Class Notes

Another new year—where do they go?  Priscilla Brown Wordlaw was in Florida in May, visiting son Robert and family. Son Chris and his wife, Ryoko, visited “Pete” in the summer. She keeps busy with numerous church activities.

Patricia Gray Proulx’s husband, Dan, keeps news current on their children and grandchildren. His notes are decorated with snapshots he has taken and they are beautiful. The last was a waterfall in Cashiers, North Carolina. What talent!

Anne Saunders Spilman and Bob do lots of traveling to visit their kids. Son Jim and family live in Massachusetts. He and his wife Debbie’s son Robert entered the Navy in January. Daughter Lisa graduated from Endicott College four years ago. Daughter Laura is a junior at Roanoke College. Anne and Bob’s daughter Katherine is in Charlottesville. Her daughter Nicole attends U.Va.  Anne and Bob’s youngest daughter, Karen, and her husband, Peter, are in Pennsylvania. Karen and Peter’s oldest daughter, Anne, is a senior in high school, younger daughter, Grace, is a junior, and son John is in seventh grade.

Sally Warwick Rayburn and Jim traveled 5,000 miles in their RV last summer—here are some highlights: February was spent in Atlanta for a friend’s anniversary celebration, and in March, Sally and Jim celebrated their 57th. Sally, daughter Ginny, and Ginny’s children— Samantha, Sara Kate, and Andrew—spent a week in Pensacola. Samantha graduated high school. She and Andrew attend the University of West Florida.  April brought camping with RV friends and an annual Hawaiian trip.  In May, granddaughter Kelley, Richard’s oldest daughter, graduated from USC.  Richard, his wife, Angee, and their youngest daughter, Hannah, participated in a martial arts demonstration in Clayton, North Carolina. June brought for them a visit with son Steve, his wife, Cindy, and their granddaughter Stephany.  They wandered from Tampa to St. Augustine, South Carolina, Blacksburg, and Jim’s brother’s cabin on the Chesapeake Bay.  Then it was off to the Erie Canal, the Mohawk Valley, Boston, New York, Richmond, Charlotte, Georgia, and the list goes on—a great year!

Eleanor Markham Old’s husband, Arthur, continues his interest and participation in the Sons of the Revolution, UMW Elder Study, and the Civil War Round Table. Their son Jim is still consulting and his wife, Beth, is still a nurse manager. Jim was selected as inaugural winner of the U.S. Lacrosse’s Annual Homer Schwartz Award.  He has been a tireless worker for years and a volunteer for Tidewater-area teams as well as the club team of ODU.

Mary Massey and her husband, Jack Meiners, went to Gainesville, Florida, in May to help his sister celebrate her 65th anniversary—quite a blowout. In September, they enjoyed a West Virginia Road Scholar “Ride the Rail” vacation. Mary wrote that the Shay Steam locomotive for the Cass Mountains ride was fantastic. There were good speakers, entertainment, and four-course old-time dining room dinners. They spent a lot of the year on repairs, replacements, and an addition in their house including a new roof, hot water heat pump, new sump pump, and a drainage system in the basement. Health-wise all is okay. Mary did fracture her right hand bone which has slowed her a little. At 95, Jack continues full steam ahead. In 2015, they plan to attend the Meiners family picnic in Washington.

Phyllis Hartleb Rowley and Jim gave a large party with 90 in attendance to celebrate their 55th anniversary. Then she was off to Rome for a week followed by Florence, Pisa, Monte Carlo, Marseilles, Barcelona, and Cartagena. She cruised the Strait of Gibraltar and saw Lisbon and Madrid. What a trip! Jim remained home recuperating from open heart surgery with care from Dave and Jay’s families.

Barbara Barndt Miller and her husband, Wayne Suley, continue their two-hour trek between Pennsylvania and New York. January and February were bitterly cold. Barbara had a relapse from a fracture in 2013 but has pulled through. Sadly, at Easter her colt (from daughter Ann) had to be put down. She was replaced, which allowed Barbara to participate in the Devon Horse Show this year. Her name is Meadowlark’s Dancing Rabbit. Barbara and Wayne were busy in the spring gathering fallen trees for firewood, gardening, and mowing eight acres. They traveled to Pennsylvania for horse shows, friends, golf, and Wayne’s class reunion. In August, they met at the Warrenton horse show with Babs Woods, Donna Pethic, and Harriet “Ozpie” Mask. Summer was spent sawing, splitting, and stacking logs for the fireplace. Wayne said “never again.” Barbara said it was “another chapter in their book of life.”

Sally Steinmetz continues to dabble in retirement activities.

Joan Whittemore Louck and Jim had a good year with no health complaints. The weather was not as cooperative with an ice storm. They visited Virginia Beach in February. In May, they sold their beach condo. August found them in Bridgton, Maine, visiting friends. They also took a quick trip to visit friends and family in Wisconsin. Their special two-week trip to Mexico was repeated. The holiday found them at home in Foley, but they do plan to return to Virginia Beach. Joni is ready for a 60th reunion.

When Julia Coates Littlefield celebrated Mo’s 80th birthday in Lexington in September, daughter Bess and her husband, Mike, brought Breezy and Bentley, their two Corgis. Their son Scott and his wife, Susan, from Augusta, Georgia, brought their son Chris and daughter Mary Graham to spend Thanksgiving. After they left, Julie and Mo spent the weekend with Bess and Mike. They missed seeing Jack, their grandson, who will be home for Christmas! He will graduate from U.Va. this year and is already job hunting.

