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Windsor family devastated by plane crash
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| VINCE WHITELEY — Whiteley was one of four family members who died in an accident last week. Photo provided |
by MATTHEW HALL, News Editor
Four family members died last week when their small aircraft crashed near a rural airport in Shasta County.
Windsor resident Vince Whiteley, 32, was traveling to a Memorial Day golf tournament at Fall River Mills golf course along with his father-in-law Keith Paulson, 61, mother-in-law Jaynie Paulson, 58, and the Paulson’s daughter-in-law Jennifer Drake, 36.
According to investigators, the plane was coming in to land when it when down in a wooded area. According to the FAA, the 1976, fixed wing, single engine plane is registered to Keith Thomas Paulson and Paulson was reportedly piloting the plane when it crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating plane accidents and NTSB Air Safety Investigator Tealeye Cornejo said she expects to finish her report on the incident in the next few days but until that time, she is unable to comment on the crash.
Amy Whiteley is Vince’s wife and the Paulson’s daughter. She said the trip was an annual excursion for the family and one example of the bond the family shared.
“Our parents were traveling with their in-laws,” she said. “It wasn’t myself and my husband, it was their in-laws and they loved their in-laws like their own kids.”
Vince and Amy met while attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The couple spent time in Savannah, Georgia while Vince attained a Master’s in Fine Arts Illustration and they moved to Northern California, settling in Santa Rosa.
Amy said they became aware of the then planned expansion to Downtown Windsor and they made a conscious decision to relocate to Windsor in 2002 because they believed in the promise of the new town.
“We started researching it, we researched the town plan and decided ‘we want to live there.’ We started coming to the functions before stores opened ... we walked down to enjoy the events, with the Thursday night markets and he was just thrilled about our community.”
The couple have three children, Jackson, 7, attends Cali Calmécac, Anna who is in preschool and Lincoln, 11 months. The family became active in Windsor with Amy joining Soroptimists and Vince eventually leading Jackson’s cub scout den. Amy said Vince and Jackson look forward to the annual Pinewood Derby where he helped his son enter a car but also took the opportunity to enter his own design, which took first place in the open division.
“He was such a good natured guy,” she said. “He had poker games and loved the Superbowl with a game in the park. He was always happy and so patient with kids.”
After losing four members of her family, including her husband and parents, Amy said the repercussions of the tragedy were still unfolding for the family. “It was just such a shock,” she said. “It dawned on me just today that my daughter lost her father and her grandfather as role models, she lost those male figures in her life.”
Vince worked for PBHS as a graphic designer and Amy said his three mile commute added to the sense of satisfaction the family felt living in the Windsor area. “We live in the community, work in the community, shop in the community, the school is around the corner, it’s just really, really great,” she said.
Two celebrations of life will be held to honor the family members who died in the crash. The first will be Thursday, May 29, 3 p.m. at Fritz Winery, 24691 Dutcher Creek Rd., Cloverdale. The second will be on Sunday, June 1 at 5 p.m. at the Little River Inn, Hwy 1, Little River, Ca. Both services are open to the public. Memorial contributions may be made to a trust for Vince and Amy’s children at Wells Fargo Bank.
Windsor resident Vince Whiteley, 32, was traveling to a Memorial Day golf tournament at Fall River Mills golf course along with his father-in-law Keith Paulson, 61, mother-in-law Jaynie Paulson, 58, and the Paulson’s daughter-in-law Jennifer Drake, 36.
According to investigators, the plane was coming in to land when it when down in a wooded area. According to the FAA, the 1976, fixed wing, single engine plane is registered to Keith Thomas Paulson and Paulson was reportedly piloting the plane when it crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating plane accidents and NTSB Air Safety Investigator Tealeye Cornejo said she expects to finish her report on the incident in the next few days but until that time, she is unable to comment on the crash.
Amy Whiteley is Vince’s wife and the Paulson’s daughter. She said the trip was an annual excursion for the family and one example of the bond the family shared.
“Our parents were traveling with their in-laws,” she said. “It wasn’t myself and my husband, it was their in-laws and they loved their in-laws like their own kids.”
Vince and Amy met while attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The couple spent time in Savannah, Georgia while Vince attained a Master’s in Fine Arts Illustration and they moved to Northern California, settling in Santa Rosa.
Amy said they became aware of the then planned expansion to Downtown Windsor and they made a conscious decision to relocate to Windsor in 2002 because they believed in the promise of the new town.
“We started researching it, we researched the town plan and decided ‘we want to live there.’ We started coming to the functions before stores opened ... we walked down to enjoy the events, with the Thursday night markets and he was just thrilled about our community.”
The couple have three children, Jackson, 7, attends Cali Calmécac, Anna who is in preschool and Lincoln, 11 months. The family became active in Windsor with Amy joining Soroptimists and Vince eventually leading Jackson’s cub scout den. Amy said Vince and Jackson look forward to the annual Pinewood Derby where he helped his son enter a car but also took the opportunity to enter his own design, which took first place in the open division.
“He was such a good natured guy,” she said. “He had poker games and loved the Superbowl with a game in the park. He was always happy and so patient with kids.”
After losing four members of her family, including her husband and parents, Amy said the repercussions of the tragedy were still unfolding for the family. “It was just such a shock,” she said. “It dawned on me just today that my daughter lost her father and her grandfather as role models, she lost those male figures in her life.”
Vince worked for PBHS as a graphic designer and Amy said his three mile commute added to the sense of satisfaction the family felt living in the Windsor area. “We live in the community, work in the community, shop in the community, the school is around the corner, it’s just really, really great,” she said.
Two celebrations of life will be held to honor the family members who died in the crash. The first will be Thursday, May 29, 3 p.m. at Fritz Winery, 24691 Dutcher Creek Rd., Cloverdale. The second will be on Sunday, June 1 at 5 p.m. at the Little River Inn, Hwy 1, Little River, Ca. Both services are open to the public. Memorial contributions may be made to a trust for Vince and Amy’s children at Wells Fargo Bank.
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