Class Notes

From Sue Garter: It was wonderful to hear from so many of our classmates in 2018; keep those updates coming! I want to invite you all to join our class Facebook group: “MWC Alum 1980 and Friends”. After 34 years as a program and project manager for AT&T, I have spent the last 3 years with Verizon, working to bring IoT (Internet of Things) products to the marketplace.  A far cry from my Biology and Psychology department roots, but UMW graduates are certainly versatile! My son Alex is a 3rd year law student at Yale. My husband and I are looking forward to more opportunities for leisure travel, after a wonderful trip to Southern Italy in fall of 2019. We recently spent Thanksgiving in St Petersburg, FL with Jan Stankiewicz McCarthy and her husband Mike and daughter Maggie.  Jan and family travelled from Florida to hike Foster Falls and tour the George Dickel Distillery in Tennessee with Wendy Prothro Howard (‘82) and family this past November. Jan was also fortunate to see Janice Webb Schmidt (‘82) in February and says that having friends visit is one of the benefits of living in Florida! Also, within the last two years, I have enjoyed a mini-reunion in Asheville, NC with senior year Bushnell suitemates, Barbara Gant Kinner, Deb Caton and Sandy Slusher Smallwood; visited Becky Bradley Price in the Tidewater region of VA; and visited with Wendy Prothro Howard (‘82) and husband Jay in Bethany Beach, DE.  Barbara Gant Kinner and husband Greg have become full time RV’ers and enjoy traveling the country, visiting as many national parks and states as possible.  Deb Caton and Sandy Slusher Smallwood reside with their respective families in VA, and Sandy is a proud grandmother. Becky Bradley Price is semi-retired, now working part-time, after 36 years as a full-time pharmacist. Becky recently moved back to Tidewater area, is involved in community activities and loves to travel. She will be visiting Australia and France in 2019.  Becky has two wonderful daughters, Haley and Laura.  Haley was married in 2018 and Laura is recently engaged.

Lisa Langenbach went to grad school at Purdue, is in her 33rd year as a professor of American Politics and has been at Middle Tennessee State for the past 26 years. Lisa lives in Franklin TN, a suburb of Music City Nashville, an increasingly hip and fun city.  Lisa does a lot of traveling, spending the last two summers in Germany studying the language, and has been to every west, central, and northern European country except Norway, and most of the east European countries. She is a volunteer at the local animal shelter and loves to garden and to read history and historical novels.

Carmela Sperlazza Southers retired as Senior Consulting Partner from the Ken Blanchard Companies in the Fall of 2017.  She lives in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband Phil and is happy to report her two adult children are successfully launched and off the ‘family payroll’.  Since Phil and Carmela were fortunate enough to retire, they have enjoyed traveling the US and Canada in their camper van.  Traveling, reading and playing the ukulele make a great daily ‘to do’ list.

Mary Hudachek-Buswell has two children, David, a nurse, and Melissa, an actress. She obtained her MS in Applied Mathematics at Auburn University in 1993 and was an assistant professor of Mathematics for 20 years, then went back to get her MS and PhD in Computer Science in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Now, Mary is on the faculty of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech.

Barbara (Cookie) Pittman Ferrier has retired after working for 31 years with the Department of Juvenile Justice and living in Charlottesville. Barbara’s son is also an alum, Class of 2016, carrying on the proud Eagle tradition. Barbara is so pleased to be reunited with our class through the magic of social media and looks forward to visiting with lots of UMW friends in 2019.  She says she is also so thankful we went to college before Instagram and Facebook!

Kathy Shelton Sieg lives in Virginia, where she is a private reading tutor, teaching reading to struggling readers. She is currently writing an online curriculum (readingtricks.com) which trains others how to teach struggling readers. Kathy married Sam, her high school sweetheart, and they have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

Laura Lee Lowe Collins and husband Jim make their home in Rapid City, South Dakota, where they enjoy their two granddaughters, ages 4 and 8, and doing as much singing at nursing homes and retirement communities as they can fit into their schedule. They enjoyed a lot of traveling in 2018. Late February took them to the sunny, balmy Mississippi Gulf coast for a week with family; then on to Jaco Costa Rica and a wonderful week in a mountain vacation home for the occasion of their son Michael’s wedding to his beautiful bride Cynthia. And it was a special honor to have their oldest daughter Stephanie (who is a professional photographer by trade) join them and serve as their wedding photographer. Six months later, they enjoyed a gorgeous, relaxing week in Montana’s paradise Valley, just north of Yellowstone National Park, to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. And in mid-October they took off for three and a half weeks to enjoy some awesome fall weather in southern Minnesota, Northern Virginia and the Myrtle Beach area, traveling by train and making several stops to see more family and friends.

