PISMO BEACH,
Calif. -- An emotional memorial was held for a Central Coast pilot killed in a
plane crash last week at the Oceano Dunes.
The Pismo Beach
community gathered at Penny's Cafe on Price Street to mourn the loss of someone
they call a dear friend.
"He helped us all,"
says fellow Price Street merchant Teri Bayus. "He helped us build our businesses
and literally hammer and nail...build things."
A former aerospace
engineer who worked for Vandenberg Airforce Base, pilot Glen Ray used his
talents to help others.
She says he
would find old WWII planes and fix them up. "There was a fire burning out of
control so he found this old airplane. He got it running in less than a day. It
was a plane that went over the ocean, scooped up the ocean water and dropped the
water on the fire and it was the difference between the fire burning or not...he
did that!"
Walking along Price
Street, you'd often see Ray hanging out at Honeymoon Cafe making and selling
bracelets made of wire and beads. Money he made from that, friends say, he would
donate to the homeless.
"He was kind to a
fault," says Bayus. "Never said a bad word to anybody."
Former volleyball
playmate, Christie Streeper knew Ray for ten years. She showed off a toy, Ray
would play with her son at the beach.
She says Ray was a
great role model for her son.
"I'm really sad
that he's not going to be in my son's life," says Streeper. " My
son adored Glen. They shared a love for airplanes and
helicopters."
A love that
would end up taking Ray's life.
"He died doing what he
loved," says Bayus. "He will be greatly missed."
