The following is from Net Manager Ernie Bonner - K4ZQ

November 21, 2005
This is the most difficult task I’ve had to undertake since becoming manager of "Intercon".  How do you say farewell to an influential guide of the net, and a close friend at the same time without becoming overly sentimental, or, seeming too light for the sake of taste?

Well, it doesn’t matter!

Unexpectedly, our friend, Layton Ruse - W4VBQ passed away on Wednsday, Nov. 17, 2005.

I had been receiving reports on Layton from a mutual friend, and he seemed to be improving.  However, when I heard of his passing on Thursday morning, I was deeply grieved.

Most net members know Layton’s biography better than I, so I won’t attempt to summarize it again here.  What I will dwell on for a second is the skill, wit, and courtesy with which he handled all his net contributions.

I came to the nets some five years ago, and Layton had been a net fixture for some 25 years.  Fortunately, for me, I got to spend his last five years with him, and the memory of those years will remain with me the rest of my life.

Layton was probably my favorite of all net control ops.  He was gracious (if you had nice manners), witty, and above all, friendly, but with him, you always knew who was in control.

He picked up his operating skills in World War I; and those guys are the best!  That made Layton an extremely skilled radioman.  His biggest desire, however, was to be of service wherever he could.  He was of help to a great many people over the years, and also, a great help to all the nets.  He was one of the guys who got it started, and he was one of the guys who kept it lit!

We all have our personal feelings about Layton, so all I’ll say, is that he’ll be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him personally, and on the air.

To my friend, all I can say is, "When you get to the pearly gates, be sure you have a legitimate call sign and nice manners".

73 until next time, old friend.
Ernie Bonner
K4ZQ
Intercon Net Manger

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Obituary From The Miami Herald - November 21, 2005

RUSE, LAYTON NEWMAN, was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, on July 9, 1917, and moved to Miami at the age of six, where he lived with his parents, Orla Allen Ruse and Lena Belle Wiseman Ruse, and his sisters, Maxine and Beverly. He attended classes at area schools, including Gables Elementary and Ponce de Leon and Miami Senior High Schools  Layton's wife Virginia Mae also attended Miami High, but they did not meet there.

Among other jobs, he worked as a Police Photographer, a background artist on "Popeye" cartoons, and for more than 30 years with Dictaphone Corporation, as a technician and then as District Service Manager.  Layton served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II as a radio operator, mechanic, and gunner on heavy bombers; he and the rest of his B-17 crew were once shot down by a German U-Boat while on a mission between Florida and South America, and were picked up by the crew of a U.S. Navy ship.  He was a member of the American Legion, Coral Gables Post 98.

An avid Amateur Radio operator, Layton enjoyed making contact and building friendships over the air with other "Ham" operators around the country and the world, and was thankful for the many friends he met over the years. He served as Net Control on the Intercontinental Traffic Net, Hurricane Watch Net, Maritime Mobile and Coast Guard Nets since the early days of those nets.  Layton was for many years a volunteer radio operator with the National Hurricane Center in Miami and for eight years served as the Coordinator for the Ham volunteers manning the station there.  He frequently did volunteer work as a radio communicator with the March of Dimes Walkathon and with the Dade County School System's "Odyssey of the Mind program."  His other main hobby was leather craft, and the leather project of which he was most proud was the custom-made leather wristband worn by actor Paul Hogan in the 1996 Universal Pictures movie, "Flipper."

Layton is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Mae Ruse; his son, Gary Alan Ruse; his sister, Maxine Hostetter; his nephew, Kurt Hostetter; niece, Donna Hostetter Frederick; and grand- nephew, Jason Frederick. He passed away on the night of November 16th after a long illness.  His sense of humor, ready wit and desire to help others endeared him to many.  A devoted family man and loyal friend, Layton will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The viewing will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22 at the Van Orsdel Funeral Home at 4600 S.W. 8th Street, Coral Gables.  Services will be held at the Van Orsdel Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 23, with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery.

To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.

Published in The Miami Herald on 11/21/2005