More than 500 people crowded St. Augustine’s Anglican Church to capacity on January 3 for one of two Memorial Services bidding farewell to Anguillian Pilot and Aircraft Mechanic, Ken A. Webster. He died along with two passengers when his plane, traveling from Beef Island, Tortola, crashed in a rainforest in Puerto Rico on December 3, 2008.

The late Ken A. Webster

The first Memorial Service was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, on January 2 with Reverend Leo and Reverend Thompson officiating. Ken lived and worked in that island where he migrated in the early 1980s. A number of his family members, colleagues and friends travelled to Anguilla afterwards for the second Memorial Service conducted jointly by the Rt. Reverend Errol Brooks, Bishop of the Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba (and Acting Archbishop of the West Indies) and Assistant Parish Priest, Reverend Menes Hodge.

It was a very touching occasion especially in Anguilla where many persons in attendance knew Ken Webster and saw him grow up on the island. He was the third of four children of John Webster (deceased) and Cleopatra Webster. He was held in a close relationship by his stepfather, Anguilla’s strong-willed revolutionary leader, Ronald Webster, who wept openly in St. Augustine’s Churchyard following the Memorial Service and who, along with Ken’s mother and siblings, had flown several times with him between Anguilla and St. Croix.

Families and friends of the late Ken Webster

Ken’s sister, Yvonne Webster-Pryce, who resides in St. Croix, delivered the eulogy, her strong voice only breaking once with emotion towards the end of her presentation. She stated that after the family left Aruba in 1960 her brother completed High School in Anguilla and then worked at the power station for a short period before pursuing his desire to become a certified airplane pilot and mechanic.

She continued: “In 1975 he enrolled as a student at Northropp University in California and later excelled with honours when he became an A & P Mechanic. This was not enough for Ken. He further pursued his desire to become a pilot and again excelled with honours.

Scene of the Memorial Service

“In the early 1980s Ken migrated to St. Croix where, along with Dimitrios Doliottis, they formed the company known as “St. Croix Aviation.” He was successful in purchasing his first airplane in 1988. This, however, was not enough for Ken. He wanted to do something that was more challenging and in 1992 he started to work at the Virgin Islands National Guard as the Chief Mechanic for its recently-acquired C-23 Sherpa. He held this position for seven years until the detachment was relocated. Not wanting to leave his beloved St. Croix, Ken became the Mechanic-in-Charge and Pilot of a fleet of aircraft owned by Innovative Corporation.

“It was always Ken’s desire to own his own company. In 2005 he finally broke ground on what would later be known as “Websta’s Aviation Services Inc.” Ken worked hard and long to achieve his goal. And so it was that on Saturday, July 8, 2006, he had the grand opening of a state-of-the-art new F.B.O. Facility where he offered airplane repairs, hangaring of aircraft and charter services.

Scene of the Memorial Service

“Ken was an excellent mechanic and pilot. His skills were praised throughout the Caribbean and North America. During the course of his career, he was contacted by several pilots for advice with regard to how to deal with certain problems and he always had answers. These calls would come any time during the day or evening and he never hesitated to assist as well as he could.”

Yvonne said flying was her brother’s passion and he was very serious about it. “He was an astute, knowledgeable and thorough pilot and airplane mechanic and he will be gravely missed,” she stated.

Scene of the Memorial Service

During the tribute session of the Memorial Service, one of the speakers was Col. Caroline Adams, an Anguillian serving in the Virgin Islands National Guard in which Ken served as a mechanic as stated earlier. She described him has having been “a veteran pilot, experienced mechanic and an astute entrepreneur.” Col. Adams added: “I am grateful to have known Ken for over 26 years…He was my friend, confidant, flight instructor, co-worker and fellow pilot/aviator. Ken's legacy will live on…Ken loved, laughed and lived.”

Acting Archbishop Brooks reflected on matters relating to the ordinary pace of life and then suddenly the unthinkable happens in terms of the death of a family member. “It seems as though the bottom of life has dropped out,” he stated. “This must have been the feeling that day when the news reached the family of Ken that his plane had crashed.” He said it had reminded him of the Biblical story of Job who lost all of his children [and possessions], but who, though overcome by grief, eventually rose up and consoled himself saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked shall I return…The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord,” while his wife scoffed at him and told him to “curse God and die.”

Scene of the Memorial Service

The Archbishop exhorted his listeners to consider the example of Job in terms of human suffering, “to take the good days with the bad” and he asked “is there a meaning to faith beyond possessions and family?” He spoke of the greatness of God’s love to which mankind can hold on regardless of devastating experiences. In this regard, he urged family, friends and others mourning Ken’s death to take courage and hope.

The Memorial Services on St. Croix and Anguilla included the reception of the ashes of the remains of the late Ken Webster.

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