From Kathy Thomas Gerwig (posted January 6, 2009)

 

It’s high time that the WWW DFW Ladies that Lunch get back together!!  Mark Saturday, March 7th on your calendars and I’ll send out a reminder in late February.  Of course, anyone who can arrange to be in town that weekend is welcome to join us.  I look forward to seeing you all again!

 

Bud and I will be joining his two sisters and their spouses on a 14 day cruise starting March 30th.  We leave out of San Diego, pass through the Panama Canal and land at Fort Lauderdale.  We stop at Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Huatulco Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Colon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia.  I’m sure the cruise will be great – but what I’m really psyched about is missing two full weeks of work!!

 

---

 

Postings from 2008

 

From Brenda Bradbury Pool (posted December 29, 2008)

 

I just received this information.  Mary Margaret Meggs Harms had a kidney transplant on 12/28.  She is doing well.  Just pray there are no complications.

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate David Gilmer (posted December 29, 2008)

 

The sympathies of the class are extended to David Gilmer, whose father, H.T. Gilmer, passed away Saturday.  Viewing will be from 6 PM to 8 PM Monday evening, Dec. 29, at Bethel Baptist Church, 9314 Ferguson Rd., Dallas, TX .  Services will be at Bethel Baptist Church at 10:00 AM on Tuesday. 

 

From Ted Burk (posted December 22, 2008)

 

My one and only child Melissa blessed us Nov. 13th with our first grandchild.  A little boy Justin Andy Lestina.  9lbs  Born at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.   The photographer was great. He came to her home....... took 200 pictures (CD) and produced the video for $200.  What a deal!!   See the slide show here:  http://www.poeticexposure.com/justinandy/  

 

From Robin Abbey (posted December 22, 2008)

 

Dear friends I hope this finds you well and planning for a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year. Santa must have had a glitch in his communication loop this year. There are way too many packages under our tree with my name on them. That or coal wraps better than I remember. On December 1, I turned the big 60. Kathryn and I are celebrating with a month of weekend getaways. Fortunately, Christmas falls in this time so that makes it even that much better. So far we have been to a Kansas City weekend taking in the production of "The Lion King" with friends and fun; the Branson, Mo weekend included several sights including the Christmas Lights at Silver Dollar City in a snow storm that closed the park early. It was awesome. We caught a production of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol there that night which was wonderful: Michael W. Smith gave a Christmas concert in KC and had Melinda Doolittle ( American Idle finalist ) on the program. This one was a there and home trip but well worth it!  Last weekend we were in Tulsa at the new BOK center. Our entertainment was one of the Cirque du Soleil  productions. We had seen the one in Orlando at Disney a few years ago. Each show is different but all are fantastic. This weekend has been Christmas parties with friends here at home and next weekend to Texas to see family. So all in all not too bad of a birthday celebration. If I can just figure out how to push this thing into 2009! Well that's what’s been happening lately. FYI, I read our sight frequently and enjoy your news always. The good news and the sometimes not so good. I celebrate with you your blessed events and grieve with you during those times of sorrow. May they be few and far between! Peace to you and yours.

 

From Patricia Mooney (posted December 22, 2008)

 

Happy Holidays everyone. We will be going to Dallas from San Antonio for Christmas this year because our daughter is expecting her second child -a boy- at the end of January and is on travel restrictions. Rudd and I are doing dinner for Christmas Eve after church services and then we will have "Santa" at their house Christmas morning for our two year old granddaughter. After that we will have Christmas lunch at the home of our son-in-law's parents in Highland Park. Interesting for us to be going back to Dallas for Christmas. We have had a wonderful year-no health problems, and the anticipation of the new baby. I love hearing all the WWW news and wish all of you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

 

From Walter Patton (posted December 22, 2008)

 

Yesterday I was in Dallas and drove by Stonewall Jackson school and noticed the gardening activity so Ping and I went back and looked around a bit. Very impressive that someone had done a lot of work. As I was leaving I briefly saw on the school sign a request to Save the Garden and to see some web address . I wanted to be sure you knew of the issue.

[Note from Kathy:  After I read Walter’s note, I asked Nancy Clark to check it out.  Her reply is below.]

 

From Nancy Clark Rubenstein (posted December 22, 2008)

 

Attention Stonewall alums! Some of you may remember touring the Stonewall garden at our elementary school tour on Saturday morning at our 35th Reunion. Our tour guide was Mark Painter, science teacher and gardener. Unfortunately, with the DISD school cuts, Mr. Painter lost his position, but still seems to be working or volunteering at the garden. They need donations to keep the garden going. What a great Holiday gift that could be! Here is the link to the website: www.stonewallgardens.com.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. My husband and I are off to London and Edinburgh for the holidays.

[Note from Kathy:  EVERYONE should check out the web site and send a contribution if possible.  As a retired educator with many years’ experience, I can say this is undoubtedly one of the finest elementary school projects I’ve ever seen, and I’ve visited scores of excellent campuses.]

 

From Tony Mantzuranis (posted December 22, 2008)

 

I still own Casey's Lawn Equipment, but had a mid-life crisis and went and got my real estate salespersons license. I turned 60 so I guess I needed a new challenge. I am working with an old friend of mine. He does a lot of ranches in west Texas, in and around Coleman county. Tom is editor of a game magazine and is also an outfitter. Looking forward to retiring, hopefully around 80.

 

From Patti Glenn (posted December 22, 2008)

 

Melissa (Proctor) Baker, Rosemary Piazza, and I are planning a cruise to celebrate our 60th in 2009 --- we don’t have date yet.  But we know we are going.

I think a birthday get together would be great….

 

From Allison (Ruth) Smith (posted December 22, 2008)

 

I would love to come to the 60th party.

 

From Dan Hatzenbuehler (posted December 22, 2008)

I like your idea of a 60th birthday party.

 

From Mike Barnes (posted December 22, 2008)

 

I like the idea about a birthday party for us 60 year old Wildcats………a new twist to “child of the 60’s”……….

 

From Christy Thomas (posted December 22, 2008)

 

I will hopefully get to see all my children and grandchildren for the holidays.  Big challenge for us to get together when we are so scattered.   My blog: "A Pastor's Thoughts:" http://www.krumchurch.blogspot.com/

 

From Manuel Zaby   (posted December 9, 2008)

 

Lib's father, Marshall Fagin, celebrated his 100th birthday with a big crowd last weekend. He still swims 12-16 laps 2-3 times a week at the Landry Center as he has for years. There was a big article in both The White Rocker and Park Cities People this week with the news. Happy Holidays all!!

 

From Linda Simmons Brandon   (posted December 9, 2008)

 

I started working for Gramercy Insurance as a file clerk in 2001, after 5 years I was fired. I went on to work various jobs and received invaluable experience in the clerical world. After the change of ownership I was rehired by Gramercy as an Underwriting Assistant. Two years later I'm now an Underwriter. We write policies for large commercial vehicles and it's quite an interesting world.

 

An interesting note: When I started working for Gramercy in 2001, I discovered that I was working with 2 other Woodrow alumni. The first graduated in 1947, the second in 1957, and I graduated in 1967. What did we have in common? We all had Zada Wells as our business teacher and we all had the most wonderful memories of this marvelous teacher.

 

From Kathy Kilmer Moak   (posted December 9, 2008)

 

Well, LT (Woodrow alumni’s monthly Last Thursday gathering) plans currently are up in the air.  The place keeps changing as businesses go out of business - both the High Point and Bailey’s First & Ten - a sign of these rocky economic times.  Last month, they met at the Tipp Inn (old Volks bldg. on Skillman), but apparently that didn’t work very well.  Anyway, I will find out where they are going to meet and post the info. both here and on the calendar on this web site.  When they settle on a place, we need to get a group from ’67 to go.  I really enjoyed doing that last spring!

 

From Allison (Ruth Smith) Poggi (in Ann Arbor, Michigan)   (posted December 9, 2008)

The temp now is 12 F and falling.  Not my cup of tea.  Talked to someone in Dallas today bitching about the 30s.  Balderdash!!!  Don't even talk about wind chill.  Monday, the plow company had done the drive at 4:00 am, I did the drive before 9:00 am (to get to exercise) and had to do driveway paths late afternoon the same day.  I could barely walk Tuesday, but I was out with my shovel again....I'm too Texan for this!

 

From Carol Fuess Garrett   (posted December 9, 2008)

 

Our Thanksgiving was quiet, spent with my Dad, my sister and her family. None of our kids could get away from work long enough to come home, but they are all coming for Christmas!! We just returned from a 2 week cruise, visiting Spain, France and Italy - ending up with 5 days in Florence and Rome. We had a wonderful trip - luckily we had paid for it earlier in the year before the market went "south". We left on election day - all the Europeans we met wanted to know who we voted for and how we felt about the election. They were so interested in how we felt about the President-Elect. How global we've all become. We're in Colorado this week. We bought a cabin in South Fork, Colorado last summer and have been getting it all furnished in anticipation of our Christmas visit from all of the kids. They are fired up about skiing for a week, I'm just wondering how I stand up to cooking for 14 people for a week! I'm out of practice!

 

From Jan Kimbro Matthews  (posted December 9, 2008)

 

I am founder of Covenant Woman Ministries. We hold monthly meetings as well as annual conferences. We have several chapters in a few states, and other countries. We expect to grow to other states. I have a daily radio broadcast and minister in churches and conferences from time to time. I am also a writer, write articles and books. I also am a freelance writer for magazines and ministries. I'm a ghostwriter for other ministers also. My latest book is Lively Stones, Personalities of the Tribes of Israel. It can be purchased at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and other bookstores.  I enjoyed browsing the site.  Wish I had come to the reunion.

 

From Karen Brown   (posted December 9, 2008)

 

Retired from Boy Scouts of America October 1, 2008. Not ready to kick back, however, and looking for an interesting, part time, opportunity. My only grandson lives in San Francisco so I don't get to see him too often. I enjoy reading, gardening and knitting. If anyone in our class knows of a good club that features any of these activities, I would love to hear from you. Divorced since '85, went back to my maiden name as no one could either spell or pronounce "Rudsenske".

 

From Sandy Mixon Reed  (posted December 9, 2008)

 

I am still working at Luminant (formerly TXU Electric) and hope to retire soon. I plan on moving back to East Texas when I retire or North Carolina. My oldest daughter and her family live in North Carolina close to Ashville. It is beautiful there. My youngest daughter and her family live in Mesquite. My life is not as exciting as some of yours is, but I do enjoy it. I have been with Luminant 19 years and hoping to retire maybe in 5 more years. I was pretty shy in school so you probably don\'t remember me. I have really enjoyed this website. Keep up the good work.

 

From Tim LeMay  (posted December 9, 2008)

 

Re-married in March and moved to Wortham, Tx from Richardson. I now work remote and travel about 2 to 3 times a month for business. Enjoying my grandkids (Ages 16 - 3). Travel for pleasure 3 - 4 times a year.

 

From Alexis Fink Mavridis  (posted November 30, 2008)

 

I just learned today that Jean Pierce, Wayne Pierce's wife, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 25.  Steven, their son, has requested a memorial service for his mom on Sat., Dec. 6, at  2 PM.  It will be held at Grand View Baptist Church, 1401 I-30, Mesquite, TX  75150.  I asked Steven if I could share this with you so you could let our class know; he said that would be fine.  The obituary will be coming out Fri., Dec. 6. 

