Sad news - Rich Eagle RIP

[ChrisB]

I received this from Joy this morning, sad news indeed.

To all of Rich's Model T buddies,

Rich passed last Friday, August 24, 2024. He loved his old cars and his interaction with all of you on the forum.

May the legend of Kalimity Dick live on!

Happy Touring! Joy


Rose & I visited Rich & Joy several times over the years and had a first hand look at their art and old cars.

Rich was not only a good artist he could make any part he needed for a restoration.

We will miss Rich.

Chris & Rose

[Tadpole]

Thank you Chris and Rose, what a tremendous loss.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Sad news, it is the loss of a really good man and contributor to the Model T universe.

[kevinf]

Wow, so sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,
Kevin and Pam Fielding
West Point, Utah

[MKossor]

So sorry to learn this sad news. Will miss his Model T art with many others. Condolances to family and friends.

[perry kete]

It is indeed sad news.
My condolences to Joy and the family.
He will be missed

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

This is awful and shocking news. Feeling terrible to see this. I will miss his sense of fun, his amazing art talents, and his kind treatment of others. May he rest in peace.

[havnfun]

So sorry to hear this, Rich was a fantastic guy, my condolences to his close friends and family

[Oldav8tor]

I have lost a good friend, despite the fact we have never met. I loved Rich's artwork and his willingness to share. His work adorns our club's T-shirts and my wall prominently displays a painting of my ten-year-old dad and grandparents posing in their first car, a 1917 Model T. Without me asking, Rich took it upon himself to paint it from an old photo while he recovered from surgery in early 2022. He generously gave it to me and now it is a cherished family possession.

We got to know each other thru email exchanges and it was my hope that one day our paths would cross - unfortunately that is not to be.....

Men like Rich seldom come along and we have been fortunate to have known him. He will live on thru his art, his cars and the memory of those who knew him. Rest in peace my friend.
Tim Juhl

[John Codman]

I didn't know Rich, but always enjoyed his insights and posts. I feel as if I have lost a good friend.

[NoelChico]

I didn't personally know Rich, but enjoyed his characters, artwork, restoration pics, and his humor. Our community has lost a treasure. He'll bring Heaven lots of smiles.

[Bryant]

Very sad news indeed. one of my favorites in the Model T world. Rest in peace Rich

Bryant

[KeithG]

I only met Rich and Joy once, but remember him as a great guy and very talented person. His paintings were so realistic that you might think they are a photo, he was that good.
He will be missed. Rest in peace my friend.

Keith

[kmatt2]

This is sad news of Rich’s passing. I never met Rich but enjoyed his posts on MTFCA and his art work. RNP Rich.

[CudaMan]

Among his many interests, Rich had an interest in steam cars, so I would occasionally send him old steam car mags and literature. In return, he would send me one of his wonderful calendars featuring prints of his paintings. Here are a couple of pics of Rich and his wife, one from 1978 and the other more recent.

[George House]

Oh No…I am very saddened to hear of Rich’s passing away. I greatly enjoyed the quality of life he contributed thru Forum posts to all of us and viewing his amazingly life like portraits involving Model Ts. May God’s Grace comfort his family.

[modeltspaz]

I never had the chance to meet Rich in person but, I met Rich's wife, Joy and his daughter Sally.
Sally and I worked together at Mattel in El Segundo years ago. Joy was in So. Cal. visiting Sally and we all met to watch a Barbie animated movie in Mattel's theater at the corporate headquarters building.
The first time I met Sally was before her dad joined the MTFCA. We were standing outside at the entrance, talking, when I happened to mention that "I bet I'm the only person in that building that knows how to drive a Model T." Sally replied "No you're not, I know how to drive one. My dad owns three!"
She told her dad, Rich, that she worked with a guy that had a T. A few days later, Sally showed up at my cubicle with one of her dad's beautiful calendars. It was awesome!
A few years later, Sally left the company and we lost touch. I hope Joy, Sally, and the rest of the family are doing ok.
Rich truly was an "Old world craftsman." They're getting fewer and fewer as the days go by.
My condolences to Joy, Sally, and the rest of the Eagle family. May he rest in peace.

