TBARC Silent Keys

It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honor the life of Jack Lunsford, NT7MM, a cherished member of our amateur radio community became a Silent Key on Friday December 20, 2024.

He was active in all aspects of Amateur Radio, a hobby he loved. He was especially generous when it came to Field Day. For many years, Jack hosted the TBARC Field Day activities at his beautiful cabin in the woods near Flagstaff.

Jack NT7MM Lunsford will be deeply missed, but his spirit will forever resonate through the airwaves and in our hearts.

It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honor the life of Gary Larson KD7FVI. Gary was a cherished member of our amateur radio community who passed away on March 20th, 2026. Gary’s public obituary is here

Here’s a personal memory of Gary from Paul Siken (KI7LW):

I got to know Gary at TBARC when he expressed an interest in doing SOTA activations which I had just started learning about myself. We became ham buddies and went on numerous hikes to summits around the Valley as well as Mingus and Spruce Mountain in northern AZ. Gary had a Yaesu FT-857 and vertical with a tripod which ended up being a heavy pack for hiking! He was envious of my smaller knapsack and simple end-fed wire antenna, and so I introduced him to the QRP Labs QCX kit radios. But, they are CW-only rigs which meant Gary had to learn CW.

I helped Gary build a QCX kit for 20m but despite my efforts it was a challenge for him to feel comfortable enough with CW to complete a contact. But, on several occasions (with me by his side), he was able to complete an activation and make four contacts. He had much more fun making contacts on SSB with his FT-857 despite the weight he had to carry.

I enjoyed spending time with Gary, talking about radio, among other things, during our hikes and on our drives up to the northern AZ summits. It was a shock when I recently learned of his passing in March of this year. I miss him very much, and I know others in the club who knew him will miss him too. RIP OM.

Gary Larson KD7FVI will be deeply missed, but his spirit will forever resonate through the airwaves and in our hearts.

It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honor the life of Wayne Hale W6IZK. Wayne was a cherished member of our amateur radio community who passed away recently.

Wayne was first licensed in 1958 as K7HDY, becoming W6IZK in 1966 after moving to Southern California. He and his XYL spent 12 years traveling full-time up and down the West Coast in a 40-foot fifth wheel trailer, volunteering at museums and visitor centers along the way.

In 2015, they relocated to the Phoenix area. Wayne was active on VHF, UHF, and 33 cm, and a longtime member of the Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club here in Phoenix. He was especially devoted to AllStarLink, running two simplex nodes — node 29629 on 927.700 MHz (PL 151.4 Hz) and hub node 2009 in Phoenix.

In recent years, Wayne had been exploring digital voice modes with real enthusiasm. He had picked up an Alinco DJ-MD5 dual-band DMR HT and was having a great time learning DMR through a ZUM Spot, and had renewed his interest in D-STAR via hotspot using an Icom ID-5100. His station also included an AnyTone AT-D578UV tri-band DMR mobile and an Icom IC-7300.

Working within HOA antenna restrictions, Wayne still managed a respectable station — a 5-element 2-meter beam for SSB and a 53-foot end-fed wire covering 40, 20, and 6 meters.

73, Wayne. You will be missed.

Wayne Hale W6IZK will be deeply missed, but his spirit will forever resonate through the airwaves and in our hearts.

It is with a heavy heart that we remember and honor the life of Mark N1MAE Heroux, a cherished member of our amateur radio community who passed the third weekend of July 2024.

Mark’s passion for amateur radio was evident in everything he did. His call sign, N1MAE, was synonymous with excellence and dedication in the world of amateur radio. Mark’s enthusiasm was contagious, and his technical expertise was deep. He was always ready to listen, offer advice, and share his vast knowledge with anyone eager to learn.

Mark N1MAE Heroux will be deeply missed, but his spirit will forever resonate through the airwaves and in our hearts.

TBARC lost another long-time member this past Saturday Feb 13, Roger had fallen in January and then ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, lumbar fractures, and a blood clot.

Although Roger had not been active the past couple of years, he was a Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Training Instructor, VE and EmComm coordinator.

When Rogers was able, he was always available for mentoring members. Roger will be sorely missed for his advice and counsel.

Services will be announced at a later date.

TBARC lost one of its own recently. Gary Cline AF7BJ succumbed to complications due to COVID-19 on January 4, 2021.

Gary had been a long-time member of TBARC, served on the board in multiple capacities, and was a great supporter of club events. Whether it was the TBARC weekly net, the monthly breakfast or directing traffic at the hamfest, Gary was always available and one we could always count on.

Gary’s obituary can be found at https://www.gilbertmemorialpark.com/obituaries/gary-h-cline/.

Nobody will forget Gary’s laugh, or his passion for camping – and then operating his radios as he camped. We will miss him. AF7BJ/SK.

James Franklin Skinnell, age 78, passed away on February 10, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. James was born March 4, 1942 in Wellington, Kansas to James and Sabella Skinnell. He was a professional locksmith and his passion was serving as a Deputy Sheriff for 35 years with Maricopa County Sheriff Department. Jim was preceded in death by his son Michael in 2001 and triplet sisters who died in infancy. He is survived by his eternal companion Betty Skinnell, children Danny, Janet, Trudy and Brian, one sister Rebecca, 14 grandchildren and 31 soon to be 32 great grandchildren. He was very proud of 5 of his grandsons who are serving in the armed forces.