[Note from Kathy – I received this information from Bill Knox (Class of ’69) as well.  He said that Becky Pierce (Class of ’69, Mr. Pierce’s daughter) had just become a first time grandmother a few hours before losing her mother.  The circle of life….]

 

From Wanda Jackson Pagel (posted November 29, 2008)

 

We have so much to be thankful this time of the year. My husband recently had part of his colon removed and thank God there is no cancer. It is a long recovery for him. Our plans have had to change for Thanksgiving and Christmas since traveling would be too much for him. I am just thankful he will be alright. We are going to his aunt and uncle's for Thanksgiving and probably Christmas, too. Each of you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

From Suzi Shuler Harkey (posted November 29, 2008)

 

Here's the latest with the San Antonio crew... Randy retired the end of September and to celebrate we headed to our daughter's home in Albuquerque for the Hot Air Balloon International Fiesta. Fantastic! We plan to make it an annual event. Since then we've been working on our little retirement home, having quite the time of it. We got the idea to rip out all the carpets in the living area and stain the concrete a wonderful agate red and love it! If you're interested, it's a great way to update a place, but be prepared for a lot of hard work! And of course, now we've continued on to the hallways and kitchen for new tile work. We found a terrific faux slate at the Habitat for Humanity store. The entire project for all new flooring in 3/4 of the house will run us less than a $1.00 per square foot. Not bad for retired folks! Needless to say, I don't think we'll be decorating for the holidays this year. We're knee deep in furniture moved to odd places, mortar dust, boxes of tile, and tools. Merry Christmas to us! Have a wonderful holiday everyone! We have so much to be thankful for and to appreciate in this wonderful country of ours. We are so blessed!!!

 

 

From Steve Davis (posted November 29, 2008)

 

Sold my stocks which afforded me a 2 day stay in Cedar Hill. Looking forward to Dollar Store shopping spree tomorrow. Adios

 

From Bren Hornsby Pool (posted November 29, 2008)

 

Thanksgiving 2008........As for many in the Class 67, this is my first Thanksgiving without Mama.  I reflect back on years past, and remember the warmth of our home.  Thanksgiving Day was always filled with laughter, warmth and good food.  Except, the year that Mitch (my youngest son) about 9 or 10 at the time, decided to sneak out early that morning and ride his horse , with nothing on except his underwear.  As Mitch had her running in full steam, she decided to head straight for a big oak tree.  Pulling to the right, she headed for the oak tree.  Before he could get the horse to stop or veer away from the tree, a big ole branch caught his left leg and to the ground he went.  When the horse returned with no rider, we went looking.  We spent most of that Thanksgiving in the emergency room.  After he was bandaged up and no major damage was done, Mama and I looked at each other and said UNDERWARE, rolled our eyes and laughed.   When families enjoy life together there are no bad times.  I will miss Mama this year and many to follow, but I thank her for all she did and the memories I cherish. 

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate John Reed (posted November 28, 2008)

 

Christy Thomas forwarded the following message from John – Just a note to relay the sad news that my dad, Jack Reed, passed away yesterday evening at the age of 89. He lived a long and full life until the very end. For many of us, dad was a national treasure, a patriot, a solid citizen, a devout man of faith, devoted husband, a wise and caring father, a sweet and gentle soul. We will miss him. Joy and I are flying to Dallas this afternoon to be with family.

 

Visitation at Restland on Friday, November 28th, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Grave side at 9:30 on Saturday and memorial at 11:00 at Park Cities Baptist Church.

 

Mr. Reed’s obituary can be read here  http://www.legacy.com/dallasmorningnews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=120694576 .

 

From Christy Thomas (posted November 28, 2008)

 

I have been pondering thanksgiving week as a pastor. Hmmmm . . . holiday for most, fun getting family together and all cooking and eating and having fun. I, on the other hand, have exactly as much work to do as I do in a normal week plus a lot of other family/meal/granddaughter care responsibilities and privileges, have less time and less help to get it done, and feel my stress level getting even higher. I definitely need a vacation--and can't figure out how to do it. Oh well. . . at least I'm never, ever under the any circumstances bored. And I sleep like a log when I do manage to get to bed.

From Karen Laurea (posted November 22, 2008)

 

[Note from Kathy:  This is a response to a note I sent to Karen after I saw the latest California fires were in Santa Barbara, where she lives.]

 

We lost our house……It has burnt to the ground…..

Things have been crazy….  We had 30 minutes to pack and get out.. we packed documents, 8 photo albums, jewelry and sterling, and clothes for overnight..  The good news is that we were given the keys to a 3 BR condo in Montecito Del Mar yesterday and will be moving in this morning. What a wonderful gift it is to have friends who are working to help us get situated and back on the road to moving into our new home! Things are moving forward slowly.. We are safe and sound.. We will rebuild in the same place with a lot of hardscape vs. landscape.  Thank you for your thoughts &  prayers.

 

From Mike Ellis  (posted October 26, 2008)

 

Well, Terry and I finally went on a cruise. We took a 5-day cruise on September 20th to Cozumel and Progresso. You guys should have told me to go years ago. We drank more Pina Colada's (where is that damn squiggle for over the n when you need it?) than I can recall. We swam with two dolphin (and the football team's name is incorrect - dolphin IS plural) and got to be pulled around by them. We saw one of the new seven wonders of the world (the ancient ones like the Colossus of Rhodes are gone), the Chichen Itza Pyramid. We ate like Kings! Food was EVERYWHERE on the ship. It was Carnival Cruise Lines, Ecstacy. We gambled... Terry gambled. I couldn't win squat!!! But Terry is a Black Jack Queen!! We ended up a little over $200 ahead at the casino on the ship. Add that to the fact that we ate $650 worth of food (I put a pencil to it and the steaks and such every night along with the gourmet breakfasts and all the snacks and lunches came to right about $650 if we had eaten all that here in Dallas), yes add it all up and we ended up taking the 5-day cruise for FREE except for the price of the drinks and souvenirs!!! It was a blast. Then today we went downtown to the Carnival Cruise Lines World's Biggest Beach Ball party where they set the Guinness Book of Records record for the world's largest beach ball. They had two of them each three stories tall. We were filmed \"tossing" them down Main Street. I don't know if we'll be seen in the commercial they were filming or not. Then we ate free hot dogs, free kettle korn, and free ice cream and Terry and I got to make a video postcard of the event for free, too. I'm SOLD on Carnival Cruise Lines and all the people we talked to who had been on multiple cruises, said Carnival is the best. So hop on board one SOON!! Damn! I sound like a commercial! hahahahaha

 

From David Hamilton  (posted October 26, 2008)

 

Although not all of my memories are good concerning high school, the good memories far outweigh the bad. The thing I remember the most about Mr. Pierce was his “board of education”.  He was the “Master” of correcting all my rowdy friends in high school. My buttocks were real skinny in those days. I wish the accumulation I now have in that area was available in 1965-67. 

From Manuel Zaby  (posted October 8, 2008)

 

My sabbatical has ended.  I started working for Match.com last Thursday.

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate, Mike Looney. (posted September 30, 2008)

 

Mike Looney's mother, Mary Looney, passed away on September 30th after a fall.  Visitation will be Thursday, October 2nd from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sparkman Hillcrest located on Northwest Highway. The funeral service will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Sparkman Hillcrest.  There will be a reception following the service at the home of Mike & Sandra Looney.

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted September 30, 2008)

 

There was an interesting take on fortieth reunions in Parade magazine last Sunday.  Click here to read James Grady’s “You Can Go Home Again.”    (James Grady authored Six Days of the Condor.)  I think you will enjoy reading it.

 

From Karla Kirby Corchran (posted September 30, 2008)

 

Hi everyone! I'm so glad that everyone that wrote news of the damage from Ike came out OK. I worry every time there is a new one, for family as well as classmates and friends who live in hurricane country. That's not to say we wouldn't be affected in the Hill Country with an "inland" hurricane because we can! I guess living in Louisiana for 20+ years with the threat of hurricanes makes you a believer in the damage they can and will cause! On a lighter note, Corky and I just got back from visiting my daughter and her boys in Ft. Collins, Colorado for a month which was fun. We took our time getting home just meandering through Colorado and New Mexico visiting some of the National Monuments and Parks we missed previously. One of the highlights was watching a Bobcat stroll through our camp while we were drinking coffee one morning. It didn't seem to be scared in the least-had a huge squirrel in it's mouth! We've never seen one in the wild so it was a thrill. It's good to be home for a while and enjoying the fall in here.

 

From Linda Bartek Coker (posted September 30, 2008)

 

We had a new grand baby born on August 31, our second!! His name is Logan Eugene Coker and weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. We are taking his older brother, 3 years old, camping this weekend to get away from all the hoopla created by the new sibling. Thankfully his mom seems to have loosened her apron strings just a little not that she has two. He was to have been a scheduled c-section on September 9...but guess he had other plans! Received a phone call at 4:00 in the morning from my son. He was all casual like and I was wondering what was he thinking anyway...he started out with casual conversation that ended with "oh, by the way, can you and dad come on over...Eileen's water just broke and we need to go to the hospital. How long will it take you to get here to take care of Collin?! Needless to say a 40 minute drive took us 20 minutes and we drove through McD's for coffee too!! We arrived to a nice neighbor lady half asleep on their couch waiting for us. We waited as long as we could and finally woke Collin up at 6:15 to head for the hospital. Collin was there in time to see his mom before she went into surgery and then see his baby brother brought to the nursery window by his proud dad. Of course, we were pretty proud. So as you can see...we might not be traveling the world...but our little world is pretty exciting!

 

From Martha Murphy (posted September 23, 2008)

 

I am currently appearing in LOVE LETTERS on our Langley stage.  A local writer who has a BLOG about South Whidbey featured an article about my co-actor, Ed Cornachio, and you can also see a pic. of me from Sunday's show (scroll down) http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/whidbey/  ....We had standing ovations!  and there are three more performances this coming weekend.  Keep scrolling down for pictures of this year's Soup Box Derby on Saturday. 

 

[Note from Kathy:  Last year about this time, Lois Dickerson and I were visiting Martha on Whidbey.  We attended a play in “her” theatre and also were fortunate enough to witness the famous Soup Box Derby!]

 

From Karen Brown (posted September 23, 2008)

 

I have been hibernating the past three weeks on an 8000 foot mountain just south of Jackson Hole.  With no phone and an hour's drive just to read my e-mail, I have missed out on all the craziness since the Democratic Convention ended.  Guess I picked a bad time to retire!  I choose not to even look at my stock portfolio. 

 

From Gayla Duce (posted September 23, 2008)

 

I thought my next news would be short and sweet, but my life does not function well on short and sweet.  I had reconnected with my college boyfriend (Ron Nillen) back in March and after taking our time, we have decided to get married. We wanted to marry after college and his Dad loved me but my Dad said I was not old enough. I hope I am now,  The end of August we spent 2 weeks moving all of his household, equipment, cattle and horses up to Corsicana, after we got the animals out we can sadly say that he WAS from Galveston. Lost a beautiful home on the west end but everything is ok.  The house had enough furniture in it to make it inhabitable but haven't found one scrap of anything.  Just pilings in the water.  He was down near Bolivar, blocks from the beach.  His boat broke and half was in the swimming pool.  His daughters and their families live in Santa Fe, TX north of Galveston.  They suffered water and tree damage but all are safe.  We went down there every weekend in college and all of the old hangouts, bars, restaurants and his parents, aunts and grandmothers are gone.  Believe it or not, they are buried at Sparkman Hillcrest.  We don't have a date set yet.

