Quentin T. Webster,
90, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on May 13, 2009. He was born in Otterbein, IN on October 2, 1918. After moving to Phoenix, he attended Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix Junior College, and served in the US Navy in World War II. Quentin married Nancy McAnally in 1946 and they raised two sons, Steve and John, in Phoenix. Quentin and Nancy owned Webster’s Hobby Shops in Phoenix for nearly 40 years, introducing many youngsters to model airplanes, cars, and trains. He was active in the hobby industry, founding or serving as an officer in the Phoenix Model Airplane Club, the Thunderbird Model Railroad Club. Quentin was the first retailer to be chairman of the board of the Hobby Industry Association of America. He received several awards from these organizations including the Gandy Dancer award from the Thunderbird Model Railroad Club and the Meritorious Achievement award from the Hobby Industry Association of America. Quentin often drove local boys to model race car meets, and lobbied the city government to designate areas for model airplane meets. Nancy and Quentin were active in Aldersgate Methodist Church and Quentin serving on several committees. Quentin was predeceased by his wife Nancy in 2001. He is survived by his son Steve and his wife Kathryn of Rochester Hills, MI; son John and his wife JoAnn of Mt. Vernon, WA; grandchildren Justin, McKenzie, and Jeremy and great grandchildren Casey, Drew, Isabella, and Sean. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Beatitudes Life Care Center 1610 W. Glendale, Avenue, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Quentin’s name to either the Beatitudes Campus Vermillion Cliffs Unit, Aldersgate Methodist Church Caring Ministry, The Academy of Model Aeronautics Scholarship Fund 5161 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN 47302 attn: Craig Schroeder, or to the charity of your choice. The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of the Beatitudes Campus who cared for both Quentin and Nancy as if they were family. Quentin will be missed by many whose lives he touched.
Greg Holtz
As a teenager, I frequently visited Webster Hobby Shop, and even got to know two of the employees very well. I miss you all!
Ivan G. Rice
Steve and John —
My condolence to you all from Texas.
I knew Quentin back in 1938 to 1944, but I knew his older brother Gaylord, the founder of the model shop, much better. I have many fond memories of the old model airplane builders at that time period. I won state champion ship in a model airplane contest in about 1938. I am 92 and a WWII vets as well as a retired gas turbine engineer (University of Arizona 1950).
Condolence to all of your families.
Ivan G. Rice, PE, retired, Spring, Texas