Carol Aarseth Jackson was living in New York when she attended Mary Wash but has lived in the Washington DC area since 1984. She has been married to her husband Kevin since 1988, and they have 2 grown children. Daughter Kim is a proud Yale Law School grad, currently living in DC and working as a law clerk for a Supreme Court justice. Son Stephen is a proud Virginia Tech grad and also lives in DC. He is currently employed by a non-profit educational foundation doing operations and IT work. Carol has an 8-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Kara.  Carol is currently employed part time with an employee assistance company. Carol and Kevin enjoy traveling and have visited Barbados, London, Prague, Sydney Australia and Palm Springs California in March to watch tennis. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a wonderful trip out West – visiting Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons.

Ford Hart retired from a 33-year Foreign Service career in 2016 at the end of his appointment as US Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau. Now living in Wellington, New Zealand, where his partner and former Kiwi counterpart in Hong Kong, Gabrielle, is assigned to the Foreign Ministry. Ford has gone into the private sector, dabbling in consulting, blockchain technology, and exports to China. Ford encourages all Mary Washingtonians visiting New Zealand to reach out to him.

Della Thacker Carrico worked for 28 years in Information Technology, retiring in 2017 as a Senior Systems Analyst with Sentara Healthcare.  She’s lived almost all her life on her family’s farm near Smithfield, Va.  Della has two sons. The oldest, Daniel, is a team leader at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The youngest, Taylor, is a captain in the US Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC.  Her husband retired in 2018 and they have 4 grandchildren, ages 12, 11, 4, and 1. Della says that now that they have retired, being able to spend time with their grandchildren is the best. Della and her husband have also been busy with renovating their home, biking, playing tennis, doing church missions work, and traveling.

Pamela Troutman and her husband retired in 2014 and spent the next three years preparing to move. They relocated to New Mexico in the summer of 2017 and have no regrets. Rio Rancho is located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe and snuggles up next to the Santa Anna Indian Reservation. There are mountains and nature all around, and they have a fantastic view of the Sandia Mountain from their backyard, and are enjoying the history, balloons and regional art. Pam volunteers with several non-profit organizations and supports the Bead Society of New Mexico. Pam designs and creates unique jewelry, and after selling her jewelry in Occoquan Virginia for four years, she is again in a gallery, this one called Amapola, located in Old Town Albuquerque.

Amanda Bruch McNeil lives in Annapolis, MD and she and husband Kevin have 2 children, Matt age 30, who graduated from College of Charleston with a degree in business & Loyola Univ with an MBA and works in Baltimore, and Caroline, age 18, a freshman at Salve Regina Univ in Newport RI, studying varsity sailing and pre-med.  Amanda, an Environment Engineer, is retired from Gulf Oil & Chevron, and is now enjoying retirement, sailing and serving as Board Member & Treasurer of the local figure skating club representing US Figure Skating in the Annapolis area. Amanda’s sister, Lindsley Bruch (’83) lives in Northern Virginia with her husband & 2 daughters.

Kathy McMullen Lueckert lives in the Kansas City area with husband Don and two dogs.  Kathy is the Director of Operations at Village Presbyterian Church, a 5,000-member congregation with three campuses and an operating budget of $6.5 million.  The Lueckerts have lived all over the country:  Washington DC, Minneapolis, Louisville, Seattle and now Kansas City.  A big accomplishment was completing her first half marathon at age 59, a week before breast cancer surgery. Kathy is a two-time cancer survivor and would welcome connecting with other classmates who share that experience.

Leslie Wheeler Hortum is married to a recently retired Episcopal Priest, John Hortum. Leslie and John live in Alexandria, VA. Their older son, “Vanya”, is a US Marine currently stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC.   He is recently married – to a woman with 3 children, making them instant grandparents!

