Class Notes

When we ladies of Class of 1962 met at our last big campus reunion we discussed trying to have “mini” reunions as the years are flying by faster! It appears more “lunch bunch
gatherings” are actually taking place.  In June MYRTLE LEE DEAN FRANCE who has
retired from Dahlgren called KATHLEEN SPRENKLE LISAGOR to say VANELIA OAKLEY
GALLAGHER and husband David Sr. had just lost their son, a computer scientist at
Dahlgren. The family has asked that requests for donations be made to the Kidney
Foundation or to consider organ donations. Several of us decided to meet for lunch at Yesterday’s in Montross.  Those attending were MYRTLE LEE, VANELIA, KATHLEEN,
LILLIAN ANN DIX SMITH and JOAN AKERS ROTHGEB. BETTY FORRESTER DAY was
unable to attend due to a family commitment. PAT BARRACK GIBSON now in Charleston
sent sweet words of ole school days and memories with these Northern Neck folks.
PAT recently had lunch with PAULINE WOMACK SPENCER in Cary, N.C.

Our condolences also reach out to BETTIE STEWART KIENAST who has just lost her mother and to BETSY WILLIAMS BROTHERS who has lost her husband Tom. ANONA
GETCHELL HOGWOOD wrote she has just lost her husband and retired from
Southside Va. Training Center after 27 years as Director of Physical Therapy. She and Don traveled coast to coast many places, among them Alaska and Australia. Don was very active with Shriners Hospitals for children which she continues to support.

LIZ KENNEDY THOMAS SLATE wrote that she, REBA CALBERT BAYLISS, BETSY
WILLIAMS BROTHERS, LYNDA PUCKETT HOWELL, and MARSHA ARLOTT WOOSTER
enjoyed an annual get together in Wintergreen Resort in May. They spent a day in
Lexington visiting VMI Memorial Wall where the plaque of (Pat)Paul M. Bayliss is
placed. Sadly in the spring REBA lost her dear cat Nedd.  LYNDA has spent her spring traveling to Utah with family for graduations. MARSHA attended her granddaughter’s
ballet recital in N.C. and then returned to her home in Santa Barbara. LIZ volunteers
and enjoys 9(of 10) grandchildren in Richmond.

In July for the eleventh year, LILLIAN ANN DIX SMITH and husband Curtis joined with a group of 300 plus Virginians to work at Standing Rock Reservation in North and South
Dakota. This group includes interdenominational, intergenerational, multicultural,and
multiracial members, as well as UMW grads Shelby Orlando, Hannah Pierson, and
Clifton Wise.
PEGGY DOWNS GERBER is quite happy to have completed her Bucket List of visiting
all 50 states! She, her husband John, and son David headed West this year. She and JANE WALSHE MCCRACKEN of California stay in touch. JANE looks forward to Megan  and Bryan, her grandchildren celebrating weddings this year.
DIANA COPPLE SMITH writes she is pleased to have joined a Pleasure Island Book
Club with interesting members like professors and editors. She recommends the
best seller “Where The Crawdads Sing ” by Delia Owens about a N.C. marsh girl.
JOAN AKERS ROTHGEB has visited JEAN CRAIG GOUGH in New Mexico. JEAN has just sent an exciting article about a ’91 UMW grad CHRISTY TAFOYA who majored in
Historic Preservation and has become the first woman to head the N.M. State Parks Post with 34 state parks!
NANCY POWELL SYKES enjoys her lunch bunches and had a lovely summer visit with her California daughter in Virginia.! KATHLEEN stays quite busy texting with her eight grandchildren and seeing the Nags Head Sport Fishing photos as her son Matt Lisagor  is living his childhood dream of owning a big boat named “Tenacity” and catching 170 lb. tuna!
Please share any new addresses and news. May your home and hearts be filled with joy
And have a blessed happy season ahead!