Class Notes

From Rita Morgan Stone:

Peggy Sherman Capers writes that she has lived in Augusta, Georgia, for 88 years. Her husband Jack (also from Augusta) died in 2009. She now lives in an apartment in a renovated grammar school, actually living in her fifth and sixth grade classrooms, two blocks from where she grew up. She has three children, eight grandchildren and five great grands, who live “all over everywhere.”

Melita Whitcomb Vonier has lived in Naples, Florida, for the last 24 years and recently moved to a retirement home there, their Camelot. She and husband Bill, who worked for a Swedish company, traveled widely and frequently, thus explaining their 19 moves during their married life of 67 years. They have three children, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grands scattered about the country.

Betty Willard Wiltshire has a Fredericksburg address so she remains active in the community and continues to attend University programs and visit the beautiful Mary Washington campus. She has a son in Fairfax, Virginia, and a daughter in Maryland.

Dottie Davis Craig has always enjoyed city life, especially the Charlottesville environs. Her bridge friends are glad she is there.

Jo Bidgood Dunbar lives in Patton, Missouri, and has four kids scattered around.

Barbara Gowler Childs writes from Olympia, Washington, where she has moved to a senior community after selling her home on Hartstene Island. She and Richard were married 65 years before his death three years ago.

Selma Friedman Fink wrote that one of her strongest memories while attending Mary Washington was with Dr. Martin, a psychology professor, who organized a meeting and picnic in a park with black citizens of Fredericksburg to promote better understanding of one another. The local white churches and temple were afraid to invite us in their houses of worship. He was teaching us a very important lesson in humanity and social justice. Selma has been a sculptor for over 60 years, a special part of her life that has kept her grounded and offered endless challenges. She works directly in stone and wood and rarely uses electric tools. Art is ageless so at the Art League, where she works, there are students and professionals working in the same studios. Two years ago Selma had a show in Chelsea, New York. Her subjects are usually animals but occasionally she will sculpt an abstraction. She tries to find stone or wood that inspires her because the hours for each piece is unlimited. Certainly her art has made her life more meaningful and exciting.

Lois Andrews Jordan lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

Jean Amis Hill is recuperating from a broken hip in Martinsville, Virginia. She and Clyde have two children and four grandchildren.

Phyllis Farmer Shaffer lives in a retirement community in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with a son and grandchildren nearby. After graduation, “Butch” worked at the Charleston YWCA, teaching swimming, dance and creating the Golden Age Club. She married a Charleston local who had a shrimp business. The loss of a five-year-old daughter lead to an appointment to the American Cancer Society Board and her subsequent involvement in cancer research fundraising.

Peggy Burton Routh lives in Wytheville, Virginia, and had a career in teaching. She has four children, 12 grandchildren and five great-grands.

Catherine Jones Shepherd, on a cruise after college, met her future husband, a commercial Realtor who established the Brookwood Village mall in Birmingham, Alabama. One of Catherine’s daughters, Barbara, gave a rave review of her mother’s accomplishments – an art teacher who still paints and holder of two master’s degrees.

Betty Kilgore, who is retired from Loudoun County School System, enjoys condo-living in Leesburg, Virginia. She says the best part of retirement life is sleeping late and shopping at non-busy hours.

Patsy Russell Steewart lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in a retirement community. Three of her daughters were Wellesley grads, and another is a Smith alum. Four grandsons and six granddaughters claim allegiance to Dartmouth, Yale and Harvard. Patsy is a proud parent and grandparent.

Jackie Epes Lauck is preparing to sell her home in Lexington, Virginia, and looking forward to downsizing. Her son-in-law is building an addition to their home, which will allow Jackie to remain independent. She has three children and six grandchildren. Jackie stays busy delivering meals to shut-ins and is in her 20th year of teaching Bible study to ladies in the local jail.

Joyce Long Moore has lived with her partner for the last 48 years, much of the time in the Williamsburg, Virginia, area. Now retired from a career in education, she spends time with her daughter, two grandchildren, and four great-grands. She has had hip replacement and back surgery but enjoys life without a cane or walker. She enjoyed attending one of our reunions and would like to hear from some of her BSU friends.

Eleanor Michelet Mulbry lives in Charleston, South Carolina, at an Episcopal retirement community. Having lost her husband in 2010, she feels blessed and lucky to live near her son and family. She enjoys her independence, her book group, and nitting friends and maintains that Charleston has the nicest folk in the world, despite the weather.

Anne Hart Martin remembers her days in Virginia and D.C. fondly. She now lives in Dwight, Illinois, in the country. Her children are scattered in Albuquerque, New Mexico; New Zealand; and Kansas, all interesting places to visit. She sadly lost her husband in 2017.

Ruth Williams Webb writes that since leaving Mary Washington, she has lived in Norway, England, and India. She is now settled in Boonton Township, New Jersey.

Barbara “Bobbie” Burgess Goldsten’s daughter, Elizabeth, kindly returned my call with the sad news that Bobbie had died November 30th.

Carl Bonner responded to my email with the sad news that his mother, Mildred “Millie” Jones Bonner, passed away in September.

It has been fun for me, Rita Morgan Stone, to speak and email with my classmates. Thank you for your time and our special conversations.