Their younger son, Dru, lives in Alexandria, building his career in the hospitality industry. The first part of Leslie’s career was in the association world.  She was then “recruited into the recruiting business” about 18 years ago and is currently the Managing Partner of the Washington office of Spencer Stuart, a large, privately held executive search and leadership advisory services firm.   It’s been a great career with opportunities to work with many fantastic and impactful organizations – leading searches for the CEO of organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, Autism Speaks, the National Retail Federation, the National Restaurant Association and many more.

Kathy Matt Reilly has lived in Chicago for the past 15 with her husband and two sons. Her oldest son is in a PhD program for Physical Therapy. Kathy has followed two careers since graduating- she owns a medical/scientific graphics and design firm and works for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program out of HQ in the Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, DC as the Strategic Partnerships Manager

Lewis Wendell is living in NYC and working as an urban planning consultant with wife Abbie and two kids still in high school. Both kids are on their respective Ultimate Frisbee teams which can be traced back directly to Lewis’ time playing at Mary Washington. Lewis still gets to play the occasional pick-up game in New York and sometimes his son joins in too. He has been in touch with many MWC friends and gets to Fredericksburg regularly. Recently, Lewis and his son stayed in Fredericksburg for an Ultimate tournament in Richmond and met up with Bob Smith. His good friend from high school Ellie Regan (‘77) visited Lewis last winter in New York with Linda Thornton (‘79) and Dawn Machonis (’77).  Shannon Elder and his friend Leslie Bird (both MWC alums) visited Lewis in Roxbury NY this past summer. Both accomplished landscape designers and gardeners, they helped Lewis with ideas and plantings for their garden and helped to beautify the historic RR Depot near Lewis’ home. This past Memorial Day Lewis and his wife attended the wedding of Scott and Sonia Chilton’s (both MWC Alums) lovely daughter Emily at Woodlawn in Alexandria. Carol Altstatt (MWC grad) came up from DC and spent the weekend before Christmas with Lewis and family. Carol is about to be deployed to Afghanistan to advise the Afghan Military on health care issues for at least a year. In terms of recent adventures, Lewis took his family to Pakistan for 10 days and showed them where he attended school in Lahore from 1st to 4th grade. It was a magical experience for Lewis and his wife (an intrepid traveler); not so much for the kids. In 2018, they visited Cuba for 7 days which was also wonderful but as his kids reminded him, there is vacation and travel, and this was travel. Lewis and family spent the recent Holidays in the Catskills.

Martha Williams attended a USNA Class of 1978 reunion and spent the weekend with Jennifer Boyd Ross (‘78).  Jennifer is busy running and doing triathlons.  Her husband, Paul, retired in the last year.

Martha recently had lunch with Carin Carr. Carin is retired and enjoys traveling, and her third grandchild is due in the next few months. She and her fiancé Jay live in Castle Rock Colorado. While in San Francisco over Thanksgiving, Martha had lunch with a swimming friend Phyllis Quinn (‘77.)  She also met up recently with Lori Turley (‘81) and her husband Craig in Annapolis. Alison Roedy Mack, Beth Murray Patterson, Vicki Prescott and Martha travel regularly to celebrate big birthdays. They recently visited the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix and Tucson.  Alison Mack lived across the street from Martha and their sons are very close.  Alison relocated to Florida, but she does a good job of keeping in touch.  Everyone was in the DC area over Christmas.  Vicki retired in April as an SES for DNI.  Sadly, Vicki’s mother died this fall and Beth and Martha attended the funeral. Martha is still working, and enjoys her job, but wishes she had more time to travel.  She is still swimming, sailing, biking and hiking. Martha went on a Danube River Cruise this year, skied in Tahoe and spent a few weeks at her Lake house in Ohio.  Her oldest son is in the Coast Guard stationed in Alameda CA (San Francisco) and is getting married in August.  Her daughter is married to an Army officer and they live neat Ft Campbell KY.  Her daughter completed her master’s degree and is teaching high school World History.  Martha’s youngest is at James Madison U studying Computer Science.