[mtntee20]

Our sincere condolences to Joy and the whole family.

Thank You Rich for all you gave to the Model T community. You WILL be missed.

Terry & Sharon Miller

[TWrenn]

Had learned not long ago from Rich Bingham, a good friend of Rich, that he had lung cancer and it was quite the shock. Sadly he didn't last long after the reveal. What a talented man for sure. His artwork is outstanding. I only had limited contact with him through the forum of course and it was always pleasant talk. Yes he will be missed. RIP Rich.

[Steve Jelf]

By Mexican custom, you get old and die. But you live on in the memories and hearts of all those who knew you. After 83 years, the list of those who live on in my memory and my heart is rather long. I expect that for many of us Rich will do the same.

[Norman Kling]

I am very sorry that I did not meet Rich. I would have gone to see him if I had been in that part of Idaho. I enjoyed his posts and art work.
My condolences to his wife and family.
Norm

[Wayne Sheldon]

I just turned on the computer for today, and this is the first thing I saw. So very sad.
Rich was a wonderful, WONDERFUL, human being, in every sense of the word. We never met in person. We traded emails a number of times, Christmas cards and calendars were exchanged for quite a few years. All of his calendars are kept fresh and cherished.
I, like many regulars on this forum knew that he was ill. I had politely inquired what the illness was, but he apparently didn't want to discuss it. So I sent a number of well wishes in the past year or so, but out of respect never again asked for details.
I expected as much, but am saddened to hear (read) that it was cancer. So many good people lose out to that.

My sincerest condolences to Joy (whom he truly loved), his family (which he was devoted to), and all the great close friends he had. Rarely does "he will be missed" mean so much.

Me.

[mortier]

"The Bulb Horn" VMCCA magazine has an "Eagle Art" page featuring Rich's illustrations. He was really talented with a brush. He was also one of my favorite contributors to our forum. See you down the road, Rich.

[Ed Fuller]

I am devastated to hear of the passing of Rich Eagle. My condolences to his family.

He was without a doubt one of the kindest and most positive contributors to the forum. I never recall him making a negative comment or complaint about anything or anyone.

He was an extremely talented artist and craftsman, always making everything he did or fabricated look easy while always staying humble.

It was a pleasure to see his posts on the progress of his ‘14 Touring that he built from rusted and beat up parts. He could perform miracles shaping metal with a couple of pieces of hardwood and some c-clamps.

His presence here will truly be missed.

[Bryce S.]

I'm very sad to read this news. I VERY much enjoyed reading all of his posts and his insight on everything. I'm grateful for the conversations that were had with him as well. Rest easy.

-Bryce

[Bryce S.]

I am devastated to hear of the passing of Rich Eagle. My condolences to his family.

He was without a doubt one of the kindest and most positive contributors to the forum. I never recall him making a negative comment or complaint about anything or anyone.

He was an extremely talented artist and craftsman, always making everything he did or fabricated look easy while always staying humble.

It was a pleasure to see his posts on the progress of his ‘14 Touring that he built from rusted and beat up parts. He could perform miracles shaping metal with a couple of pieces of hardwood and some c-clamps.

His presence here will truly be missed.

I think that was my draw to his posts. He wasn't negative at all. Just good humor and kind point of views with tremendous deposits of valuable information. You said it very well.

[varmint]

This hurts. Condolences to family.

My favorite happy memory with him was going back and forth with cartoons on the forum some years ago. He definitely was the artist.

[John kuehn]

Being a member of the MTFCA and reading and posting on the forum Rich Eagle was a really knowledgable and very talented guy. His posts always had lots on insight about the hobby.
He will definitely be missed and was so much a part and I might say a huge part of this forum. Like others have said he left his mark on each of us. If you look up the older posts for insight and information he is almost always there. A really good guy to say the very least.

[1925 Touring]

While I never met him, I enjoyed reading his posts and looking at his paintings. He always had something good to say.
You will me missed Mr. Eagle.

Austin from Illinois.

[Mark Gregush]

I never met him but wish I could have. Enjoyed all his post over the years and will be missed. My condolences to all his family and friends.