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted September 19, 2008)

 

As everyone knows, parts of Texas were blasted by hurricane Ike last weekend.  I have sent emails to classmates in the Houston/Galveston area, asking them to “check in” to let us know about their experience with the storm.  Click here to read how everyone was affected.

 

From Kathy Kilmer Moak (posted September 17, 2008)

 

Because I know our class has at least three present or former art teachers (Martha Bruton, Lois Dickerson, and yours truly), news about a Woodrow art show/scholarship honoring the present Woodrow art teacher caught my eye. Click here for details. (See Woodrow in the News page) Lois and I have spoken so many times about the influence Jack Stevenson had on our decisions to become art teachers.

 

 

From Jay Ballou (posted September 11, 2008)

 

The new links are great additions, and the site is exceptional!  Especially the Brockles page.  Here is a post I left for Jimmy – “I distinctly remember the entrance, the round window and the waitress uniforms.  It was always my mother’s favorite restaurant when we were little, and she always had the special dressing around.  Too bad the old place is now a parking lot for city hall.  Great picture of the family - it's nice to see all the Ellis boys and Mr. & Mrs. Ellis, my parents away from home.  They were always really nice to me, except for the time Mike and I accidentally dropped a lit "punk" into a FULL grocery bag of Black Cat firecrackers - indoors on the side porch.  Let's just say that after the chaos of hundreds of firecrackers exploding around us, and Mike and I realized we were still alive and had not burned the house down, Momma Ellis had a few choice words for both of us!  And we earned it.  I loved both of them and miss them and Billy a lot”…

 

From Sherry Jackson Ricamore (posted September 11, 2008)

 

Two years ago I moved from my Garland home of 30 yrs to Plano. I've worked for the same executive for 26 years in Dallas - no plans for early retirement. I have 2 daughters, one a teacher in Plano and the other an attorney in Dallas, and I have 4 grandchildren. I spend lots of time with my daughters and grandchildren and love every minute of it!  I’m turning 60 in October - will be happy to do so- my Dad died at 59 (aneurism) so I will be glad to make 60 and beyond.  My mother passed away a week before Christmas last year at 87.  Love the website and thanks for all your hard work on it. 

 

From Wanda Pagel Jackson (posted September 11, 2008)

 

I have to laugh when I read about retiring. Dan and I have been for the last 3 years and he thinks he needs to work again for rest. We love being able to help other people, that is what we want to do now. We take time for us too. No trips for now but know we will be planning a trip to see his kids in WA state soon. Grandchildren are all well and great grandchldren too. What more could we want.

 

From Patti Glenn (posted September 11, 2008)

 

Rosemary Piazza has a new grandchild, Janie.

 

From Patricia Mooney Marlowe (posted September 9, 2008)

 

Terrific launch!  You and Charlie did a terrific job.  Thanks again for all your hard work.

 

No news here in San Antonio.  We spent the last half of August in Dallas with Meg and Evelyn while Ed was hunting in Siberia.  I will say, though we had a good time, 18 nights in a double bed at someone else's house is way too much of a sacrifice for me to make---even if it is to spend time with daughter and granddaughter! .  While we were there one morning during breakfast Evelyn asked for a fork and Meg asked her why she needed one.  Her answer was, "The Bible tell me so."  I guess Sunday school classes do work!   We laughed and laughed and decided that is the perfect answer for when you are stumped!

 

We found out last week that the baby due at the end of January is a boy.  Very exciting, but mostly that the sonogram was good and there seem to be no problems. 

 

Rudd is busy with his consulting and traveling quite a bit.  Several of the projects he has been working on have popped at the same time.  While he is gone, I am busy getting ready for a genealogy trip in November with my sister Maureen to Charleston, SC.  We have done this for years, but moving to Bermuda and back and having the grandbaby interrupted things.  We go the first part of November and it is kind of open ended

 

Thought this was an interesting article about East Dallas.  It is from my sister Maureen.

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted September 9, 2008)

 

Check it out!  We made the front page of Lakewood-Now! 

 

 

This was the comment that I sent –

 

Hey, Bruce!  Thanks for the kind words.  We welcome all visitors to the '67 site and enjoy hearing from those who stop by.  One clarification, however - it is not my site - it is very much "our" site.  Charlie Taylor and I have worked together to create and maintain it, but we could do nothing without the cooperation of all of our classmates.  WWW '67 is a fun-loving, remarkable group!

 

From Brenda Bock Linzel (posted September 6, 2008)

 

OMG.....have you guys done anything else but work on this???? I can't even take it all in at one sitting!!!! Fabulous! THANK YOU!

 

From Suzi Shuler Harkey (posted September 6, 2008)

 

Many thanks to all of you who made this new web site possible. You guys are our mainstay to continued communication. Fall is upon us and we are rejoicing as the temperature begins to drop into the low 90s here in south Texas. Randy and I enjoyed an Alaskan cruise and stay in Anchorage as we celebrated our 40th anniversary this summer. Randy retires the end of this month and we will hit the airways to Albuquerque to take in the hot air balloon festival. Then it's back home to learn how to live like retirees, whatever that means! I'm still coordinating counseling at our church, and we are content with life here in San Antonio.

 

From Beth Baxter Eikenburg (posted September 4, 2008)

 

The 3rd annual David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride will be held in New Braunfels, Texas on Saturday, September 13, 2008. This ride is to honor David Eikenburg, WW class of 71. who died tragically in a cycling accident on July 11, 2005. He died doing what he loved but his first love and passion was to share the love of Jesus. We honor him again this year with with bike ride, remembering what he loved and then to glorify God by continuing David's legacy and passion for spreading the good news to people everywhere. Information about David, his family, his ministry, and this event can be found on our website, www.davideikenburgmemorialbikeride.com Donations can be sent to Beth Eikenburg at 247 Twin Oak, Seguin, Texas 78155. Funds this year will benefit a bereavement camp for children who need to learn how to deal with their loss and Volunteers in Mission, a free medical clinic.

From Sonny Thompson (posted September 4, 2008)

I can only surmise how much time and effort this took from you two, and I'm guessing you've used up two sets of eyeballs looking at all of the new site's info. A hearty "Well Done" to the both of you!

 

From Darlene Hogan Kruse (posted September 4, 2008)

 

The website is absolutely wonderful.......... very well done!! Everyone that assisted did a fantastic job.

 

Keep us in your prayers for TS/Hurricane Hanna....we are 30 minutes south of Savannah. Also, Hurricanes Ike & Josephine as we are scheduled to leave Saturday 13th out of Port Canaveral for our 25th Anniversary Cruise. Will send pictures!!

 

More big news, we are expecting our first great-grandchild in March 2009. Our daughter, Renee, is so excited!!

 

From Kathy Thomas Gerwig (posted September 3, 2008)

 

Kathy (Kilmer)Moak asked me to review the new web site before "go live". Of course, it is quite impressive and she and Charlie have done a "wow" job as usual. She lived to regret this request however when I got to the photo gallery. I had to miss the 40th Reunion because my Dad was critically ill so I REALLY enjoyed looking at the slide shows. The down side for Kathy was that I kept emailing her saying "who is the blonde on slide 21" or "the guy on the left on slide 48", etc. because I just knew I should know who it was but I just couldn't quite figure it out. It looks like you guys had a really great time - particularly the Exiles. It looked like they were having too much fun! I was also really impressed with the decorations at the country club. Kathy tells me that Tommy Attlessey was in charge. Good job!! The most "exciting" thing that has happened to me this year is that I had both knees replaced in April. It was well worth the hassle - I can walk without limping anymore (I've been told I had gotten so bowlegged from the arthritis that I had the "rolling gait of a salty tar") and I'm even an inch taller! Life is good. If anyone else is considering this drop me an email and I'll be glad to give you all the helpful tips I wish I had known!

 

From Lois Dickerson Morton (posted September 3, 2008)

 

I'm part of a new Houston art co-op called Green House Gallery that will have a grand opening on Sep. 19th and is currently open Thurs-Sun. I'm also participating in a show at The Pink Magnolia in Katy on Sep. 28th. That gallery is open during the week by appointment. www.loismortonart.com and www.greenhouseartgallery.com

 

 

From Mary Terranella Thelen (posted September 2, 2008)

 

Doug has landed in Kuwait on his way to Iraq.  Please keep him in your prayers.

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate, Dee Ann Egan. (posted August 24, 2008)

 

The sympathies of the class go to Dee Anne Egan, whose mother passed away on August 8 following a ten year battle with Alzheimer's. Read her obituary here.

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate, Patty Landers Caperton (posted August 24, 2008)

 

Our sympathy also goes to Patty Landers Caperton, whose 20 yr. old nephew (her brother’s middle son) died several weeks ago. Patty’s brother passed away in ’99.

 

From Nancy Cook Pendleton (posted August 24, 2008)

 

My deepest sympathies to all who have lost loved ones. I don't think the impact of losing a parent really hits until you have experienced it.

 

My Dad had always said that for his and Mom's 60th wedding anniversary we were all going to take a cruise to Alaska. My family - Mom, siblings and spouses, and I - just returned from a cruise to Alaska and were on the ship on July 31st which, would have been their 60th anniversary. It was a little bittersweet for all of us but, I feel Daddy was there with us in spirit. He had always talked about taking a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier. And, I, who am terrified of heights, did just that. It was an awesome experience.

 

I am still a reference librarian in the Austin area. I haven't decided yet what I want to do next.

 

Thank you so much for keeping this communication going. Even though I don't respond much, I do read every word of the messages and think about my high school classmates often.

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted August 24, 2008)

 

Some of you probably remember Claire Wilson, WWW ’66. This article (click here) about her was in the Austin American Statesman Sunday. I knew Claire and have thought of her each time I hear anything about the Tower shootings. What a tragedy. Many thanks to Rhonda Halasz for sending the article to me. Betty Benda also sent a note saying Claire was her “big sister” at Long.

 

From Darlene Hogan Kruse (posted August 22, 2008)

After some rather serious discussions, and a little pathetic whining on my part, I was released from St. Vincent's Hospital Jacksonville, Florida July 31st.. We got home around 6:00 PM.. what bliss!! I had a comfortable night, and now learning about ALL of the new medicines that are required to keep my heart safe and healthy. I am taking this very, very seriously. The Lord has worked a miracle on me, so it's up to me to live for whatever He has in store for my future and trust me on this one, I don't want to feel that kind of PAIN again.

 

Ladies, my Heart Attack woke me out of a sound sleep at 5:00 AM, with intense pain in my left SHOULDER, it then radiated to my chest and jaw. Do Not ignore this pain, call EMS immediately. I went to work and finally had my husband come and take me to the ER in Brunswick around 6:00 PM. After a Diagnostic Heart Cath, I had a reaction to Heparin and nearly bled to death. My palettes dropped to 6. I was transported to St. Vincent's the next morning. The doctors found a 70% blockage on Friday, then when they went to do the Stent on Tuesday..... it was gone!!

 

God's Grace!! With rest and medication I should be able to resume normal activities within two weeks.

