Ben C. Toney Memorial
Donation protected
Ben Claud Toney passed away on May 10th 2018 at the age of 87. We will miss him dearly and nothing will be able to replace the man who, as well as becoming a pioneering radio pirate in the North Sea, was also the most loving father, grandfather, uncle and friend. "His girls" as he liked to call us, are going to especially miss his stories about the old days, his wealth of knowledge and his companionship. Right now there is a gap about the size of Texas in our hearts. Luckily, in his 80s he found the internet and his presence here allowed him to not only connect with his family in the UK but also with the wider community and through his conversations and collaborations he was able to leave an online legacy. The most significant contribution being his book of memoirs which is hosted here on the Radio London website. Ben was also a respected genealogist who not only put thousands of hours into researching several books on his own family tree but also helped countless other families research their own. He may not be with us any longer but he left us so many ways to remember him and for that we are truely grateful.
In memory of Ben we would like to help the North Texas Fisher House based at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Although best known as being Program Director of Radio London, Ben also served in the US Navy during the Korean War. As a result he was able to receive medical care and finally hospice care at the VA Medical Center. Fisher House Inc. is an international charity which provides veterans and their families a place to stay when they live too far from the hospital. Staying at Fisher House meant that we were able to be at the hospital site with Ben during his final days. The facilities were first class and the warmth and generosity of the staff was outstanding. They really went above and beyond their duties. We met many families during our stay there who were going through the most difficult of times and everyone expressed how grateful they were that Fisher House existed.
Fisher House not only provides accommodation at no cost but also provides laundry and cooking facilities. There is an abundance of communal food provisions and local volunteers often provide gifts or meals for the guests.
Ben did not express a wish for a funeral or a charity to donate to, but he was very relieved to have his family with him by his side and was really impressed when we told him how well we were being taken care of. We think he would definitely approve of donating to such a good cause. So in lieu of flowers we request that friends and family donate here and we will pass on the donations to the North Texas Fisher House. We wanted to do this via their website but they do not have a way for people to leave messages so we prefer to do it this way so that we can celebrate Ben's incredible life and raise money for a good cause all in one place. If you wish to donate in another way, e.g. via Paypal or direct to Fisher House, then please use the contact link on the page and we can arrange for that to happen.
In memory of Ben we would like to help the North Texas Fisher House based at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Although best known as being Program Director of Radio London, Ben also served in the US Navy during the Korean War. As a result he was able to receive medical care and finally hospice care at the VA Medical Center. Fisher House Inc. is an international charity which provides veterans and their families a place to stay when they live too far from the hospital. Staying at Fisher House meant that we were able to be at the hospital site with Ben during his final days. The facilities were first class and the warmth and generosity of the staff was outstanding. They really went above and beyond their duties. We met many families during our stay there who were going through the most difficult of times and everyone expressed how grateful they were that Fisher House existed.
Fisher House not only provides accommodation at no cost but also provides laundry and cooking facilities. There is an abundance of communal food provisions and local volunteers often provide gifts or meals for the guests.
Ben did not express a wish for a funeral or a charity to donate to, but he was very relieved to have his family with him by his side and was really impressed when we told him how well we were being taken care of. We think he would definitely approve of donating to such a good cause. So in lieu of flowers we request that friends and family donate here and we will pass on the donations to the North Texas Fisher House. We wanted to do this via their website but they do not have a way for people to leave messages so we prefer to do it this way so that we can celebrate Ben's incredible life and raise money for a good cause all in one place. If you wish to donate in another way, e.g. via Paypal or direct to Fisher House, then please use the contact link on the page and we can arrange for that to happen.
Organizer
Raquel Toney
Organizer
