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RIP Aubrey

Anyone that has been around Foretravels for a year or more may have had the privilege of meeting Aubrey at MOT or FOT. He was a soft spoken man with a wealth of knowledge on Foretravels. I learned yesterday that he passed away last week. He was the "main man" in the service dept at MOT back in 2017 when I met him. Unfortunately for Foretravlers he retired a year or so ago leaving a huge knowledge void. He will be missed....    RIP Aubrey


Keith
The selected media item is not currently available.Keith & Jo
2003 U320T 4025 PBBS Designer series
Build 6203    Cummins 500hp
2000 U320 4010 WTFE / Build 5762 —Sold—
Motorcade #18070   
Pasadena, Texas
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara-Sunset Orange pearl coat
Don't argue with a fool, people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #1 –
Aubrey Lee was also the technical guru/engineering manager at Foretravel for many years before his move to MOT (his LinkedIn page says he held that role for 36 years).  I believe he trained James Triana.  His passing is a great loss...

Aubrey Lee Obituary - Nacogdoches, TX
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #2 –
This is so sad, I went to Foretravel school 3 times as a tech, and he was one of the teachers. He taught me what relays do.

What a kind man. I talked to him about 3 years ago, while stranded in the Parker desert (the time Bruce Bean, before I knew him drove by and waved!). We had weak cell service, yet he stayed right with me. He remembered me form Nac. It was like old times.

Rest In peace Aubrey, you will be missed.
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #3 –
Ya, I worked with Aubrey back in 2000 on redesign/enhancements to the Torsilastic suspension. Both knowledgeable and a very nice person.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #4 –
He was also a teacher at the schools that I attended at Foretravel. So sorry to hear of his passing. So much knowledge gone. RIP
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #5 –
Quote from: red tractor –
He was also a teacher at the schools that I attended at Foretravel. So sorry to hear of his passing. So much knowledge gone. RIP
Schools at Foretravel ?      Do tell.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #6 –
So sorry to hear of his passing bye was a fixture at FT and we list a lot of knowledge.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
Schools at Foretravel ?      Do tell.
As tech's in the late 90's-2000, we were sent to school at FT for a week or less. Up stairs above the assembly line.They put us up, fed us, and gave us a car.Hardest part was needing to be there at 7 A.M. when your clock is on west coast time, along with jet lag, and the long drive down from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Hit all the good eating places, and met everyone on the assembly line. Would just wander around after school, or at lunch time in the shop hanging with people. Just good ole hard working people loving their job like we did.

There was another younger guy, forgot his name (Terry?). He taught too, and was always available for help. One of the main fixtures also. He drowned in one of the small lakes. He couldn't swim, his boat capsized, and he hung onto a pier post as long as he could. Was tragic.
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #8 –
What a kind man. I talked to him about 3 years ago, while stranded in the Parker desert (the time Bruce Bean, before I knew him drove by and waved!). What can I say old fat guys don't fit under these coaches.😎😎🍺
Met Aubrey once at MOT great guy. RIP
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #9 –
Aubrey was such a kind man.  I'm sad to hear that he has gone. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #10 –
Jackie went to high school with Aubrey...he was smart, studious, respected then.  Not a surprise that the career of kind polite gentleman would touch so many.  I think the brother worked at FOT too.  Aubrey has a great family, loved his grands visiting their farm.  They moved to CO to be together a big change from his Texas farm.

He and Keith Risch were teamed up FOT.  Their initials are on our coach drawings and technical checkouts.    Mike Rodgers too.  I think Keith Davis, and of course David Robertson was there in Sales, top in 2000 era as I hear it, David Whitehead there as well, couple of others were core, ended up at MOT

Aubrey developed and recovered from colon cancer some years back, then reached an age that retired from FOT and Dave Robertson picked him up for MOT.  He was a vital team member there, expanding yet further that enormous wealth of experience and knowledge of Foretravels.

We miss him on a personal basis.  You just do not know enough like him.

Perhaps some MOT/FOT retirees and current friends will share some personal stories. 

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #11 –
I was happy to have met, talked to, lunched and chat with him about things on the drawings with his initials. 
So sorry to read of his passing.  Glad I got to tell him how much I had enjoyed my Foretravels, feeling he was a part of all those experiences.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)
 

Re: RIP Aubrey

Reply #12 –
We are blessed in so many ways with these coaches. Obviously we all appreciate the basic heartiness of the FT design and love our  coaches.

Although  the future may hold similar manufacturing passion on RV's (??), we are blessed with people who took pride in the passion of their commitment in previous years.

 I didn't know Aubrey during the FT years, but I did meet him during visits at MOT. He was a kind, gentle and Christian man who obviously knew these coaches inside and out.

We can only hope that there are men, and women, in our future lives, no less in the RV business, as kind and knowledgeable as Aubrey. God bless Aubreys memory, his family, and the remaining FT folks  who support the lifestyle we love.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"