 

From Bren Hornsby Pool (posted August 22, 2008)

I’ve just been trying to stay outof the summer heat. Gone swimming with grand-daughter all summer. That has been fun. I also am having minor surgery tomorrow. I have been having a bout with trigger thumb and tendonitis. Needless to say, my right arm has been wrapped most of the time. Thats why I have been swimming so much. Can't wear that brace in the water LOL. Expect a complete recover in no time. Dr. said take it easy for two weeks. So I will probably do some much needed catching up on paperwork and taxes. Also my husband started a new career. He is Sales Manager for a 2-way radio communications company. Resigned from McDonald's after 18 years. Enough of the corporate life.

 

From Linda Bartek Coker (posted August 7, 2008)

No real exciting news from the Terrell/Forney area. 

Growing lots of squash and okra right now, also black-eye peas...freezer is overflowing!   Getting ready to re-start substitute teaching in Forney.  My husband, Ron, turns 60 in October (he graduated from Seagoville High).  I plan to take him to Rockport/Fulton Beach for a couple days of guided bay fishing and throw a small family party.  Small is relative as he has 9 brothers and sisters and a jillion nieces, nephews not to mention great nieces and nephews...I am always the one in charge of the Christmas gatherings, too!  I was an only child with only a few cousins out of town!

Our second grandson will be born on September 9th!  Can't wait!  My oldest son, Chris and his wife Eileen have already given us 3 year old Collin...now Logan will be here soon!  My other two children, Daniel and Stacy are not married.  Daniel is engaged...ring...no date.  Stacy has a long time boyfriend in Sulphur Springs.  She will start her 2nd year teaching 5th grade math in Mesquite. 

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted July 25, 2008)

Click here to check out the ZZTop article that was in the DMNews recently.  The actual newspaper article had a large map of Dallas/Ft. Worth with places referenced in the article marked on it.  (It also had very cool artwork!)   Woodrow, was marked on the map as “Mr. Hill’s alma mater, Class of 1967.”The sympathies of the class go to the Cissy Everts Hornbckle who lost her father on July 9, 2008.

Note from From Cissy Everts Hornbuckle (August 6, 2008) My father died July 9th, 2008 in Dallas. It was in the paper. He had been sick since Christmas 2007.

 

From Charlie Taylor (posted July 25, 2008)

 

As most of you know I do not write often. This year I made a commitment to re-launch my little video production company and to focus on a small segment of the market needing video web presentations, software tutorials, e-Learning and training videos. The goal was to create a news business plan, then a website and then start selling. Ironically, it seemed to all happen in reverse. I put the word out to a couple of friends and wham; I got hit with three good sized jobs. Two are completed and the third is in the pre-production phase. With a little bit of a break right now, I decided I had better launch my website and to feature a short sample of my work. It is a small website, which oddly seems to use WWW colors, but is certainly more entertaining that the typical website. So, if you’re looking for a couple of minutes of entertainment then take a peek at www.pinpoint-productions.com.

 

Now it’s time for Charlie to get back to work on our new class website which will include the photos and video from our reunion last year.

 

From Robin Abbey (posted July 25, 2008)

 

Well OK, I have been putting this off long enough. I do enjoy so much reading about your lives and how things are progressing or not with you all. So this is the Readers Digest version of things from Kansas. The two most exciting things in the near future in my life will be first my two grandsons will be here for a couple of weeks. For me anytime spent with them is a wonderful adventure and a highlight to be remembered. The second thing is something that I note few if any of you have mentioned in your correspondence. Could it be that it has slipped your minds or maybe conveniently omitted? I know it is something we all share because we all have graduated in the same year. So I’ll go ahead and say it! SIXTY YEARS OLD. Yep the big 6 - 0 hits this December, and I can’t wait to celebrate. We have no big trips planned or anything like that. None the less, we will have a grand celebration. Now, for those of you who may have failed to state this fact and it has already happened, Happy belated Birthday. To those that have yet to see the day but will, Happy Birthday. To those of you that are in denial - you dogs!

 

Over the past few years I have been involved with various aspects of a renovation and expansion planning for our church and school facilities. The church building was erected in 1824. It is a beautiful antique but not very user friendly. This spring I was involved with a few others in fund raising to help make it happen.

 

I am proud to say we raised $1,900,000 in a month’s time. We are so blessed!

 

Health wise things are OK. Not like I’d want them to be, but I am writing this to you so that is a good thing. The down side is I can’t do the mowing anymore and have a yard man for that. I have to sell my fishing boat. I am not supposed to take it out without adult supervision. But sense compliance has never been a strong point with me steps have been introduced, per say! The yard thing is a plus. The fish need me.

 

I hope you all will continue to report in. Your travels, your family successes, the ups and downs all inspire me and often make me smile. Bless those that make our communication happen. Wildcats ’67 - Who could have ever imagined?

 

Peace my friends.

 

From Rhonda Halasz Lands (posted July 2, 2008)

 

Barry and I were in Colorado on vacation June 14-21. It snowed 263 inches there this winter and the weight of it bent the chimney of my parents’ house to a 45 degree angle. There was quite a bit of snow on the mountains still while the rest of it had melted into waterfalls and rushing rivers, and the temperature was delicious. Here is a goofy photo that I tried to take of myself at arm’s length in front of the Blue Lakes Trailhead. It was just beautiful and we had a good time. It is difficult to witness the effects advancing age on my parents, but I was glad to have the chance to be with them in that beautiful setting. All in all, they are doing very well for 83 and 82 years old, and I would be happy to be in the same shape at that age! I’m looking forward to the revamped WWW web site and really enjoyed reading Christy Thomas’s journal of her trip to France. Can you believe it has almost been a year since our mini-reunion in San Antonio? That was such fun.

 

From Cynthia Cannon (posted May 28, 2008)

 

Well, I can relate to Karla K's report. Last Feb my mother(87) had an extreme case of bronchitis and ended up in the hospital a week with dehydration and needed IV's of electrolytes and sodium etc. Then in April my father (89) fell and broke his hip and was in the hospital and rehab for 2 weeks. He's now home with PT for a while. Doctors told him he'd need to use a walker from now on..NOT what he wanted to hear. He'll have to quit mowing his yard!! I've been in Dallas several weeks this spring tending to them both.Didn't realize what Mother can not do, and what my Dad did until now. Little things like getting the morning paper from the yard, hanging out clothes on the line, putting gas in the cars, grocery shopping and vacuuming. Meanwhile Mom fell and hit her head on a door frame and had a big long black and blue goose egg on the top of her head and broke a blood vessel in her eye! but, this is just a bump in the road, not the end of the road. They both have their senses and a clear mind, are determined to stay living in their home they built in 1940. They just have a mobility problem with Dad's hip and Mom's knees.They can drive, just can't walk very far ! I'll be going to Dallas once a month from now on to help out and do "chores" . Dad has a list ready for me when I get there. Anyway. I'm going to New Zealand in JUly ,driving my parents to North Carolina in Sept and Branson in Nov. , and myself and friends to Texas wine country (Fredricksburg) in Oct.

From Jane Farrar Admire (posted May 28, 2008)

Well, this is not to exciting, but for my news:

1) I am starting my 25th year practicing ear/nose/and throat surgery at Medical City Dallas --- a place that did not begin to exist when we graduated from Woodrow,

2) my daughter just got her Senior Ring at Hockaday (Class of 2009) (nice, but not a interesting as ours with all the Woodrow stuff on it (Class of 1967!!!),

3) White Rock Lake is my front yard at 4303 West Lawther and it is just beautiful and very green now; everyone will be very disappointed to know that all the parking lots are going to LIGHTED and close at 11pm---- this was never a problem when WE were parking there in 1965-67.

4) We went to the Woodrow musical this year as always, and as always it was fabulous beyond belief,

5) I just attended a GRADE school reunion if you can believe it and the school opened to my first grade class in 1957; we laughed and shared memories like it was yesterday, almost better than high school because we were genuinely kids then and everyone had a shot at everything in that future.

From Brenda Bock Linzel (posted May 28, 2008)

Life is anything but boring: Just renewed my insurance licenses. Gotta keep the brain going....then went to south miami beach over Memorial day. Geez I am OLD....no bikini and no tattoos!! Heading to a catamaran on the British Virgin Islands for June and to Vegas for my kids' tenth wedding anniversary over July 4th. Back to see the family in Dallas in August. New York for Labor Day. Hilton Head in October.

Vicki (Telkamp) Ballard (posted May 28, 2008)

My husband and I have a houseboat on Lake Ouchita outside of Hot Springs Village and were up there for Memorial weekend. Some new people moved into the slip next to ours and we went over to introduce ourselves. She introduced herself as Cynthia Johnson and as we were talking, she mentioned she was originally from Dallas. I asked her where and she said the White Rock Lake area. I said, so was I. Then she said Lakewood area and I said I was also. She asked me what high school I went to and she said so did I! Come to find out, it was Cynthia Allen and we had gone through elementary (Stonewall Jackson), Jr. High and High School together. She had moved to Memphis, TN, after her Junior year and had graduated in Memphis. I was so surprised!! What a small world! She and her husband live in Hot Springs Village. Her email address is: cjohnson71909@yahoo.com

From Jay Ballou (posted May 27, 2008)

The Exiles have rented the big rehearsal room at Universal Rehearsal (9150 Markville Dr., about ½ block east of High Point, on Greenville, where LT is held – just south of LBJ/635) Sunday June 1st from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. We are just going to practice, play some old stuff, and try to learn some new stuff – so it is really for our benefit to begin preparing for the 1969 class reunion. It’s not official yet, but they have asked us pending approval of the reunion committee. If anyone wants to come by and listen, bring some food or just say hello, we would love to see you. Also, I hope to make it to the Highpoint on Thursday – hope to see some ’67 grads there.

From Paul Brown (posted May 27, 2008)

 

Sorry to hear of Karl's passing and the loss to his family. Karl and Kelly lived in the same block as my family on Morningside. We ran together a lot and, since we were all wild and crazy, we had a lot of fun and occasionally got into some trouble. Karl was very good with the mechanical aspects of cars and we were constantly tinkering with our parents' cars to make them faster, louder or sometimes not run at all!
Here is one example, of MANY, of our hi-jinks: Karl's mother had a late 50's Mercury that we put a four barrel carb on. We hooked the back two barrels of the carb to a flexible cable and ran the cable into the car's dash board. This gave us the ability to have remarkable acceleration at almost any speed by simply pulling the cable and opening all four barrels of the carb. One time we were going along - too fast as usual - Karl pulled the cable and we took off like a rocket - the cable stuck in the open position - we could not slow down. Karl managed to turn the ignition off and stomped the brakes so hard that the wheels locked up but the rapid deceleration caused the radio to dislodge (we had removed the radio to put the cable into the dash and had not re-installed it properly). The radio crashed under the dashboard and shorted out wires under the dash. The car caught on fire. The car's under dash wiring burned from the resulting electrical fire. We were abundantly creative and destructive at the same time.

Karl had a good sense of artistic design, also. He could have been a graphic designer. He did free hand T-shirt art work in the abstract genre of early drag racers and custom car guys. His family moved to Vickery and we lost touch. We drifted apart in the later years of high school and I have not had any contact with either Karl or Kelly in years.

