Brian Holcomb R.I.P.

BulliBill · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:53 am Post subject: Brian Holcomb R.I.P.

It is with a heavy heart that I pass on the news that VW enthusiast and one of my best buddies Brian "Crusty" Holcomb passed away this morning at 5am to cancer. If your ever met him, you loved him, quite the prankster, a great big gruff-looking guy (really just a big teddy-bear), super mechanic, he loved his wife Dawn (RIP) and son Carson, his family and friends, all things old and mechanical, especially his beloved fleet of Transporters. I'll always picture him holding court in the warm glow of a campfire with a Hamms in one hand and a cigar in the other.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

My thoughts are with his family. Brian is survived by his 10 year old son Carson, and his parents "Connie" and Carolyn. Arrangements will be settled upon and announced later. One of our great ones is gone, but there is no way in hell that anyone who knew Brian will ever forget him! And I think that will make him happy. I'm glad that his unjust suffering is over. "Crusty" you are missed greatly!

If any of you have any fond memories or photos of "Crusty" that you'd like to share, please feel free to post 'em up here!

Bill Bowman
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

MacLeod Willy · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:02 am Post subject:

Terrible news.
Too much tragedy for his son and family.

campingbox · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:28 am Post subject:

Brian is awesome. He was a great guy, and I have a lot of very fond memories of the times we got to visit him. I am so glad to have known him, and so sad he's gone.

srfndoc · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:51 am Post subject:

Didn't know Brian personally but please pass my condolences to his family. RIP
_________________
RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches

cdennisg · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:38 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear this. I never met Brian, but he helped me out as a reference when I sold a bus to a guy several years ago. The VW network made it happen.

I do have one thing to point out. I think the 63 Westy pictured is one I once owned. Does anyone of his friends here know where he found it? I sold it in the summer of 94 at a VW show in Minnesota. I had heard he ended up with it and did a beautiful restoration of it. It sure looks great in the photo.
_________________
nothing

BulliBill · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:01 am Post subject:

I wish I knew the back-story on that Westy purchase (probably wouldn't be too hard to find out for you) but you are right, he did an awesome full restoration on that Westy. He brought it out camping a lot! That shot was at our BNNTA camping weekend.

A few more photo memories of Brian "crusty" Holcomb:

Always ready to help someone out with their old VWs, here he is dissecting someone's carb on a picnic bench during the BNNTA campout in 2005

Here you see Neil Pickett(L) and Brian preparing to help me pull my old engine (threw a rod) upon arrival in the Mid-America Motorworks garage facilities at the Funfest event in 2008.

Brian was a great mechanic and loved old motors. He has built several for my fleet over the years, and here he is during the 2009 BNNTA campout doing a quicky tune-up on the ground in the campground after the "break-in run" of the new 1600 he built for me.

Master Chef "Crusty" donning his Schlitz chef cap while cooking up fish for the DBG Club's traditional Friday night "fish fry" at BNNTA.

At Funfest 2008 re-checking the torque of his rear axle nuts after arrival in his freshly restored '70 Double-Cab Pick-up...

...and hangin' out in the Funfest campground with Hot VW feature writer/photographer Dean Kirsten...

a few more to come...

Bill
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

Lind · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:06 am Post subject:

Brian was truly a giant. a wonderful person. I will forever fondly remember our adventures at elkhart lake. those who were there can tell the stories, and they are all true. I can't even begin to describe the fun.

I hope this photo is inappropriate, because we all know Brian would love that.

_________________
.
Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
.

cdennisg · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:12 am Post subject:

I think I may have met him at some midwest VW shows in the early 90's. His face is very familiar.
_________________
nothing

Tcash · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 11:12 am Post subject:

Sorry for his families loss!
What was Brian's Samba username?

Sincerely
Tcash

Lind · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 11:38 am Post subject:

Campy · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:49 pm Post subject:

Before my best friend, my mother, died, she said there is a better place. He is at peace with God.
_________________
Don't worry; be happy. (Baba)

aa390392 · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:59 pm Post subject:

Knew of him very briefly,Kelly Park/Mark Merril open house 2014 what I saw was a great guy,great sense of humor and a world of VW knowledge. may he be away from pain and RIP
Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!

55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

21junkstreet · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 2:11 pm Post subject:

Didn't know him personally but I remember him from BNNTAs and the old BBTA at Ft Zummwalt and the mosquito hole. A cancer survivor myself I know what it does to friends and families. My heart goes out to them.

Vintage Auto Werks1 · Samba Member Joined: October 20, 2002 Posts: 453

Complete sadness we all knew it was going to happen sooner than later but we all wanted him to pull through just a bit longer. I will never forget him so many great memories. Here is a video of Crusty driving a 1946 Beetle with Mike that Bill filmed.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=3F0S0Jj-j9E

BulliBill · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject:

Clara · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12398

I am so sorry to hear about Brian. What a loss.
_________________
The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/

EmpiGT · Samba Member Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 2597

So sad, i remember him from the only busses by the arch I ever went to. Very nice guy, he gave me a middle seat out of a bay window to use in my splitty.

Ottonotch · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:23 pm Post subject:

R.I.P. Brian, My deepest sympathy to the Holcomb family. I have many memories of him that I will forever remember. He was so much fun to be around and such a great personality , he will be missed immensely. I remember first meeting him, I think at BBTA in '95 a year after I got my bus. He helped me out tremendously with my bus , building a 1600SP that's still running beautifully after almost 20yr's. A huge loss to the VW community. Goodbye Brian.................... Crying or Very sad

_________________
'63 gulfblue notch
'67 13 window deluxe

BulliBill · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 7:38 pm Post subject:

Vintage Auto Werks1 · Samba Member Joined: October 20, 2002 Posts: 453

For those looking for info on Crustys Memorial service here it is. It is being held the same weekend as his annual campout.

"The memorial service will be Friday night, May 1st. Yes, the same weekend as Camp Crusty!
Come one, come all!!!
We will have a VW tribute to the funeral home Friday night with a gathering at the shop to follow. We will setup camp in the field where the fall burn is normally.
Hope to see everyone there for a final farewell to our DBG brother!!"


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Split Bus	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2, 3 Next
Page 1 of 3