[bill_severn]

Rich was a friend to all. I met him in 2015 while visiting family in Idaho Falls. The Model T hobby has lost a great friend.

Bill Severn

[JohnM]

I'm very saddened to read this. I know it's been said already, but it can't be said enough. Rich was a gentleman who was kind and thoughtful. Always willing to share his vast skills and knowledge. He viewed the world with an almost childlike curiosity and optimism, finding beauty in what most find mundane. I guess that's the eye of a good artist. I will miss him and his witty humor.

John Michaelree

[Kaiser]

That is a blow, for his loved ones, but also to the forum, the Kalamity Dick thread was always the first to open when checking the forum daily, his contributions were without par, i know i'll miss that, but it is a small thing compared to the loss his family must feel.
He'll live on on this forum, his art and his creativity are logged here for future vieuwing forever.
Google 'Rich Eagle MTFCA' and you enter his world, a wormhole of epic proportion
Rich must have been the original 'Steampunk' !
RIP Rich Eagle

[Dallas Landers]

Very sorry to hear this news. I never met Rich but talked many times on line. I loved his talent making things most would consider junk into a like new work of art. I would get a calender every year from Rich and Joy. A card came with it with a sketch drawing of one of my T's. I have all the calenders on the wall in my shop along with the cards showing his wonderful artwork.

My condolences to Joy and his family. A true loss to the hobby and family and friends.

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

What a loss. Rich was a very talented and caring soul. We shared many interests, Ts, antique motorcycles, and anything mechanical. His ability to make parts from scratch, often from scrap he had lying around was second to none. He had the unique gift as an artist to capture beauty in otherwise ordinary subjects, and some of my favorites were found lying around his workshop. Godspeed Rich. You will be missed.

[KirkieP]

Incredible art work.
My prayers are with the family.

[TMiller6]

I never met Rich in person.

I knew him through his magazine cover paintings and the stories about his projects. He worked wonders with metal and he always impressed me with his work.

Our hobby has lost one of the heavy hitters who made this hobby great.

My condolences to Mr. Eagle’s family.

[ChrisB]

Here is an old thread started by Rick about a Glidden Tour he was involved in planning in Idaho.

So much of his good character show in his postings.

I will miss him.

Chris

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/8 ... 1538053566

[Bob McDaniel]

Never got to meet him in person but I remember telling him how much he reminded me of Norman Rockwell. He just had a way of telling a story with his art.

Such a huge loss for us all.

[jab35]

Condolences to family and friends. Sad to lose such a happy and humble man. Everything you all have said is so true.

Here's an old post that for me reflects so much of the good he gave to our 'community'. RIP my friend. Respectfully, jb

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 16227.html

and a link to his obituary page: https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/post ... d=56101261

[KWTownsend]

I am saddened beyond words to hear of Rich's passing. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I enjoyed following his meticulous craftsmanship of parts for restoration and loved seeing his artwork. I was especially touched when he did a painting of my car.

The Model T world has been blessed with his presence. He made it a much better place. I will miss him.

Condolences to Joy and the Eagle family.

: ^ (

Keith

[Herb Iffrig]

What can I say that hasn't already been said?
I never did meet Rich like some have said but considered him a friend. We did exchange emails in the past. He even made a painting or two of some old photos I posted on the forum. It made me think that he and I appreciated some of the same things. That is why he is so well remembered. He was one of us but represented the best of what we can be. There are a few people in the world that have talent and the ability to share it gracefully. Rich was one of those people. When I was surfing the forum and saw that there was a post by Rich, I knew that it would be an enjoyable experience to see what he had to say.
I was at The Old Threshers Reunion at Mt. Pleasant Iowa. I was talking to a friend who I met there who told me of Rich's passing. I was saddened to hear the news.
My condolences to his family for the loss.
His Model T family will miss him too.

[rnwilliams]

I am running a little behind. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Rich. He was one of a kind. I talked to him several times about his paintings which added so much to my love of the Model T Ford. My prayers are with his family. His work brought much joy to my life.
Ricky and Vandy Williams

[jab35]

Richard Eagle obituary, a tribute to a wonderful person, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/po ... d=56261048