WECATON NEWS REPORT - 30 APRIL 2005:
---Whew!! It's been a while, hasn't it? How do I plead? Well, I guess I'm guilty as charged. But in my defense, I must tell all of you that, ever since the Daytona 500 (which was on February 20), I've had a long string of wonderful and welcome houseguests. The very last of them left my house on April 8. On April 11, I departed Ormond Beach for a VERY lengthy (4,075 miles!) road trip, during which I made a great stop or two, I might add. Having finally completed that trip, I returned home just Monday afternoon.

To say I had an interesting trip, would surely be an under- statement! I was headed to my daughter's home, which is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The big point of this one was my grandson's 8th birthday, which occurred on April 18. I had promised him I'd be there, and I was. But oh my, the Colorado climate is surely not for me!! To my utter surprise, I would quickly discover that the practice of breathing out there, is optional. Yes, I said optional! On my first day there, I noticed my chest was a bit tight. I later discovered my heart rate had dramatically risen. Each day, it became worse and worse. I'd gone there many times before, but never stayed longer than 3-4-5 days. This time, I stayed 8 days and I lived (barely) to regret it. On the 7th day, I was flat on my back on the sofa, gasping for air and unable to arise on my own steam. My son-in-law graciously offered me lodging for as long as need be, in order to recover. But I told him I was leaving on the following morning, even if I had to crawl to my vehicle, as I had to get out of that climate or die. I practically did crawl to my vehicle, too! The further away I got from that altitude, the better I breathed. By the time, I got to the west side of Kansas, it was markedly better and my heart rate had returned to normal. By the time I got to the east side of Kansas, I was almost totally over the problems. You can believe me when I tell you that the famous, "Rocky Mountain High" syndrome is totally lost on ME. I've never much subscribed to what I choose to call, "the desert states," anyway (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada). But thank God, we don't ALL want to live in the same place, eh? Besides, I'm just a funny duck when it comes to that breathing thing. I'm one of those folks who has to do that, with regularity. I just cannot breathe, out there in that part of the country, and am amazed by the number of people who say they actually feel BETTER when they are in that climate. Okay, so let's get to the news!

First of all, I'm terribly sorry to report the passing of yet two more WC alumni. In the 1961 class, we've lost GAIL M. DAUBENDICK, whose obituary appeared in the April 27 Dayton Daily News. Her last name upon her death was Hudson. Also, I must report the death of MARVIN MORTON. I assumed he was probably a member of the 1958 class, as the report came to me from 1958's THERESA M. MOSES, but she didn't have much detail and wrote there was to be no service. However, our treasured MR. JOHNSON picked up the slack on the info for Marvin. He also wrote, telling me that Marvin was 66 years old, and also that he thought Marvin had not actually graduated, but that he was a longtime attendee of WC. As we all know, way too many years have passed for any of us to worry about such details. He was one of us, and that's all which matters. I know that Gail died from the cancer she's been battling for years, but there is apparently not much in the way of detail, as regards Marvin. Thanks to both 1961's P. LYNNETTE GARRETT and to 1958's WILLIAM R. HOWARD, for reporting to me about Gail, too. That's just so heart-wrenching. I heard from Gail around Christmas or not long after. She was terribly excited about having been relatively recently reunited with her old high school sweetheart, WILLIAM M. ROHLER (1960), and so was he. He'd been widowed in September of 2004. They'd planned on a visit, sometime this year. It was filled with promise and hope and the possibility of a new beginning for both of them.

Recently, I've been made aware of yet another passing, though it's not an alumnus. However, the recent death of the 4-day-old grandson of 1961's PAULA ROSE WILSON is surely a heartbreaking event. I know all our hearts go out to Paula. Let's get together and send Paula our condolences. Her mailing address is 108 Claremont Lane, Apt. 4, Palm Beach Shores, Florida 33404. Her e-mail address is ( sdshores@aol.com ) Thanks to her lifelong friend and fellow class member, DONNA JEAN RICHARDS for making us all aware of that and allowing us the opportunity to show our support.

Folks, we also have a classmate who is ill. This report has come to me from 1958's THERESA M. MOSES. In case you haven't noticed, Theresa excels in keeping us posted, each time she hears of anything. That is greatly appreciated, Theresa, and thank you so much. Let's get the card-sending chain out in full force for this one. She was our 1957 homecoming queen, DONNA G. BOWIE. She is also, as most of us know, the spouse of her classmate (GARY D. MAYS), which makes her also a member of our, "local Kennedy clan," if you will. So let's all pull for Donna and try to flood her house with cards of good cheer and encouragement. She has a case of advanced rheumatoid arthritis, I'm told, and is currently resting at home, under Gary's capable care. Donna and Gary do not have e-mail, I don't think, but the postal mailing address is 311 North Hill Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32724-3719. So get out a card and a stamp and let her know we're all thinking about her, please.

