CONCORD — Lizzy Fenner took note of the money already received on a fundraising page dedicated to helping her brother-in-law’s family in the wake of his death, and she was humbled.
“Almost beyond words,” she said.
It’s been more than a week since a small plane crash near the Rio Vista Municipal Airport killed 41-year-old Concord resident Benjamin Shreve and 33-year-old Martinez resident Jesse Buckner, two friends and, according to Fenner, two beloved and unforgettable people.
The fundraiser for Shreve, created a week ago by Fenner, had generated about $68,000 by noon Friday. It seeks $100,000 to help support his two children, ages 7 and 2.
A fundraiser for Buckner had raised about $57,135 of the $100,000 it sought.
“It has been very humbling and incredible to see the community outpour,” Fenner said. “It’s just a testament to both of these men. … They both were fathers of young children. They loved life, and they had big personalities.”
Both men also were experienced pilots. Shreve had been flying for about 20 years, according to Fenner, adding it was not the first time the pair had gone up in the air together.
The crash happened about 11:45 a.m. June 8 and involved a single-engine Steen Skybolt, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
“At this point, we really don’t have much information,” Fenner said. “All we know is they were both experienced pilots, so we’re hoping to find out what happened up there.”
In a Facebook post, Buckner’s widow, Jessica Raine Parker, wrote that she “is amazed by people’s generosity,” adding that her family “wanted to say thank you to everyone. This last week has been the hardest week of our lives. Your love and support is beyond anything we could have imagined.”
In an earlier post after the crash, Jessica Parker wrote that her relationship with Buckner was “a once-in-a-lifetime fairytale love story. It has been a wild ride, and I’m so blessed we had 17 years together.”
According to Fenner, Shreve became passionate about aviation from his earliest days. He used that love to introduce others to flying and used an infectious personality to fuel any curiosity about flying that others may have had.
“Ben really made an impact,” she said. “He touched every person he met and made them feel special. He treated his clients like family. He had an infectious spirit that captivated people. He possessed this ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the room. His vibrant stories, his laughter. He was genuinely interested in other people and their lives.”
The two men will have individual private funeral services. A public memorial service also will be held at 2 p.m. June 24 at the Pacific States Aviation area of Buchanan Airport in Concord. A flyover will take place at approximately 3 p.m. to honor the two men.