Class Notes

Rosemary Miller of Michigan still plays in the symphony orchestra and sings in – and sometimes directs – the church choir. Barbara Lloyd Hiller and Jim of State College, Pa., stay close to home but attended the annual family crab-eating Thanksgiving celebration in Ocean City, Md. She still provides her newsletter service for the Women’s Club. A second great- granddaughter arrived in December. Granddaughter Stacy is a freshman at Lock Haven University.

Clelia Boushee Bullard’s grandson Ray, 26, received his wings in December to fly F-18s and is stationed at Oceana in Virginia Beach. Beverly Youngs Robinson lives in a Newport News, Va., retirement home. She frequently visits her son and his family – including five grandchildren – in Scotland and took a side trip to Barcelona. She reads, knits, and plays bridge, which her mother said she majored in at Mary Washington. Garland “Dorsey” Estes McCarthy stays busy as garden club president and hoped to walk the beach in Galveston, Texas, on Christmas.

Patti Head Ferguson is recovering after being in NYC hospitals and nursing homes most of 2011 due to back problems. She advanced to a walker, was to spend time in Jamaica for sun and swimming before Christmas, and planned to spend the holiday in Washington, D.C., and Maryland with all the family – a rare treat. Virginia Hardy Vance was recuperating from a fall and cataract surgeries. Betty Gavett Breeden still mends library books and sings in two choirs. She was church organist/choir director for three months and is the church secretary’s proofreader.

Billie Mitchell Hanes and Dick love their three-story home on the dune in Virginia Beach, but it was built when they were young and strong, and they planned to move across the street to a one-story home. Billie had extensive back surgery in the spring followed by fractured ribs and then an arterial blockage near her heart. Four of their eight grandchildren had finished college, three were in college, and one was finishing high school.

Juney Morris was hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer and Marcy Weatherly Morris had two cataract surgeries. They have 11 great-grandchildren. Marcy and Juney attended the UMW presidential inauguration of Richard V. Hurley and said the ceremony and the ball were impressive.

Gerry Boswell Griffin and daughter Judy took a nostalgic May trip to their old home in Arlington, Va. The family who now lives there showed them through the house and gave them a bouquet of peonies (descendants of those Gerry’s dad planted years ago). Gerry placed them at her parents’ gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. They later visited the Mary Washington campus. Gerry hadn’t been back since our 30th reunion and was impressed by the new buildings.

Nan Riley Pointer and Joe took a river cruise from Amsterdam to Vienna last summer. Nan is vice president/ spiritual life director for the ecumenical Christian service organization International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons.

Barbara Cable Field passed away in January. She taught high school French in Gloucester, Va.; led student trips to France, Belgium, Switzerland, and England; and loved Paris and French culture.

Sadly, two other classmates passed away. Barbara Birkenmeyer Mader had pulmonary fibrosis for two years, but her death was a shock. Gracia Plyley Kather suffered from a neurological disease. I had a nice chat with husband Rudy, who commented on Gracia’s love of Mary Washington. Our sympathy goes to the families.