I'll remember Karl and Kelly as good natured rascals always ready to have some fun. Pass this message along to anyone who might have known Karl and who you think might enjoy the tale. I would like to know of other's stories about these old friends, as well!

 

The sympathies of the class go to the family and friends of classmate, Karl McCurdy.

From Karl McCurdy’s daughter, Kerrie McCurdy (posted May 26, 2008)

My name is Kerrie McCurdy. Both my father and mother went to Woodrow Wilson. I have some sad news. My father, Karl McCurdy, passed away on May 19, 2008. He was 59 yrs. old. He had not been feeling well for awhile, but this was unexpected and it took me by surprise. I am still in shock and numb. My mom graduated in 1969. Her name is Kathy Domino, well, her maiden name that is. She and my Dad divorced in around 72 or 73. Just to let you know, my sister graduated from Woodrow in 1993, she was valedictorian. Her father went there also. His name is Mark Johnson. In fact, I am the only one in my family who did not go to Woodrow Wilson.

 

Thanks to everybody for their concerns.

 

From Christy Thomas (posted May 26, 2008)

 

I've posted here the journal I wrote for my mother about my trip to France this spring. She'll never be able to go over there to see my son and his family who are currently living there, so it was my gift to her. A number of others have read it and enjoyed it so . . . http://www.christythomas.com/writings/france_2008.html

Other than that, things just stay busy here in Krum. I will, after a very long and arduous journey, be ordained in the United Methodist Church on June 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Custer Road UMC in Plano. Any and all are welcome to attend that service.

From Martha Murphy (posted May 26, 2008)

 

I was just in Dallas for a week, visiting family. I ran around White Rock Lake and it brought back loads of WWW memories. I even went to Cox Cemetery!

Now, I'm on the Caribbean island of Bequia. I am here for a month. Ohhhh, so nice. I am finishing my play and writing a children's book too. I needed first-hand experience (hee hee) since the children's book is about visiting this island paradise.

 

Just finished the premiere opening of my one-woman show, "I'M GOIN' ON", in Langley. (see playbill here) It's about my life growing up in a big Irish Catholic family in Texas during the 50's and 60's and the hurtles I've overcome and the challenges I've faced...including getting OLD! It's a comedy for sure. I bill it as "A Baby Boomer Looks Back". Hope to bring it to Dallas.

 

I'll be in Dallas June 17 week. Going to a family wedding in Tyler on June 21. Best wishes to all of my WWW'67 classmates! Life is good.

 

From Jackie Miller (posted May 26, 2008)

 

Can't come to LT this month, but I will have a beer that day in honor of your gathering. I am in Venice, CA for the week. My daughter lives here and works for MTV on a show called the HILLS. Popular w/ 12 to 30 year olds..or anyone w/ IQ below 65. I watch all the time...but just to see her name roll around on the credits at the end. If nothing is insignificant for the Classmate News page, I will add we just got a standard poodle puppy and drove him out here (Venice) to take him to a coffee shop called the Cows End. Everyone brings their unusual dogs to this spot to parade them around...so Pinot is out-classing these mutts. Just joking. One more thing, I made a snowman last winter and after completion he came to life. That was weird. Sorry I can't resist that kind of behavior. Too much coffee

 

From Bren Hornsby Pool (posted May 26, 2008)

 

I wanted to let everyone know...David Gilmer’s dad has been placed on hospice care. His dad may continue to live for years. He does have cancers that possibly have penetrated to the brain. There is no further treatment that can be done. Please keep the Gilmer family in prayer. Also, David and Connie's youngest son (A.J.) graduated from high school this year.

From Allison (Ruth) Smith (posted May 26, 2008)

We just got back from Cape Cod. We went to our first homeowners association meeting since we moved from Chatham to Harwich Port. Greg thought we had stepped into a John Cheever story. I've never seen so much madras, seersucker, and Nantucket red in one room. I think I'll change my name again. Perhaps something like Muffin or Weezie would feel right.

 

 

The people were a actually very nice and welcoming to the strange "young" newcomers. One man had been a member of the association for 78 years. We met in the really interesting house built in 1850. At one time it had belonged to General Rocky. His men planted the flag on Iwo Jima. The house next door was built in 1792 and moved in 1844 to make room for the new Congregational church. This is all good for the preservationist in me.

 

From Kathy Kilmer (posted May 23, 2008)

Kathy’s a Gran……at long last!

Condensed version of personal goings on – I’m beginning my fourth year of retirement (from education but certainly not life), still giving teacher training in the summers, doing more than my share of community volunteer work, active in Texas Master Gardener activities (with a bunch of OLD people…..funny how I feel so much younger but am not!), celebrating 35th wedding anniversary Sunday, about to begin my final year as a fifty-something (YIKES!), mother doing well in Dallas (Dad died Memorial Day, last year……..I miss him), oldest daughter just received a promotion, youngest daughter just graduated from law school, middle daughter presented us with first grandchild (Claire Elizabeth) on April 9, getting into the “Gran groove” and loving it, successfully nursed a very ill stray puppy with Parvo virus back to health (round-the-clock care for over a week - quite a feat!!! What can I say, I like a challenge), already sick, sick, sick of hot/humid weather and finding it more difficult to tolerate each year, feeling extremely restless now that outrageous gasoline prices have put a halt to my former frequent escapes from behind the Pine Curtain.

 

From Manuel Zaby (posted May 23, 2008)

Lib and I are in Budapest right now and will be cruising on the Danube for the next couple of weeks. This will culminate in Krakow and Auschwitz before we get back to Dallas.

Worked backstage for the WW musical again this year and enjoyed that duty as usual.

Still focused on the next job opportunity and interviewing with some interesting prospects.

In the meantime we are being the social hosts for Neiman's for this tour, which is a pretty neat perk, I think.

We are otherwise pretty busy with work and volunteer activities and preparing a mid-summer family gathering in the Colorado mountains.

From Christy Gay (posted May 23, 2008)

Greeting from the Northwoods! Life is transitional these days. After ten years of running the campground, we have decided to try new things. This winter, in preparation for selling the resort, we built a house on a lot we own on a nearby lake. My partner, JJ, got a real estate license and I started a photography business. We’ll work part time at our new jobs until we sell the campground.

Until this winter we have been snowbirds, but our new projects kept us in Wisconsin for the winter. My first ever winter anywhere, I might add. A year of wintery firsts – snowshoeing, snow mobiling, ice fishing, and I made my very first snow angel! Someone should have told me that when you fall backwards, you need more than a foot of snow to break your fall. And how the hell do you get up without wrecking the angel? The whole thing was ill conceived. Do you know that at 20 below when you breathe in, the hair inside your nose freezes? It is the weirdest feeling. Don’t tell anyone because it sounds weird, but I kind of liked it.

 

I love my photography business. I specialize in doing little league teams. Photographing 5 year olds in their very first baseball uniform is so much fun. But don’t ask them what position they play. They have no idea.

Spring is finally here. The trees got their leaves last week, just in time for Memorial Day. The park likes to show off for the first big crowd of the summer. They will arrive tomorrow night – 400 of them, half of them under ten. Most of them have been coming here for years so it feels like a really big family reunion to us. For three days we’ll run a small city. The pool is full of heated water, the change machine is full of quarters and the bathrooms are stocked with paper – bring them on. We are ready. Any of you guys want to retire from your high stress jobs and buy a sweet little RV resort in the north woods? I know one that’s for sale – chetekriver.com!

 

From Karen Grubbs Mayes (posted May 23, 2008)

It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since all of us were at the 40th reunion!!! My brother Charles and I went to the LT last month on April 24th, and it was my first time. There were a lot of classmates from the class of 1963 and a very big presence of the class of 1969, and then there was just Steve Davis and myself representing the class of 1967…and then I thought about what a great time we would all have if we could get together again for a mini-reunion!! I am planning on being there, so let me know if I can do anything to help raise our classmate presence.

Also, my brother Charles and I went to the RAIN concert on April 29th, and it was the best concert I have ever gone to. It was so nice to go to a “Beatles” concert and be able to listen and enjoy all of the music. This band is so great that you think that they are the “real thing”, and the way that they worked with the audience was awesome.

If anyone has a chance to go to the J. M. W. Turner exhibit at the Dallas Art Museum, it is well worth the time. The exhibit has been extended to this weekend, Sunday May 25th. My daughter Jennifer and I spent almost 4 hours touring the exhibit which included the audio tour.
Well, that’s about all of the news from me….I have to save the rest for LT on the 29th (High Point, Greenville Ave., approx. 6:30), and very much looking forward to seeing you there!!!

From Suzi Shuler Harkey (posted May 23, 2008)

Retirement lasted about 3 months. I am now the counseling coordinator for our church here in San Antonio, a congregation of about 4,000. I train lay counselors, field all requests, assign counselors, or take counselees on my schedule. I'm loving it. It is so good to get away from the administrative component of school counseling and be free to do that which I love the most, pure counseling. I have time to develop seminars relating to personal and family issues and to teach. So I'm busy as much as I want to be and still free to be with my kids and go and do as I choose. Best of both worlds. Randy and I are very happy with our choice to downsize. Life now doesn't revolve around high taxes, property upkeep, or who can watch over the place while we're gone. We love it. Just enough room to squeeze in the kids when they come and not too much to have to keep up with. It's great. We are having our 40th anniversary this summer and have decided to go back to Alaska, this time by way of the cruise north. My brother John and his wife, residents of Anchorage will pick us up on the north end and we will visit with them for a week. So we are really looking forward to the trip. We have just moved our church into a new facility and like all "house" moves, it has worn us out. So the timing will be perfect as a refreshing and a much needed get-a-way. So life is good

From Patti Glenn (posted May 23, 2008)

Melissa (Proctor) Baker and I just got back from 7 days cruise out of Miami. First time in 35+ years that we have spent any significant time together – had a wonderful time – picked up where we left off many years ago. Hope to have a girls’ trip once a year.

 

Nancy (Clark) Rubenstein & Susan (Ashburn) Thornhill’s Roman Holiday (posted May 23, 2008)

At a time when oil was at an all time high and the dollar was at an all time low against the euro, the Rubensteins and Thornhills spent 2 amazing weeks in Italy. Nancy’s husband must have been a travel agent in a former life. He planned the entire itinerary, hitting the highlights in Venezia, Firenze and Roma along with a relaxing 5 nights at an agriturismo (farmhouse) in Tuscany. And yes, we had A Room with a View. He must have been an Italian race car driver in a former life also. He zipped through the tunnels on the autostrada in our Alfa Romeo like a local. The Talented Mr. Thornhill was the official trip photographer, capturing the beautiful light Under the Tuscan Sun.

We saw many of the major historical sites: the statue of David, the Coliseum, the Vatican and took an evening gondola ride. We had gelato and espresso everyday. We ate authentic brick oven pizza. Nancy and Susan spent lots of time studying the Italian sense of style. Silver metallic shoes were popular for women and orange pants were very popular for men.

Having a car allowed us to get off the beaten path and most of the time, it was on purpose. A highlight was stopping for lunch in a small town in the Chianti region. We don’t speak Italian and no one seemed to speak English. We were not sure exactly what we ordered, but it turned out to be one of the best meals of the trip. Of course, we had Chianti served in the traditional straw wrapped bottle.

