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Class
of 56 Newsletter
Summer
Edition April 2008
“If you search for a perfect friend without faults, you will remain friendless.”
return to Class of '56 home page
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June Luncheon Saturday,
June 28 we met at The Old South Restaurant for lunch.
Light rain did not deter 15 classmates, 5 spouses, and 2 guests
from the enjoyment of being together.
Several had not been able to attend other reunion events or
luncheons so it was a period of guessing identities and renewal of
friendships. Mary Lou Davis
Bryson was here from |
Ann Young Shields, Linda Goodwin Griffin, Shirley Duvall Harrison and husband Rick, Virginia Morris Proctor and husband Virgil, Paula Phillips, Charles Hill, Erma Duryea Cotton, Ed and Shirley Rye Lemley from Russellville, Pate Linker from Atkins, Denney Harton Jordan from Pine Buff, Ernestine ‘Tina’ McCorkle Walls and husband J.S. from Harrisburg, Gretta Safley Chronister and husband Richard from Little Rock, and Jane Bailey Barnhouse from Sherwood. Classmates are pictured below but we will post a few more photos on our class website at go2russellville.com. |
| Tina
McCorkle Walls graduated in 1955 but was our classmate through all our prior
school years. Many of us were also
friends with her through our church. We
will have a bio from her in our next newsletter. |
Shirley
Rye Lemley (class of 57) and Ed Lemley (class
of 54) were our guests. |
I
receive many good inspirational e-mail messages and have thoroughly enjoyed
reading the following. It is in
answer to the question, “How do you feel
about getting older?”
“I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, or my
loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become
kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I
don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or
for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so Avanti Garde
on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they
understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50’s, and if
I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the
pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as
well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's
beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and
understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and
will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray,
and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn
silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right
to be wrong.
So, to answer the question, I like being older. It has set me free. I
like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am
still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying
about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day, if I feel like
it.”
Tidbits from Classmates
| Wilma Norton Whorton: “I have been leading a busy life and still am at the age of 70.
January 26 was my birthday, and on January 9 I was married 50 years with a
celebration of those years at the Damascus Assembly of God church in
Russellville. This is where I am Pastor for the past 6 years. “
Her husband is in the last stages of COPD.
Her son Joddy is a
paramedic at the Virginia Morris Proctor’s husband Virgil has also had heart surgery. We weren’t aware that was the reason they were not at our February luncheon. We’re glad he is out and about now. Ray Hackworth called recently. He wanted to say
‘hello’ to everyone and that he is sorry he won’t be able to make
the June luncheon. He is still
in physical therapy after his knee surgery but is doing very well; has
lost 40 lbs. and going for 10 more. Says
he will never be able to play tennis. . . . but never did anyway. He
greatly appreciated the visits, cards, and e-mails from everyone.
Ray and Beverly are planning another trip to Dortha Johnson Griffin reports that her daughter-in-law, Dana is still healing; not 100% but doing okay. Her oldest grandchild, Sammi graduated in May Magna Cum Laude (4.19 GPA) from Fort Zumwalt South High in a class of about 600. She says they are all ‘grins’ over this accomplishment. Because the class is so big and so many would qualify, they don’t have Valedictorian and Salutorian. Wilma Humphrey McBride
sends the following: “Dear Classmates, Our eldest granddaughter
graduated a public high school in The
original building was built by WPA workers. Reminds me of the
beautiful old structures in Many
drama students came to a party at the house. One had "hot pink"
hair. She is off to a prestigious school. Miss Brown would have frowned
upon the hair; I think it was not noticed by anyone but me. Our
granddaughter was accepted into the Communications Department at U of
Texas in I
did not get too upset about the things they have missed; I could see that
they are kids who are just doing what their parents expect of
them. We have reason to hope that the world may be a better place as they
enter the positions and roles we are leaving. I
am grateful for the opportunities I had at Russellville High and know that
I was influenced by wonderful people and parents whose expectations for us
may not have looked so lofty; but, were quite high, when you consider that
many of our parents did not graduate high school.
With renewed hope for the future and
appreciation for the past. “ “Please
edit or ask John Jennings to do so. He always reminds me of how poorly I
construct sentences. He thinks because he played French Horn better than
me that he is so smart.” (Sorry,
John. I chose to do neither.
We couldn’t have said it any better.