We’re sad to learn of the death of Beth Richwine in January. According to her obituary, she had been objects conservator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for the past 30 years. Her hobbies ranged from making artistic pottery to being a master cheesemaker. She and husband Randall Cleaver had lived in Takoma Park, Maryland, for the last 10 years.

Our thoughts are with Ellen Stanley Booth, who lost her sister.

Virginia Deane Bushman (Ginger)’82 shared that her daughter graduated from VCU in the spring of 2018 and set her sights on living in Florida.  Ginger and her husband will help move her this summer and spend time with brother in law Mark Bushman and his wife Kim Strafalace Bushman (both alumni).  Ginger retired from teaching in 2015 and works part time for the schools.  She enjoyed walking the campus and showing off all the new buildings when Laura Wong Dolloff ‘83 visited last summer. She also still hears from Virginia Wagner Pugh (82) and her roomie Tad Stanley( Margaret Gillie).  Rhonda Nash’82 wrote that her niece “Calli-co”, Calli Fox graduated from UMW in 2011 and her nephew, Lucas Hidalgo graduated in 2018.  She is a proud alumnae and an even prouder Aunt.  Douglas K Harvey’82 wrote that he graduated with a BLS degree in Historic Preservation in 1982 (lived off campus, married and 28). He had taught history and English for five years but always had a burning desire to work in museums.  MWC gave him an internship at the Smithsonian and with the HP degree, he embarked on a 36 year career in Virginia museums, working in Manassas, Richmond, and finally his home town of Lynchburg for the last 12 years. He retired at the end of 2017 but is consulting on a limited basis.  MWC/UMW gave him a career and he will never forget the kindness of the faculty; especially Bill Crawley, a Class act, who helped plot his course as the school tried to figure out what to do with a guy that had a BS in Education, History and English from Radford. Doug later hired Scott Harris ’84 as Curator at The Manassas Museum.  Gray Wells’82 continues to recover from her late 2017 copperhead snake bite in her pool in Hilton Head. Her finger is doing well; she can almost make a closed fist, feeling close to normal.  Doctor says healing will continue until a year after bite and she is very hopeful the feeling will return to normal.  They moved back to Reston where she grew up and they are excited about this unexpected surprise downsize.  I know from social media that she has become an advocate for Reston issues.  Husband Dan retired Friday after 41 years with Boeing Computer Services and SAIC and may do some consulting.  They have kept their home in Hilton Head. At the annual UMW Scholarship luncheon this spring, Ellen Coleman ’82 and I were thrilled to meet the current recipient of the David Hawkens’82 scholarship.  We were able to share stories and background with her on his student days. Nancy Kaiser ’82, wife Mary, Debbie Barker’82, Annmarie Cozzi’82, JB Blair’82 and I held a mini reunion in Bethany Beach and celebrated Annmarie’s retirement.  JB is now President-Elect of the UMW Alumni Association and chaperoned a high school trip to London and Paris in January; glad she majored in French.  Vicki Haynes Morris ’82 is still living in Wisconsin but took the big step of downsizing in 2018 which was no easy task with a hubby with a large M&M collection. Carol G. Guerin’82 is  currently working in a Career and Technical High School in Chesterfield County, she  got burned out as a Medical Malpractice Paralegal and switched careers with Virginia’s Career Switcher program 17 years ago, she teaches Legal Systems Administration and Oracle Programming, her programs have been cited by the state as Success Stories for both the Microsoft Technology Associates Certifications for having a 90% success rate for our classes and for the success of my graduates from both programs. When daughter Jessie’s wedding announcement came out a year ago Carol and Laura Shreave had lunch in the West End and caught up with each other’s lives. It was a lot of fun and it was as if we were right back at Mary Wash.