It was a wonderful trip and guess what---we all are still friends! La Dolce Vita…

From Eve Holland (posted May 23, 2008)

You will never know how much I hated missing our 40th reunion but these past 12 months have been the most difficult in my life. I took a year off work to try and help care for my mother. It's really hard seeing a parent growing old and aging. Mother is so frail and eats very little. She has very bad dementia and I've had to step back and re-group for self preservation. And finally I feel some peace of mind. Hopefully that doesn't sound too selfish. I've had to put everything in God's hands.

And on a lighter note, my grandson and I plan on going to Utah next summer for our vacation. It's my favorite state and since hiking is my passion, Utah offers the best national parks in the country, from my point of view. And how wonderful it is to view the world from my grandson's eyes, eventhough he is a teenager.

I plan on starting to work again soon, which in itself can be salvation. I cannot imagine never working. So I'm in the middle of getting government security clearance to work on contracts. Instead of writing, I'll now be reviewing the contracts...maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Besides work, reading is something that really gives me an opportunity to escape. I loved reading "The Secret" and am now in the middle of reading "The Purpose Driven." I'm always open to reading material recommendations!

I would love to see all our classmates again and maybe we won't have to wait another ten years!

Again, thank you Kathy for your dedication to the class of '67.

From James/Jimmy/Jimi Barnett/Hendrix (posted May 23, 2008)

My life: Boring,boring,boring...I love chocolate ice cream. I'm currently reading this week's TVGuide. I'm also thinking of a goal, especially the one the Dallas Stars got in their quadruple overtime win against San Jose. Hockey rules!! ps Are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced?

From Sonny Thompson (posted May 23, 2008)

Vanilla ice cream for me.

 

From Mike Candler (posted May 23, 2008)

I have a bit of news. My wife and I went down to San Antonio April 27th with my son and his wife to pick up our new grandson. My son and his wife adopted a little boy from the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio. I have wanted to be a granddad for a long time. He is the light of my life. Whenever I get to hold him, he has smiled at me. I know that sounds unusual for a baby just a few weeks old, but I know he is special. His name is William Brooks Candler. He will be called Liam. He already has a fishing rod and reel someone gave to them at a shower. I cannot wait to teach him the love of nature, fishing and the outdoors in general. Maybe Claire and Liam can fish together when they get a little older. [Note from Kathy: I had told Mike that I gave my son-in-law, an avid fisherman, a pink rod & reel for my 6 wk. old granddaughter, Claire!]

 

From Paul Wood (posted May 23, 2008)

Our oldest daughter Heather (a graduate of the Trinity Rep. at Brown, and an Equity actor) is Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego June to September. This is a very big deal in that the Globe is one of the top two Shakespearean venues in North America. So if anyone is traveling to San Diego, as are we, I recommend it. Equally as proud our youngest daughter Courtenay has just completed her first year of Law School and is hoping to assist in a summer program to show incoming first years the ropes of Law School. Our life is anything but boring, we're way too blessed.

There’s not a lot to tell about me. Sallie and I went on a little cruise with a bunch of her New Orleans Cajun family a couple of weeks ago and had a fabulous time. Every morning when I got to the deck at about 9:00am there was a bucket of beer on the table waiting. AHHHHHHHH, beer, not just for breakfast anymore. Sallie and I will go to San Diego in July and I'm really looking forward to that.
As for tax advice, never let the bastards see you sweat.

From Mike Ellis (posted May 23, 2008)

Things are going well here. My daughter is planning on moving back to North Carolina, My oldest son is studying to be a Physics professor, my youngest son is the lead audio engineer for the Glass Cactus and ramping up a production company with a friend, Terry's working and so am I (teaching). But similar to the LT (Last Thursday), last Friday my brothers Jim and Chester and I and our wives went up to the Knights of Columbus on Shoreview to see Billy Joe Shine and the original Nightcaps! It was a hoot. They do this quarterly, so keep your ears open for August.

From Sara West (posted May 23, 2008)

I have a celebration to share! last Saturday I graduated from SMU with an MLA degree ---( Masters of Liberal Arts) --- I started it 6 years ago and have loved every minute of it----you can choose classes from a broad range of the Humanities, which include History, Literature, Fine Art, and Social Sciences---- school is so much more fun when you are of an age to really appreciate it! I encourage anyone even thinking about it to do it ----and I am so blessed with the rest of my life, too which still includes my mother and her husband in their 80's with active lives and amazing good health, a bit of work on some real estate projects ( just a wee bit I should say :) with my dear Sidney, annual trips to Santa Fe, NM and Fairfax, VA visiting friends and relatives, and lots of fun with my two beautiful nieces ---one at UNT and the other starting at TCU next fall----
It's a great life!

From Walter Patton (posted May 23, 2008)

Well nothing boring in this mans life. My dream continues to be my life as a works in progress. Trying to do good, being good and getting good. The dream sometimes gets a bit scary when looking at aging face on and knowing even I cannot beat the clock. I just can’t believe it sometimes. So far so good, pretty good health, no real bad habits and still eager for my daily play time with Ping my wife.

Summer heat is fast approaching and we are trying to get the too large garden plot ready for the heat and probably dry summer. We continue to improve on the green house and have one lady in Dallas wanting to rent some green house space for her miniature oranges. I am developing an idea for a community garden project on a larger scale then normal metro community gardens. Last year I built a new 3 acre lake and it is up hill from my best bottom land for gardening. So I figure I have the dirt, the water, the sun, and equipment to farm. Sooo if you or anyone you know would like a place to garden I am interested. My interest is to create more activity and community on my little 56 acre oasis in Poetry Texas.

Also continuing to explore possibilities for a countryside cohousing community country club for like minded rural living loving boomers. I have read many articles about this cohousing community idea and keep believing that others would want to enjoy the countryside way of living. Got any ideas?

Last year I talked about a Spring Fling www67/ Patton Farm party and I have just about let the cool days of spring come and be gone. Well maybe next year and the invitation always stands if anyone wants to come and visit, fish, fly a kite, shot your favorite gun or teach some younger’s about the out doors or just hang out by yourself and contemplate your navel in the solitude of the countryside. Just give me a call and a little notice 214-728-2755.

My son, Preston graduates on May 27th from West point and I am very happy and proud of him and constantly thoughtful of the journey ahead for him and all our soldiers. Please powerfully pray for peace.

Last read was a book titled "Soldier’s Heart" by Elizabeth D Samet a non military professor of literature at West Point. I am not a good reader and usually get ADD very quickly and this book I found very interesting as the author describes her perspective on the perspective of the student-warriors she has taught at WP, and the similarities of perspectives written about in ancient literature by solders.
I will try to make the last Thursday meeting next week. Happy and Safe Memorial Day.

From Mike Barnes: [Mike relayed this info. after hearing from Rick Carmichael.]

John Storey was there (Hawaii) when Rick sent the note. to Mike. Rick’s youngest daughter was recently married, his oldest son is in grad school in engineering, his middle daughter is in a PhD physics program at Kansas State and is a high school teacher. Rick retired from the Univ. of Hawaii about a year ago and spends his time riding bikes, hiking, swimming, and kayaking a lot. He still works a couple of days a week. By the way, John was recovering from total knee replacement.

From Karla Kirby (posted May 23, 2008)

 

Corky and I just got back from a month trip, probably 5,000 miles total, to the Smokey’s, Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park with a lot of stops in between. We ended up in Pennsylvania at Falling Water, the house that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We’ve wanted to see that for years and it turned out to be more impressive than the pictures! We visited some Army friends North of Falling Water while we were in PA, then headed home through Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. If any of you haven’t been to Mammoth Cave National Park, it’s a great place to visit. We took two cave tours that were a total of 5 ½ miles of hiking up and down hills (inside the cave). We had a lot of exercise that day and were of course sore. This trip has had a LOT of hiking, some of the hikes five miles at a time in the mountains. We didn’t realize it but we’re in pretty good shape for two ole geezers!!

We also toured the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. At one time we owned a 1982 Collector Edition Corvette when we lived in Louisiana so we were very interested in the museum with all of the different years of Corvettes. Made us want another one! They told us that you can order a Corvette from your local dealer then take possession there at Bowling Green (assembled at the plant two blocks away) at the museum with the full ‘Red Carpet” reception, etc. In our dreams….

I think one of the prettiest places we camped was Bull Shoals State Park in Arkansas (on the White River). To bad I didn’t have my fishing pole but we did enjoy all of the birds that were there, especially the Eastern Blue birds, Indigo Bunting, Pileated Woodpecker family and the Red-headed Woodpecker that are residents of the Park. Corky thinks I’m nuts because I like to bird watch! He tolerates birds.

On the downside, my Mom fell down the three steps to her bedroom last week. She’s very bruised as you can imagine with a bump on her head, a bad bruise on her shoulder and hip with maybe some damage. It looks like someone hit her in the face from a small cut. She’s taking Coumadin so bruising is worse than it would be normally. I think she’ll be OK. She also has osteoporosis and multiple compression fractures of her back so the fall didn’t help those problems. My step-father isn’t allowed to drive for 2 months because of a stroke he had two months ago so he can’t help her get around town. She’s still driving but has a hard time with the shoulder pain from the fall. She would kill me if she knew I was telling ya’ll about her but Kathy wants news, so there you have it! I will have to help both of them a lot in the near future. To make matters worse, they will have construction starting in July to make living quarters out of their office and storeroom so they can live in a “stair free” part of the house. Mom made the comment that the construction is starting at a very inconvenient time but somehow, we’ll deal with all these problems. We’ll have to stop traveling for a while until things even out.

All of our children are doing OK at the present moment which as you all know could change in a heartbeat! No new grandkids, thank heavens. We just want to enjoy our nine, never mind making an even ten! Several of the little ones are a handful to their parents right now (ages 1 ½, 4 and almost 3) but they will grow up all too soon and then they’ll have or be “teen” problems, lol. Payback is SO hard, isn’t it??

 

Hope all of you are having a good start to the summer and don’t get too HOT. How about Pistachio ice cream, Kathy??

 

From Marsha Neill Surles (posted May 23, 2008)

 

I started 2008 with a fall that resulted in cracked ribs. That slowed me down quite a bit. Shortly after that, I had my quarterly checkup with my oncologist, and we had a scare with my lab results being haywire. After a series of LOTS of tests it was decided that my rib injury and healing was elevating levels of something or another. It was a stressful time, and not an emotional place I want to be in again anytime soon. I have been cancer free for 7 years now (thankfully), but there will always be a little nagging fear that it could happen again. That's when I kick into gear for positive energy and thoughts. I really concentrate on all I have in my life, and it makes me so grateful.

 

I seem to have small projects going all the time these days. I was elected President of our Neighborhood Association this year, so there are lots of things to check into regarding new residents and our deed restrictions. We are not a mandatory association, so sometimes it's a little tricky. I'm also maintaining their website as well as some realty property websites.

I've been "contracted" by David's company (Independent Insurance Agents of Texas) to visit with their agent membership statewide, fortunately by telephone. I've enjoyed visiting and getting feedback from the agents on this project, but I will honestly be glad when it's completed. Work sort of cramps my retirement lifestyle... I don't want a scheduled life anymore!