A highlight of the year was an invitation from VMI to attend the celebration of 150th Anniversary of Battle of New Market. Invites went to living descendants of cadets and faculty who fought in the battle. Since several relatives of Julia’s were there, they met for a family reunion dinner afterwards. Julia is in her second year of serving as coordinator of United Thank Offering, a missionary arm of the Episcopal Church, USA. She serves in the Diocese of Southwest Virginia, which helps the needy in Appalachia and has an innovative mobile dental treatment and education program for impoverished school children.

Celeste Shipman Kaufman and Alan updated on all the grandchildren. Their daughter Julie and her husband John’s oldest son, Austin, spent summer working for a running store, Trak Shak.  He represented them in runs around the country and did well.  He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Sports History at the University of Texas in Austin. Their daughter Francie graduated summa cum laude from USL in May. She is teaching fifth grade. In October, she married Matt, a second-year dental student at UAB. Their other daughter, Sara, is a high school junior, talented in art and music, and is looking at college. Smylie, son of Jeffrey and Pam and grandson of Peg and Alan, graduated from LSU in May and qualified to play in the U.S. Open in Pinehurst. He is qualifying for his web.com tour final stage in Florida in December. He has already won one mini tour tournament. His brother Luckie, a junior at LSU active in Sigma Nu, caddied for him at Pinehurst. What a team! Alan and Peg were in Nassau at the beginning of the year and this summer went on an Alaskan cruise. Peg had a trip home to Jackson, Mississippi, this summer to visit with old friends. The year will end with a trip to New York.

Marcia Phipps Ireland is doing better since the fall on her back at Gary’s reunion. Her back is healing, helped by her attendance at exercise classes. Granddaughter Caitlen graduated from Villanova in May. Grandson Nick is studying to be a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Larissa is a high school sophomore and plays and coaches ice hockey. Ten-year-old Gavin is teaching Gary to play chess!

Barbara White Ellis wrote all is well.

Ann Brooks Coutsoubinas is still substituting in grades Kindergarten through third.

Lois Gaylord Allen can’t believe she and Howard are great-grandparents. Angelo is 18 months old.

Gloria Winslow Borden reports that the good news is no surgery, but the not-so-good news is that her arthritis is worsening. She doesn’t let it get her down. In February, she took her three daughters and daughter-in-law to the Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada, for a tea weekend. Delightful. She spent Easter with oldest daughter, Caroline, and her family in California. She met with Audrey Dubetsky Doyle in San Diego. In July, she took son Cliff on a baseball tour to celebrate his 50th birthday. Cliff’s daughter Cynthia, her husband, Rob, and Gloria all celebrated their birthdays at a crab fest in Annapolis. Gloria took a trip to Savannah and Stockton for Rebecca’s (Beth’s daughter) graduation. Gloria continues with church, community, and husband Ed’s class activities.

Jane Tucker Broadbooks wrote she is “still savoring the reunion” and looking forward to the 60th. They had a lot of good company during the year. Unfortunately, John had his second kidney removed in November which gives him no choice but dialysis. John Karl, their son, was there for them during the week of John’s surgery.

Barbara Gorden McNamee spent June through September traveling from Montreal, through Richmond, to Brazil, California, Las Vegas, and Seattle. She is still coaching swimming. Bob is in two golf groups, a tennis group, and is a member at a fitness center and a stodgy men’s club (Barb’s words). Update on Crabtrees: Karen (Barb’s daughter) and her husband, Tony, spent the year fixing a house by the water. They relax, fish, and crab. Karen’s daughter Brittany was married and Karen’s son Ryan, a Marine, returned from Okinawa. All came to California for the wedding.  Howard, Barb’s son, and his wife, Margie, have girls Kelly and Kate in middle and high school. Kelly is in a special engineering program. Margie has started a bakery business—yum. The Organs—Chris and wife Youngmi and their kids and Rob— also attended the wedding.  The McNamees were represented by Lynn, Steffi, and Gabe.

Mary Carolyn Jamison Gwinn keeps busy with walking and driving skills. Moose, their two-year-old dachshund, is in charge of walking and seeing neighbors. Mason, 14, is in eighth grade, is almost six feet tall, and needs her for after school activities. Burt has physician and dental appointments so her driving skills are sharp. Mason went to West Virginia on his first-ever ski trip. I’m sure there will be tales to tell. He’s maturing quickly and will be driving Mary before you know it.

Edie Weber Staile’s trip to Paris with daughter Kathy and granddaughter Jenny was a special time. She met Al for a two-week transatlantic trip home. Then for Christmas, 15 family members went to the Dominican Republic. They rented a villa with a pool, chef, house and grounds keepers, and a view of the Atlantic. Wow!

Frances Burke Firth hopes many more of us will be inspired to attend out 60th. Her husband, John, says he finds them full of real people and neat activities.

Charlotte Wohlnick Wiggs and Archie worked on their wish list in 2014. They toured Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, Easter Island, and took a Mediterranean cruise. During the summer they took a delightful trip with their granddaughter Anna (Tracy’s daughter) to France. Molly (Tracy’s other daughter) will graduate from MIT in June. Tracy and her husband, Andy, enjoy retirement. Alan (Charlie’s son) and his wife, Dale, are working and continuing their education in Raleigh.

My grandson Lucas graduated from Kindergarten and earned a Super Reader award. Daughter Virginia and her husband, Matt, took him to Legoland Florida for vacation and he loved it, especially the roller coasters and the water park. Immediately after vacation, he fell off the monkey bars and broke two bones in his wrist. He is in a full arm cast but coping well!

Girls, I’m sorry to tell you Irene Piscopo Rogers lost her husband Don in November. Kay Rowe Hayes lost her Don in November. Cecile Duncan Tolan’s John passed also. Our thoughts are with you.