She and husband Ken recently celebrated their 35th anniversary in Oco Rios Jamaica. Their youngest daughter Jessie just celebrated her first wedding anniversary Labor Day weekend; middle daughter Carrie is an Analyst for the FBI here in Richmond and oldest daughter Dani is a Preschool teacher in Lorton, VA. Her Dad passed away in March 2018 after an 8 year struggle with Alzheimer’s.  Now empty nesters, they are looking forward to retirement in 6 years.  As for me, I had a fabulous time at my high school reunion in Helena Montana this summer reconnecting with old friends and visiting Yellowstone.  I had my bear spray ready but didn’t need to use it.  I stay busy with my job and volunteer work and have been fortunate to represent UMW at various student admission events.  My pride for our alma mater grows every day and I must say it has been fun learning and introducing potential students to our school without telling stories of keg parties in the ACL ballroom and road trips to UVa.  Facebook continues to report out on weddings and retirements but I encourage you to send me your news.

Leslie Bellais writes:

After 28 years,  8 months, and 9 days at the Wisconsin Historical Society, I am retiring from my position as Curator of Social History. On the same day I retire, I will begin a new position as a teaching assistant in the US history department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I’ve also been working on my dissertation for the past two years and hope to have it finished this semester and then graduate in May 2019 with a Ph.D. in U.S. history/material culture. I have no plans what I’ll be doing with my life after that.

From Lisa Wright ’83:

The year was my toughest ever.  I lost my dad my senior year at MWC and sadly my mother this summer.  As I readjust to so much and after a full career of 30 years in law enforcement and retirement as a Captain, I am pursuing a full time real estate career.  I received my license in the 90s but have been on referral and part-time basis.  With the excitement of Amazon coming to VA and a baseball stadium to Fredericksburg I look forward to exciting “after” career!  I also sell Magnolia and Vine an exciting versatile jewelry and accessory company.

Our 35th Reunion is nearly upon us! I have enjoyed serving on the Reunion committee with Linda Lemanski Blakemore, Carey Smith Monts, and Dan Steen. We are looking forward to seeing many of you for a wonderful weekend at Mary Washington, May 31–June 2. Don’t miss it!

Karen Warren Beall and her husband, Jim, have recently moved to the Fredericksburg area after living in Maryland all their lives. Jim retired from the Maryland public school system and is now teaching for Orange County Public Schools, besides being a Realtor. Karen has been a top Realtor for the past 15 years and opened Castle Key Realty in Maryland in 2010. Karen and Jim opened a Castle Key office in Fredericksburg last summer. They celebrated 34 years of marriage this year and have four children and seven grandchildren. Karen keeps in touch with roommate Elizabeth Carriker McGinnis.

Denise Zawadzki Doucette is also back in Virginia, living in Vienna and happy to be so close to DC! Jim Emery is commissioner for a recreational field hockey league in Herndon. Susan Johnson Hoehne lives in Lexington, where she teaches 7th grade.

Pam Johnson Jemmison still lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, and gets together every fall for long beach weekends with Jane Coleman Campbell, Lynne Ballard Lansford, Kathy Harris Hutchison, Tina Sawanobori Fredo, Carolyn Lankford, and Jackie Turk Epling. They all hope to make it to the Reunion!

Joanne Brenton Shabelski was married in May 2017. Alums at the wedding included Liz Canale, Betsy Hanna, Dave Hardin ’83, and Renee Kuntz ’85. Joanne says, “My husband, Mel, is a soccer referee, and we met on the pitch. He encourages my love of the sport, and I now play on six teams, including a co-ed team with fellow alum Abas Adenan ’85. I participate in local and state senior Olympic Games, and this year I will travel to New Mexico for the Nationals in June. In 2012, I received a master’s degree in special education from George Mason University, and I now work for Fairfax County Public Schools. I have three children: Skye, Colton, and Elliott.”

Teresa Nugent Forbes writes, “Jesse Forbes and I haven’t posted news since our twins were born, and now they are about to graduate from college. Our son, Jay, graduates in May with a masters in music therapy from Shenandoah Conservatory/University. Our daughter Emily graduates in May with a B.S. in psychology from Bridgewater College. Her twin sister, Jennifer, will graduate in December from Shepherd University with degrees in piano performance and psychology. Jesse continues to enjoy being self-employed, and I am working as a special education teacher in Loudoun County. We have lived in Purcellville, Virginia, for almost 15 years. We are also the proud grandparents of six-year-old Leah.”