We are still traveling some, though not as much as we did for a while. We got back last month from a week in Las Vegas and stayed at the new Palazzo Suites Hotel. It's adjoining the Venetian,and has lovely suites for every room. We saw Phantom of the Opera there in their special theatre and enjoyed it thoroughly. We are leaving this Saturday for 5 days in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys for our wedding anniversary (39 years this Saturday). We are leaving in September for our Alaskan cruise. We are already throwing out ideas to each other for how to celebrate our 40th anniversary. I am helping my kids out with day care costs for the summer, and I've agreed to entertain/teach/play with my grandchildren every other week this summer. I'll be teaching piano lessons, refining their swimming skills, teaching them croquet, and getting in plenty of exercise as a result. They are just now beginning to enjoy card games, and of course the first one we taught them was 21. Great math skills involved! I'll confess we have played some games with toothpicks for bets.

Around town, we enjoy going to different restaurants (no chains if we can help it). We went to Sandra Bullock's restaurant in Austin, Bess, and had a fabulous time. Food, service,and wine were perfect. We finished off that evening by going to see "1964: the Tribute". An evening full of Beatles songs, complete with "sing-along" and dancing in the aisles. If any of you have the chance to see this show, GO. It was a great step back in time. I still enjoy going to concerts as much as I did in high school. I have 2 tickets for Tom Petty in August in San Antonio, but I'm thinking about selling them and not going. My son was going to go with me, but couldn't get the day after the concert off from work. They are great seats up close, so if anyone is interested you can let me know. I'll be putting them up on Craig's List closer to the concert date.

Assuring you that my life is not all flowery roses, I suppose I should mention some difficult things happening. We are going through the court system right now to obtain legal guardianship for David's aunt in San Antonio who has Alzheimer's. It's a very sad situation where both her son and grandson have had "sticky fingers" when it comes to her finances and negligent in her care. We feel we need to step in before all of her money is gone and she winds up on the street. It's heartbreaking to see how her immediate family treats her, and totally unacceptable. It's astounding how much it costs for her care, and I am so grateful that both of our mothers are still active and healthy, both physically and mentally. Mom is 83 and David's mom is 87. They are both hard to reach at home, because they are so busy with projects of their own.

My dog got all his shots last month and is very healthy. It was a little bothersome to me that at only 7 he is now classified as a "Senior". Of course, it's a little bothersome to me knowing that I'm in the same category. (Now really Kathy, do you honestly think there is someone in our class that will find that interesting?????) I normally wouldn't mention something like that, but I decided to test the limits of your desperate request for "news". [Note from Kathy: After 7 years at it, I’ve gotten this “nagging for news” thing mastered!]

 

From Jay Ballou (posted April 28, 2008

Rush. The ageless Canadian rock trio Rush was at Starplex in Dallas (now called Superpages.com Center, or something like that) on Friday night. They write thoughtful songs that are very complex with “deep” lyrics; they are truly amazing instrumentally, and have inspired many other musicians for over 33 years; they stage extravagant stage shows of lasers, lights, explosions and triple projection screens; and they have a very good sense of humor reflected in their videos and chatter between songs. In short, they are one of North America’s most popular rock bands. They also refuse to believe that after 33 years together that they have nothing new musically to offer – which is why they are still touring – including an almost 3-hour concert Friday night that included songs from their new album Snakes and Arrows, plus many of their classics from the last 3 decades. In attendance were 2 WWW Class of ’67 compadres pictured below with the stage in the background in their new Snakes and Arrows Rush hats. Unlike the Foo Fighters concert, Mike and me (well, really Mike – he’s older than me) were NOT the oldest fans in attendance. The band, popular since the early 1970’s has a very loyal and vocal following of fans in their 60’s and 70’s, many whom were there Friday – along with many as young as teenagers.

We met for dinner at Dixie Lakewood, which prompted a lively discussion of what the Lakewood area was like in high school, including the Harrell’s building across the street that still has the circular spire and houses a title company. It seemed funny how close the concert venue at Fair Park was to Lakewood, now easily accessible on the Abrams link down Columbia to Munger – not there when we were in high school. Even though Rush played for nearly 3 hours, the night flew by – the weather was spectacular with a north breeze, about 70 degrees (glad it wasn’t in August!!!), and we had a blast. I wish I could include photos of many of the fans in attendance – quite an “eclectic” group to say the least. There were several times we caught the faint smell of marijuana (at least that’s what someone told us) – we have no personal knowledge of what it smells like. ?

I found one link posted on YouTube, which is below, and is about one minute of the song “Malignant Narcissism” (no kidding) leading up to the drum solo – although not a complete song, you can get a feel for the sound, lights, video, etc. There are many other videos of earlier Dallas concerts that you can see on YouTube – it’s only been a couple of days since the Friday concert, so it’s a little early for videos of this one. If you will look closely, just to the right of the drum stage (Neal Peart – what a drummer!!!) you will see 3 very large rotisserie ovens with close to 100 actual chickens cooking during the concert. During one song a guy dressed in a chicken suit danced out, opened each oven to baste the chickens, and danced off the stage. The chickens tied into a video, but other than that we were not sure what the significance was. However, the music was significant, and the show was very, very entertaining – one of the best concerts I have been to. I would have to say – it was finger-licking good!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2KqpVxvQfo

 

From Steve Davis (posted March 28, 2008)

 

Terrible news about Bobby Black.

LT is still going strong but the ‘67 class is lame . Hope to see ya at High Point.
[From Kathy – LT is “Last Thursday,” a gathering of Woodrow people from the 60s-80s (with a few before and some after). It’s held the last Thursday of the month at High Point Restaurant and Club or Bar & Grill or whatever, at 12101 Greenville near LBJ. I’ve only been in town once for it, but it was fun being able to visit with so many people from other classes. I keep hearing the turnouts every month are great. Maybe we can surprise everyone….Steve included…..and get a sizeable ’67 group to show up sometime soon!]

From: Darlene Hogan Kruse (posted March 27, 2008)

I attended 3rd & 4th grade at OM Roberts, 7th grade at Mt. Auburn, and the last of the 9th grade at JL Long. Started the 10th grade at Woodrow, before moving again. It was great to find this website and loved seeing old faces. I always wanted to find the 64-65 yearbook, this is even better. Good Job.

[From Kathy: Here is Darlene's picture from the '65 yearbook.]
-
I was 15 when that picture was taken, it was the summer of 1964. I walked from 614 Cristler St to the Lakewood Shopping Center to have it made for the school year book. It was so hot that I sweated my makeup off, and of course, my hair lost it's curl. I was wearing a pale blue dress. Lord, I was so young. Little did I know that in four months I would marry Gary Atkinson, and 15 months later have Stella Renee, the first of my four children.

I have been happily married to Fred Kruse for 25 years this August 13th. We now live in Shellman Bluff, Georgia (30 minutes south of Savannah) and own a commercial Snapper/Grouper Fishing Business. My husband fishes 7-10 days 60 miles offshore from Charleston, SC to Daytona Beach, FL. We are both active in our church and community. I served as Parish Secretary for five years, on the Cursillo Commission in the Diocese of Georgia and as President of the Episcopal Church Woman for two years. Was President -Elect for the McIntosh County Rotary this year until ill health forced me to withdraw. Together we have 5 children and 19 grandchildren, who fill our lives with constant delight and joy. We love to travel. Our favorite trip was to England, Scotland and Wales in 2005. We spent last New Year's Eve aboard the Carnival Legend cruise ship out of Tampa, FL.

I remember Lee Russell, Susan Abbott and Susan Stipp from various classes. Julie Hancock and Linda Garrett from Mt. Auburn and the Major Theatre. Donna Jolley's curled ponytail. Dusty and Rocky Hill were great!! Especially, Dusty in Mrs. Spence's Science class at Long the day that we dissected the frog!! He freaked!! What fun to remember those times. I would love to be included in all mailings.

[From Kathy: We are adding Darlene to both the directory and the e-mail list.]

 

From Jay Ballou (posted March 17, 2008)

I was so sorry to hear about Bobby – the Lee community has taken another blow. It continues to remind me of our mortality. In that vein, take the 12 minutes it takes to watch this if you haven’t seen it – it’s worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo ( or http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8577255250907450469 )

From Jackie Miller (posted March 17, 2008)

Robert (Bobby) Black is going to be cremated. A memorial will be held at his niece's house in McKinney, TX, 6300 Eagle Stone St., on Saturday, March 22, 1-3 pm.

From Wanda Wade Martinez (posted March 16, 2008)

Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading everyone's news ~ you all do such a great job with the wonderful informative website.

The weekend of April 5th some of us are doing a Westlake reunion. Jan King, Livonia Eikenburg, Lisa Allman, Peggy Kellum and I. It seems like every time a reunion comes around we have been out of town or had sickness or death in the family. It makes me smile that you are all staying so close and hopefully soon I'll make it to a reunion.

From Christy Thomas (posted March 14, 2008)

Well, my letter probably didn't get to Bobby in time--but my prayers were most definitely with him. I just went to the memorial page and was hit hard again by how many we have lost. Life is so short.

From Michael Thomson (posted March 14, 2008)

I am so sorry to hear about Bobby. He and I were best of friends through the Lee years. Makes me think of all the things we did as kids. Good memories about the past, but a sad day. I guess every day is a blessing to be alive. We are getting older, and things just don’t work like they used to. I have had some heart problems lately, but I am OK now. I am living in Hot Springs and don’t go to Dallas very often. Thanks for the updates on the Class of ’67.

From Carol Fuess Garrett (posted March 14, 2008)

I had neglected to act on your latest email regarding Bobby and I'm really feeling terrible. I wanted to connect with him before he was gone, but I didn't. He was my first date to a Long dance and I really wanted to tell him I enjoyed my "date" with him. Oh, how quickly time passes and I don't act when I should. First Gary Ruyle and now Bobby. Sorry, I guess I'm more sentimental than normal, but I feel the loss from our "Lee kids" and wish I had been more dedicated to acting when I should have - rather than when I "had time" to do so. Thanks for keeping us all in touch with each other! What would we do without you?

 

From Kathy (posted March 13, 2008)

Last night, we lost another classmate. Rob (Bobby) Black passed away about 9:30. As many of you know, he had been ill for quite some time. Both Doug McCrum and Jackie Miller were able to spend time with him during his last few days. Jackie says he was “very collected and at peace” during their visits. Doug will keep me informed about services, and I will post what he sends. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to send cards and notes to Bobby. I keep thinking back to all of us “Lee kids” during our elementary school days – a bunch of smiling, skinny little creatures who had no idea what inconceivably strong, lifelong friendships we were making at the time. I had not seen Bobby in well over 40 years although we both grew up on Vanderbilt, but that didn’t matter at all. We were “Lee kids.” We were friends. Thank you, Doug and Jackie, for giving me the chance to reconnect with Bobby before he died.

 

The sympathies of the class go Bill Rodgers, whose mother passed away last Saturday. (posted March 13, 2008)

 

Drom Bill: Last Saturday my mother passed away in Baylor Hospital. It was a very short illness that developed into pneumonia. She was 88, and lived a very full and wonderful life. She and my dad traveled the world together as tourists and volunteer missionaries. Dad flew for Braniff until he was 60, and that affording them many opportunities. My dad is now 90, and still running 4 or 5 days a week.

 

The next day, March 9th, Marianne Behr Gibson's father passed away, also here in Dallas.

 

Class sympathies go to Marianne Behr Gibson (posted March 13, 2008)

The sympathies of the class go to Marianne Behr Gibson on the death of her father. Services were on March 13.

