meter VHF communications in the area. He was a member of the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club (SWARC). He will be remembered for his public service work in installing and maintaining those repeaters. He will also be remembered for his dry sense of humor, practical jokes, as well as his dedication to Amateur Radio. He was generous in his words, thoughts, and deeds to all who dealt with him. 73, old friend. The Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio community will miss you greatly. (You may find his obituary here: http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=6ff2230801)
I work these repeaters when I am over by where my wife is from (I married Cindy Pollock from Richmond, Ohio) and just wanted to say you meet the nicest folks on the radio over there. Now I know about one of the guys responsible for making that happen, even though I didn't work this Gentleman directly. It takes a lot of effort and funds to maintain repeaters, and we don't give such folks enough credit for doing so. Rest In Peace, Sir.
I first met John when the 147.06 repeater was newly set up in Steubenville on a tower at Hosfelt Electronics on Sunset Blvd. John was a class act and always a gentleman, a truly nice guy. I enjoyed many great conversations with John on the .06 machine throughout the years. Many times on my way from Steubenville back to my now home in Massillon we would talk and John was always happy to hear how far I could get back into the repeater from my car as I drove up Route 43. I am so sorry to hear of his passing, may he rest in peace and may his wife and daughter be comforted by God's blessings.