You're all expecting a report on the Third Annual WC Florida Spring Fest, I know. Believe me, I am going to give you one, too. But the fact is, I'm just not yet quite organized enough from my trip, to begin that report. I don't want to overlook even ONE attendee and do plan to use my notes, but my inbox is SO full of e-mail, I just had to get that cleared out, beforehand. So bear with me, please, and I promise I will soon get to the first part of that report. Thanks.

We also have a long list, as usual, of those who have reported in with the jokes, the psa's, the blanket e-mails, etc. They include 1958's ROBERT W. "SMITTY" SMITH, BRUCE E. CHENOWETH, WILLIAM R. HOWARD, SUE E SOWERS, RONALD D. "TOM" FEE, SANDRA L. BARSALOU; 1959'S GARY E. BARNES; 1960'S LARRY M. PENDLEY, EULA FAYE BAILEY, STEVEN M. KOKOT; 1961'S PATRICIA LYNNETTE GARRETT, SALLY LYNNE GILLETTE, SANDRA S. HOLLINGSWORTH; 1962'S RICHARD C. CALL, and BARBARA T. O'NEAL. Thanks to all.

From the newspaper, comes a bulletin from 1973's JEAN ANN PALUM, which says that the Woody's Supermarket building could soon be razed. I'm sure many of you have seen this item. I actually already have a copy of the original newsprint version, sent to me by an old friend from Ohio Bell. What a sad day THAT will be, eh? It tugs at the heartstrings of every WC kid. Thank you for calling that to my attention, Jean.

Once I had completed my family obligations in Colorado, I headed straight across the country and had the simply incomparable experience of spending 3 nights in the comfortable and lovely home of 1960's EULA FAYE BAILEY, which is in Overland Park, Kansas. As most of you are well aware, Eula Faye is one of my favorite folks. We have been planning this visit for at least 3 years and it finally fell into place.

Eula Faye is fond of saying, "If you come to visit me, I'll treat you so many ways, you're bound to like one of them." Well, she was right. Eula Faye is the ultimate, Olde South hostess, believe me. She provides fresh linen, clean towels, hostess baskets, bathrobes, fresh coffee, iced tea, homemade food, and can even wow you with the country's finest of all newspapers---the incomparable Kansas City Star! Hey, it's doesn't get any better than THAT, for an old news hound like me. But the greatest thing about visiting Eula Faye, is just Eula Faye, herself. We talked for endless hours and even though we didn't solve all the world's problems, we sure did THINK we did!

Of course, as nearly everyone is by now aware, there can scarcely be a gathering of two or more WC people, unless 1958's BRUCE E. CHENOWETH is also present and my weekend with Eula Faye was no exception. Not long after she and I arose on Friday morning, there he was in the driveway, fresh off a trip from Miamisburg, for the express purpose of joining us in Kansas. He will go ANYwhere for WC stuff, if you just let him know, in time!

Always the gallant gentleman, Bruce drove us both all over the area, taking us everywhere we wanted to go. We all toured the home of Harry S. & Bess W. Truman, and also went to the Truman Library. We also took in the panorama of a place called Cabela's, right by the famed Kansas City Motor Speedway. It's a breathtaking, huge sports outfitter complex for hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. On Saturday eve, Bruce treated us all to an elegant supper at Ruth's Chris Steak House in The Plaza section of KC, right beside the ritzy Mission Hills section. I can safely say we had one great, spectacular visit. We plan to do it again, too! Bruce and I departed, long before dawn on Sunday morning. He headed back to Ohio and I headed for Florida.

While there, we had every intention of rooting out the companionship of 1961's NANCY J. ERTEL, even if only for a lunch. But the number I had for her, didn't work. I've since asked her if she would have "come out to play," and she told me probably not, but that she would have been with us, "in spirit." Well, we'll get you one of these days, Miss Nancy! I'm not giving up the effort THAT easily! I travel, quite a bit. Nancy continues to keep my brain sharp with her ever-so-subtle, totally-genius-like offerings. I can't get you out of the house, but I'll give you a big A-plus for maintaining such great contact, anyway, Nancy!

The brainchild of our wonderful, now-annual, Frisch's Frolic, 1960's MICHAEL S. WEST, continues to do a great job with posting to the blogspot and yes, there are recent photos posted on there (of me, Bruce, and Eula Faye) from my recent cross-country trip. Mike, you're doing a great job of keeping up on things on that site and I do check in on it, quite regularly. For those of you who haven't done so, give it a shot. Here's the website address:

( http://wchs.blogspot.com )

Cousin JUDITH L. SAMUELS and I, have been having more of those hilarious exchanges about the foibles of having a retired husband hanging around the house, all the time. Well, I guess I can count myself out now, on that score. My own husband went back to work, part-time, about 5 weeks ago. Judy told me she's jealous. Ha! She's been having yard sales, traveling, and doing a lot of cooking, she tells me.

Recent messages from 1960's NANCY E. "COOKIE" BOWIE indicate that she may be Florida-bound before long. It is my hope that she will be able to squeeze out a couple of hours for me. We're planning on a lunch or a breakfast or something (I hope).