 Blair Howard catches us up on life since graduation: “After a brief stint in California, I found myself back in Washington, working in the hospitality and entertainment industry through the 1980s and early ’90s, then had my own marketing firm focusing on live entertainment. In 1996, I became a creative director for a New York internet startup, until 9/11 brought that industry to a standstill. I met my bride, Celine Robbins, as I was leaving town, and we have been happily married for over 10 years. We now reside in Alexandria, where I own a design-and-build firm, specializing in unique residential and commercial projects. I also administer an informal social media group, Our Mary Washington Friends on Facebook, celebrating our lives and friendships at MWC. We’ve just accepted our 2,030th member, and we’re waiting for you.”

Jasmine Jelesoff Larimer also brings us up to date: “After graduation, I made the decision to switch from my med tech job to teaching. I certified in French and Spanish and taught in Stafford County and at Fredericksburg Academy. Then I became a stay-at-home mama to my daughter and two sons for the next 14 years, volunteering and subbing at Holy Cross Academy, where my children were in school. Now I am in my sixth year back at teaching Spanish, currently at Massaponax High School. My husband continues to work at Dahlgren. My kids are in college now—my two oldest at UMW (Chris, 24, and Victoria, 20) and my youngest at Germanna (Sean, 18).”

Here is the latest from Mark Scott: “I am basically retired from mortgage banking. Marianna Rixey Scott ’85 and I have our youngest daughter graduating from high school this spring. Our older two daughters live in Charlottesville, where they were raised. We have a 14-month-old granddaughter, which has changed our retirement plans. Originally planning a move to coastal Alabama, we will now stay closer to home, with a saltwater address somewhere. I recently finished 34 years of officiating high school football, and now do things I could not really do when I worked full time: I deal blackjack for a casino company, substitute teach, and work on a snowplow crew. I drove a truck for a 12-piece band on the East Coast for five months this summer—America’s oldest roadie!”

Bill Waller reports: “I have been married to Rhonda Ritter, a high school friend, since 2014. She has two grandkids that I “share” with her. I live in Knoxville, Maryland, with the Appalachian Trail in my backyard and the C&O Canal and Potomac River in the front, with deer and bear as yard pets. My daughter, Alie, is a first-year law school student in Baltimore, having graduated from Towson U.”

 It was great to see Dan Wolfe featured in the cover story of the fall/winter 2018 issue of this magazine. His career in movie marketing in LA has led him back to Mary Washington to teach a class on that subject. In case you missed the article, you can read it online at magazine.umw.edu.

Sadly, Victor Bradshaw died on December 10, 2018, after suffering a heart attack. Vic grew up in Spotsylvania and began his journalism career while at MWC, as an intern at the Free Lance-Star. He worked for papers throughout Virginia and South Carolina, most recently at the Harrisonburg Daily News Record. Vic is remembered for his concern for people and desire to help others.

Terri Botsford Whitticar writes:  I graduated in may 1986. I am presently working with my husband in his law firm NOVA IP Law, in northern Virginia. My three children have all graduated from university and are out of the house. I’m blessed to have one gainfully employed in each:  management, finance, and health care.  We are empty nesters! My middle child is engaged and we are looking forward to a big wedding in 2019! I’m still married to Michael, and we will be celebrating our 32 nd wedding anniversary in June. My loves are family, church, raising orchids and  traveling anywhere!

John Daniel DeViney, dearly loved husband of Mary Loose DeViney, died on a memorable Father’s Day, June 17, 2018 at his home in Keswick, Virginia.

John had an abiding Faith in God. He took pride in his work and tried to help others along their life’s path.

He was born March 8, 1957 at Camp Lejeune, NC to 1^stSGT John Thomas DeViney, USMC (Ret.) and Frances Mabeline DeViney. Growing up a “Marine Corps Brat,” he took on the characteristics and honor of a U.S. Marine so instilled by his Father. He grew up a caring, loving man from the influence of his Mother.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother Thomas DeViney. He was also preceded in death by his wife’s parents Hermann FW Loose and Frances G. Loose, whom he loved dearly, and they loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary Loose DeViney whom he loved and adored with all his heart, his beloved son, Hunter A. W. Loose, his son, William DeViney, and his wife, Michele, grandson, Nicolas and granddaughter, Savannah of Front Royal, VA; his daughter, Sara DeViney of Navarre, FL, his sister, Debra Bishop and her husband, William from Woodbridge, VA, his sister, Susan Pellien and her husband, James from Lake Orion, MI, and a sister and brother in law, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Wagner.