Jane
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And, three of their great-grandchildren have moved to New Boston, Texas and they are very sad. (We can empathize with that.
Jane
John Lindsey writes,
“I'm a lot better but not totally well. My stamina just dwindles
during the day - some days quicker than others. But the doc put me on 4
month recall. My blood pressure is controlled, fasting blood sugar around
100 and A-Fib went away. So good things are returning. Renetta and I work
out at the gym frequently but not as much as the doc says. And
the best thing is that the snow, hail and rains finally let up last week
and I planted a micro garden which means I could get around barely enough
to plant a few things. Hopefully in the weeks ahead I can get around well
enough to go fishing!” Best
wishes to all and good health to everybody.
We
were surprised to learn at the luncheon that Pate
Linker has had heart surgery to place stents but he looks good and
seems to feel great. His wife,
Melba also had heart surgery and then suffered a spider bite resulting in
serious infections. She has been quite ill and in the hospital at Betty Allison Grabbe: “Family,
friends, four Cairn terrors, one cat and my garden fill my days.
I knit some evenings when there's time.
I'd make up something exciting for you, but you'd know it was a big
fib. Here's a picture of our
newest furkid, Cassy Louise. We adopted her from
Mama is 98, and in a Bonnie Simpson Polk called:
They had visited her mother-in-law in assisted living in Eureka Springs
recently. She says “hello”
and sends her love to everyone. One day she hopes to be here for one of
our luncheons. Carol Storey Cooney
writes: “I’m hoping that
one of these days I will get to attend a mini-reunion/luncheon. . . . . .
you all are in my thoughts on those special occasions.
On April 24 Tom had ‘minimally evasive’ open heart surgery to
replace his aortic valve; minimally evasive meaning they didn’t have to
open up the chest wall. He
had a relatively quick recovery and is feeling really great.
He is in heart rehab and that is going well.
Now he thinks he can “run faster and jump higher.”
My dear Mother continues to reside at Stella Manor Nursing Home in
Russellville. She was 98 yrs
young June 1. She has good
days and bad days but thankfully, her memory is very keen.
She remembers things I can’t.
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I
(Jane) have
been ‘on the move’ the past 7 weeks. First I flew to  Next I flew to
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Then
I drove to Fort Knox, KY to see my grandson Pvt. Payton Baker become a
Between
the last two trips, The Heritage Company had a big gala celebration at the
Peabody Hotel in
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Questions
of the day
Who
has gained a pound?
Who spent the day at a spa?
Who dies their hair, and then names it?
Come to our luncheons
and keep your ears open and you may find out.
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Our
classmate Glenna Powell Patterson of
Russellville passed away on May 30 after diagnosis of and surgery for
esophageal cancer September 2007. She
had battled and beaten breast cancer several years ago.
Her daughter Carol was going though her mom’s papers and found
one of our newsletters. She
asked that I spread the word to any of you who have ever had GERD or acid
reflux to have your esophagus checked for Barrett’s esophagus, and
advised that if you have Barrett’s you need to be checked OFTEN for
cancer. |
Dorothy Clark Fike’s mother, Emma Gean Clark Davis of
Russellville passed away on May 31 at St. Mary’s Martha Braden Reid notified me of Gary Burris’ heart
attack as I was finishing the last issue of our newsletter.
I learned of his passing a few days later.
At that time I realized that he was a brother to Jack Burris, and
brother-in-law to Dorothy Wooten
Burris. I apologize for
not having mentioned it at the time, and our sympathies are with all of
you. |
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Birthdays
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Anniversaries Ben
& Linda Trusty 7/3 – 38 yrs John & Renetta Lindsey 7/14 – 46 yrs Pate & Melba Linker 8/4 – 48 yrs
Linda (Goodwin) & Bob Griffin 8/22 -49 yrs Barbara (Ellington) & Johnny Jones 9/1 –51yrs
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E-Mail Updates Wilma Nordin Whorton Glenda Kinslow Barton’s e-mail address no longer is valid. Please
keep us informed “May
our friendship never come apart especially when it’s straight from the
heart!” Many of you are too far away to make it to Russellville easily. If you know that you will be here and would like for us to get together, contact someone. We can try. |
Jane Linda Erma Shirley go2russellville.com Fall
Edition of our newsletter and our next luncheon will both be scheduled for
October.
Jane
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