From Allison (Ruth) Smith (posted March 7, 2008)

We have had almost 80 inches of snow in Ann Arbor so far this winter, just 8 inches short of the all time record. Bucky is in a part of Michigan where they even get more snow than here. YIKES.

I own more wool sweaters than any person in Dallas. AND that's for certain! I have long underwear, insulated shoes and boots, earmuffs, scarves, insulated gloves, you name it. I refuse to get the Michelin Man coat. By the time I get all the other stuff on, I look like him anyway!

Two week ago, I had to help with school buses for a presentation like we used to attend at Fair Park. I got outside duty It was 7 degrees (not including wind chill) and I was outside for over an hour. Believe me, you have to dress for that!

 

It's a balmy 23 degrees, so I'm putting on my shorts to go to exercise class!

 

-

 

 

From Jackie Miller (posted March 7, 2008)

 

I just got some news about Bobby (Rob) Black. It, unfortunately, is bad. He has stage 4 liver disease. I have his address and will post it. He does not have access to a lap top, but he is very interested in the WWW’67 web site.

 

At this point I don't know what shape he is in...but I'm sure he would appreciate a card or letter. Please, let us not forget he was responsible for the crooked walking "W" at half time.

From Manuel Zaby (posted March 7, 2008)

 

Re: Jack Keck’s death: I mostly remember him because he was the football coach, obviously. I really remember him as a teacher, not so much for the science class he taught, but because during the Cuban missile crisis he took the time to help us understand what was at stake while it was actually playing out. I remember this being a very sobering time for this 13 year-old.

 

From Sharon Thomas (posted March 7, 2008)

 

I was cleaning out some "stuff" ( a.k.a. crap ) and believe me, I have lots of stuff. I found these pictures. The one of Rick Carmichael with the surfboard was sent to me my freshman yr. at Stephens College.... remember when surfer dudes were soooo cool??? The one of me, Sam, Susie Coniglio, and Paul Gentry was taken at a lake party ( White Rock Lake). The last one is sad because Susan Geary is no longer with us.... that's me, Susan, Susie, Jan King, and Marilyn Moore.... not sure who the image in the mirror is???? Weren't those skirts short?

- - -
 

 

From Gayla Duce Perry (posted March 7, 2008)

 

Well, I have done it again, I have moved. I had not planned on it but found out the first of March that my landlord was losing the house I was in and it was worth far less than she owed, so I had to move. Since I had no family left in the Dallas area I moved a little south to Corsicana. My youngest stepson, Michael, lives here and is the father of my newest grandchild, Katherine Rose. She was born Jan. 3 and is a tiny little lady. I have rented a new house about 5 minutes from them and am the backup sitter. Amanda (mom) works days in special education for the school system and Michael is a Corsicana Police Officer. I also have some jewelry design friends here and a great building out back for casting, etc. so the Gypsy Wagon has a new home.

Class sympathies go to Brenda Bock Linzel, whose mother passed away on February 2.

From Brenda Bock Linzel (posted March 3, 2008)

 

It did me good to read the editorial about Woodrow. My mom passed away February 2nd. 13 years and 1 day later after my dad. Really sad. No parents. At the funeral were ALL of my childhood friends. It makes me realize how VERY lucky we are as a class...we are SO close...so unusual....Wanda...I miss US. Dillon......Robin....so many people!!! I am so blessed to have Linda and Cynthia close by!!! Again Kathy, thanks for keeping us together. You don't know what you do for us!

From: Wanda Pagel Jackson (posted March 3, 2008)

 

We had our second great grandchild on Feb. 17. Marlie weighed 5 pounds 8 oz and was 18 inches long. She and granddaughter Brittany are both well. We cannot wait to get to WA state to see her and her 2 year old brother, Jakob. Hard to believe we are having great grandchildren.

From Kathy Kilmer Moak (posted March 3, 2008)

 

Well, WWW’67, if you read the Dallas Morning News, I hope you saw the editorial about Woodrow today! I was in Dallas last week and saw many “Choose Woodrow” signs in yards.

Let me know what’s going on with you! It’s about time for another “Kathy’s Corner,” but I need to hear from you before I can write a letter! If you live in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, or Rhode Island, don’t forget to vote tomorrow…………and if you need help selecting a presidential candidate, just let me know.

From Dave Kittrell (posted February 25 2008)

 

We are proud of my 4th daughter’s first non-school NYC production! http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25309 Caroline will turn 20 in March. She is in her second year at NYU, Tisch School of the Arts in the Stella Adler Studio. She graduated from the North East School of the Arts High School in San Antonio. Last summer she did summer stock theater at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, New Hampshire which has been there since 1933. She auditioned for this new play, The Third Step, and got a part. This will be in a theater on West 54th and will run for a week in July. See press release at the following: http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25309

 

From Patricia Mooney (posted February 25 2008)

We are in Dallas and for some odd reason I looked at the obituaries in today's paper and saw the obituary for Jack Keck. You can read it here .

From Dee Anne Egan (posted February 22 2008)

 

I am back home and back at work, though in a wheel chair. Still can't walk, but the electic wheelchair I am using at school is unexpectedly..fun. I have crashed into every piece of furniture in my office, almost took out a row of computers in the lab, and knocked the door frame off in the PreK room. Fortunately, I haven't harmed any children or teachers.

 

Today was a milestone because after work, I managed to get to my car with the help of a walker, and drove for the first time since Jan. 9th. Had to take the boot off and can't bend my foot very much, but I drove. Unfortunately, wherever I may drive...when I get there, there is nothing I can do since I can't get out of the car to go inside anyplace. For my first venture out today I went to Sonic. Woo-hoo!!! I'm mobile, sort of.

 

The whole experience of breaking the bones, the pain, the surgery, the healing process and the horrible realization that you have to have help to do so many simple things...well, it was tremendously humbling. For the past month I could only count my blessings, of which there are many. The "disability" is not over yet. Will probably be in a boot for another six weeks, but I'm home, have my family, am back at school, can drive short distances... life is good.

 

Now if I could just get my nails done, life would be great.

From Mike Barnes (posted February 21 2008)

Rick Carmichael recently retired from the University of Hawaii where he served as Director of the nursing program at Kauai Community College since 1989.

 

 

 

 

The sympathy of the class goes to Rose Mary Piazza (posted February 7 2008)

 

The sympathy of the class goes to Rose Mary Piazza, whose mother died on Tuesday evening, February 5, at age 94. Her services are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8, at 1pm, Calvary Hill Cemetery. Rosary, mass and grave site service.

 

From Kathy Thomas (posted February 4 2008)

The Dallas-area WWW’67 Ladies Who Lunch had another great visit last Saturday. Many of the regulars were there (Kathy Kilmer, Marianne Behr, Kelley Geary, Nancy Clark, Patty Landers, Jane Anderson, Tommy Attlesey) as well as new additions Brenda Hornsby and Patti Glen. Kathy was hobbling in a wooden shoe, Kelley could hardly move because her back was out, Nancy was exhausted from moving, Dee Anne Egan didn't make it because of a broken ankle and I'm getting ready to have both knees replaced. Needless to say, the conversation centered on how much we hated getting old and how much we hated (only kidding) the ones who didn't seem to be aging. On a more positive note, Kelley had a great picture of her three month old grandson Charlie, Kathy told us her soon to be born granddaughter would be named Claire Elizabeth, and Tommy brought a hilarious purse that looked like a Yorkie puppy for Jane to give to her granddaughter. Hope the group continues to grow. Let me know if you want your name added to my email list!

From Barbara Brown (posted February 4 2008)

I was sad to hear of Suzanne Rieves’ passing, although I hadn’t been in contact with her since high school. One thing I clearly remember (and I clearly remember hardly anything from those years!) was that I rode in Suzanne’s father’s truck to downtown Dallas to see President Kennedy the day he was assassinated. I have no idea who else was in the truck besides me, Suzanne and her father, although the cab and bed of the truck were filled with girls.

From Manuel Zaby (posted January 30 2008)

We are having fun networking and looking for the perfect place to start my next 35 year career. Lib is coaching me on the nuances of marketing myself outside of Neimans. We are doing a long weekend in Colorado this week. Kids are doing great. Adam is looking for a better job to take advantage of his UT Writing degree in DC and Allison just completed her first semester at UT Law. By my estimation they will be able to support us by the time we are in our 90's. Lib's Dad hit 99 in December and we are beginning preparations for his 100th. I will let you know once I start the new career.

From Mary Terranella Thelen (posted January 30 2008)

 

I just spent the 1st Christmas with my son in four years. He is my only child and career Army--- 03' xmas-Germany, 04' xmas-Iraq, 05' xmas-Germany, 06' xmas-Iraq----2007 Christmas-HOME! He is now back in Ft. Bragg N.C. until April and then he is going back to Germany. Getting him back home safely after two tours of 27 months total has me a very happy but very gray. I will be more than happy to visit him in Germany, he is stationed about 2 hours off the border of France which will make it a MUST trip.

 

From Tony Mantzuranis (posted January 29 2008)

Merry Xmas and a happy new year! My roommate tess had 2 major surgeries from a perforated esophagus that almost took her life. She is doing better, but one more surgery to go to put her parts together again. We had a great year at the lawn mower shop, and hope this will be a good one also. I ran into Mr. and Mrs. Zaby and they told me Manuel RETIRED from niemans. good for him.

From Bucky Gross (posted January 29 2008)

There is really nothing new going on. It has been a cold, snowy winter in Michigan and I am looking forward to spring and getting back to playing golf. After my first retirement, I find myself working almost full time and deciding how and if I want to retire again. Maybe, just consulting will suffice for me. I think that I really like having a lot of stuff to do. I plan to get down to Dallas and Amarillo this spring to see family. Mom is 83 and doing pretty well except that she can't hear very well. Keep of us all informed of any mini reunions that may be planned this year.

From Marvin Goodman (posted January 29 2008)

After living in Houston, Texas for the last 40 years, I have been transferred with AT&T to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I am living in Northeast Fort Worth near the town of Watauga. (see the Directory on the web site for his new contact information.)

From Christina Gray Henderson (posted January 29 2008)

I have two new granddaughters. Our youngest, Candice, and husband Greg had a little girl, Lilyan Rae Mills, born on November 14, 2007 weighing 5lb and 13 oz and was 18 1/2 ". On November 30, 2007 our son, Rodney, and wife, Annie, had a girl, Mattie Grace Henderson, born weighing 6 lb 12 oz and 18 1/2". Mattie has gone through RSV but is doing much better and both families are well. The holidays were full of kids, grandkids and love, and would I not trade it. Hope all is well with everyone.

 

From Marie Mabry Larson (posted January 29 2008)

Steve and I celebrated our 40th anniversary with a trip to New York in December. Our hotel was on Time Square so we could see the Statue of Liberty from our room. We like to go back to New York every time we celebrate another 10 years. We did the usual stuff like see Broadway shows, ate at the Russian Tea Room, and for our anniversary we had dinner and dancing at the Rainbow Room in the NBC building. The music was all the big band of the 1940’s and the place still looks like something out of an old movie, except updated. It was all very formal with some men even in tails. Almost everyone there was much older, thank goodness, than us. They sure could out dance us. We decided we would come back home and take ballroom dancing lessons so we could do the boogie-woogie just as well as they do when we go back in 10 years.

Our new little grandson, John Theron, turned one on the 15th of January and started walking