That travelin' 1960 guy, GERALD A. FULLER (who's a fellow Miami Shores Kid) and spouse Becky are still criss-crossing the country in their RV and having a ball. Bully for them! Just last week, Jerry called me to get the number for Mike West. I hope they all had a rip-snortin' good time. Speaking of travelers, 1960's WILLIAM O. WALKER and spouse Karen are also still moving around the country in their RV. I just spoke with Bill this morning and they will be heading back to their recently-sold, Dickinson, Texas, home for the purpose of packing it up. They tell me they will be returning to Florida, once everything is completed.

Also relocating to a new home, during the month of March, was 1957's DARELL L. TOBIAS. His move to North Carolina is now completed, but we sure do hope he will head back to Florida for a visit, one of these days. You will, won't you, Darell? By the way, Darell sent me an update on the e-mail address of JAMES J. DOWNS. Should anyone need to reach Jim or Darell, let me know.
There was also an update, albeit somewhat confusing on MY part, on the e-mail address of 1961's CHRIS L. CLEARY and teacher spouse DAVID COLLINS. Many thanks to an intervention by T. BARRY RUSSELLO, we got everything all squared away. Thanks to all.

We WC folks just like to travel, I guess. Only recently has 1961's PATRICIA LYNNETTE GARRETT returned from her western home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lynn reports that she and Frank really enjoyed their stay there and that Frank did lots of landscaping and work on the new home. Lynn says Frank loved all the fancy buffet foods which are offered there, too. Currently, they are back at the home in Germantown, Ohio.

The word on the street is that HAROLD PHILLIPS just recently contacted his old pal, 1962's RICHARD C. CALL. I understand Rich was thrilled. I do so hope they have by now gotten to see each other. That's what we're all about, now isn't it? We're all expecting to see you and Jean at Frisch's in October, Rich, and driving that snazzy car you've got, hear?

JOHN W. OBERLIER, JR., 1961, you sure are taking an awfully lot of vacation time lately. Every time I send you a bulletin, it is returned with a message about when you'll be back at your desk. Good for you! Keep those good days going! RODNEY R. GABBARD, 1971, are you still out there? How is the surgery going and how are you doing? If you're able, please give us an update.

Those folks in the 1961 class are just top-shelf, I must say. It does seem that, over the years, the classes from about 1954 though 1962, have sort of established "that special bond," and we all seem to do so well together. I have to say that's true of ALL our classes, though. On the topic of special bonds, we all might want to get out just one more of those cards, but this one is an upper. Two of our 1961 class members are now officially engaged and are to be married in June. Who are they? Well, it's PAUL R. BEARDSLEY and SANDRA L. BROCK. So how about that? Paul just sent me his excited e-mail, this very morning. He writes that Sandy is a wonderful lady and that he's so thrilled they reconnected. That's delightful, Paul and Sandy! We all wish you both the very best. Sandy, this next line is just for you: "Now that you're marrying Paul, do you think there is any chance YOU could show him how to find the Moraine City Frisch's, on the correct night, at the correct time? We're counting on you!" (Sorry, Paul, but after the fiasco of the past two years, I had to do SOMEthing!)

CAROLE J. LEWIS, 1961, had great concerns that she had somehow been dropped from the bulletin list. It's not so, Carole! I would NEVER do that to you. I'm just so overwhelmed right now, but I hope this bulletin will pull everyone back into the loop and I'll try SO hard never to go this long again.

Let's all welcome aboard 1958's PATRICIA ANN HAGWOOD, who came to us, courtesy of classmate, SUE E. SOWERS. Pat wrote that she's anxious to hear what's going on with all things WC. Well, we're thrilled you've opted to join us, Pat, and we'll do our very best to keep you up to date. You be sure to send in news, too!

GARY E. BARNES, 1959, swears he's going to be at all our functions, effective next year. Well, we're waiting on that one, Gary. Speaking of people named Gary, did I remember to tell you all that GARY L. WARLAUMONT came over from Apopka and had supper with Bruce and me, early in the month of April? I think I did.

Very happily, I am able to report that I got a cordial and almost upbeat e-mail from 1959's SANDRA RAE KINNEY, on April 13. As we are all aware, Sandy lost her beloved spouse (and fellow WC alumnus), 1958's DAVID L. MICHAEL, in December. I believe they'd been married nearly 45 years and Sandy had often told me of their wonderful relationship. She is back online now and has given her approval for me to once again include her in the bulletin list. I'm unaware of what this loss must be like, but I give you a lot of credit, Sandy, for pulling up those bootstraps and trying to move forward. We're all pulling for you!

There is MUCH more news to report, believe or not, gang! But if I continue this bulletin, it will be intolerable, not to mention impossible, to read. The rest of it is on our Spring Fest gathering. So I'm going to give you all a couple of days to breathe and readjust your eyesight, at which time I will launch into the long-overdue report. I leave you all with my usual wish for glowing health, great happiness, peaceful serenity, and boundless prosperity. Ciao!

---And there you have it! More at 11--- B
- posted by Mikey @ 5:45 PM