John was the General Manager of Par Vehicle in Springfield and then was the Account Representative for Bogle Tire Company in Lorton, before working at his dream job at Dickinson Equipment in Fredericksburg, where he met a family that loved him like their own. He loved to sell tractors, he loved his customers, but most of all he loved being a part of the Dickinson Family. He considered Robert and Clay his brothers, and Drew and Robby his sons.

He graduated from Woodbridge High School where he played on the football team. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to play football and broke his ankle in a college practice rendering him unable to play. He then attended George Mason University, Germanna Community College, Cummins Diesel Training School and Detroit Diesel Training School. He holds many certificates in business, sales, engine repair, electrical systems, rubber tire construction, and from Kubota University.

John served as a Staff Officer for the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was a Boy Scouts of America Life Scout and served as President of the Virginia Jaycees. He was a member of the Men’s Industrial Bowling League and a YABA Youth Bowling Instructor. He was a member of the Virginia Service Station Dealers Association as well as a member of Kubota Advisory for the Southeastern Region. John served as the Vice President of the Beville Middle School PTSO and an Advisory Board Member of the Prince William County School Board. He was also a member of the Stafford Advisory Board to the School Board for Business Leaders.

John was the Chairman of the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank Golf Tournament for 15 years. He was a Virginia Junior Chamber of Commerce State President,  Life Member #93-016, a Junior Chamber International Senator #52113, a National Merit Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.

He was also a member of the Woodberry Forest Golf Club and so enjoyed playing golf with Bob, Leo, Carl and Tony.

John loved to cook, especially for his wife, who does not cook.

He was a faithful member of Grace Church – Cismont. His favorite prayer in the world was the Lord’s Prayer and he cherished it above all others.

Pallbearers: Hunter A.W. Loose, William DeViney, Nicolas DeViney, R. Marc Johnson, Robert Dickinson and Clay Dickinson.

Honorary Pallbearers: His co-workers at Dickinson Equipment, Kubota of Culpeper, and The Tractor Center.

A Service of Burial of the Dead will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday June 20, 2018 at Grace Episcopal Church – Cismont, 5607 Gordonsville Rd, Keswick, VA 22947 with interment immediately following at Monticello Memory Gardens, 670 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 19, 2018 at Hill and Wood Funeral Home.

In addition to flowers, John requests that donations be made to Grace Episcopal Church – Cismont, Stony Point Chapel, POB 43, Keswick, VA 22947, which was consecrated the day his father was born.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com or Mary Loose DeViney, POB 262, Keswick, VA 22947. MLoose@aol.com

From Kim:

Wendy Huber reports that her oldest son Jake recently got married in Charleston, where he and his new bride Hanna will continue to live.

Sara Marple Piehler started a job in May 2018 with the Institute for Transfusion Medicine, which is part of Vitalant in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara works the overnight shift in the blood bank labs at some of the local hospitals. She’s still settling into her new community and would love to hear from any alumni who live in the Pittsburgh area and would be willing to show her around. Sara reports that the best part of the move is that she is now only 4 hours away from her daughter Jill, who is studying Radiologic Technology at Trocaire College in Buffalo, NY.

Jane Ellen Brennan Herrin and husband Jim have been married 25 years and their daughters are now 12 and 13. Jane Ellen now pre-records the weekends on Lite Rock 95.9 in Cookeville, TN. She also does podcasts for Stonecom Radio, which she loves. In addition, she does makeup for Estee Lauder at Belk, which allows her to be a makeup artist without the travel. Jim is happily reporting for the Herald-Citizen. Jane Ellen reports that Cookeville is one of the top ten micropolitan places to live in the US and one of her sisters is going to retire there. Condolences to Jane Ellen, who lost both of her parents in 2018. However, she did get to learn more about her father’s time as a POW in WWII, his presence on the last flight of B-17 bomber Miss Prissy, and about Vietnam.

Keep the updates coming! Remember – not everyone is on Facebook and people want to know what their classmates are up to.