SPIRE Summer 2019

class notes

2014 Matthew J. Clarke of Wytheville, Virginia, and President of Clarke Precision Company announced they will invest $750,000 for new machinery and to expand its manufacturing facility. It will also create twelve new jobs. 2015 Christopher J. Gummer of King George, Virginia, is the new Rehabilitation Director at Advance Integrative Medicine and has his NASM-CPT certification. Previously, Chris was a Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Rebecca L. Earls married Isaac Lester on September 1, 2018. Rebecca is employed with CASE of West Virginia. The couple resides in Bluefield, Virginia, with two sons, Kelley and Brandon. Rebecca enjoys time with her family and being her kids biggest fan on the ball field. 2016 David R. Gianesin of Turlock, California, has signed with the Sacramento Spartans for the 2019 season and is competing for the starting position as wide receiver. 2017 Whitney A. Browning of Bluefield, West Virginia, joined The Awakening as Coordinator of Public Relations and Communication for the International Pentecostal Holiness Conference World Missions. The Awakening invests in the lives of this generation through training and equipping, resource development, internships, short-term mission trips, camps, conferences, events and more. 2018 Brian J. Clemons of Covington, Virginia, accepted a position as a crime lab technician with the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. 2019 Antonio L. Dawkins of Charlotte, North Carolina, overcame many obstacles in his persistence towards obtaining a football scholarship before graduating in May 2019. Dawkins was one of the best defense passes in 2017, compiling 55 tackles, 17 passes defensed, 2 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 forward fumbles. He wants to either play football professionally or utilize his education to start a marketing firm to create exposure for small businesses. Brienna M. Sparks of Tazewell, Virginia, married R. Gage Yesbeck (‘18) on July 5, 2018. Brienna is a personal trainer at Four Seasons YMCA.

Doris Mustard Laws of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away January 14, 2019. Doris worked as a registered nurse at Bluefield Regional Medical Center for over 30 years. After retiring, she enjoyed visiting shut-ins and residents of local nursing homes, playing bridge, and traveling with her family. She was a member of the East River Mountain Garden Club. Memorial contributions may be made to Bluefield College, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605. 1944 Charles W. Pippin of Bridgeport, West Virginia, passed away on May 3, 2017. 1951 Betty Collins Addington of Barboursville, Virginia, passed away on April 25, 2019. She was a pastor’s wife, and served the Lord through missions and singing in her church. Herschel “Bud” H. Blessing of Bastian, Virginia, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2018. Bud was a veteran of the United States Army, a founding member of Bland County Medical Clinic, and an entrepreneur who sold poultry and eggs with his brother, which was known as Blessing Brothers. Virgil L. Currence, Jr. of Milford, Indiana, passed away on September 8, 2016. He was a United States Korean Air Force veteran and was formerly a professional wrestler in the 1950’s and the champion for the Southeast United States Wrestling Team, holding the title of “The Mountaineer.” Virgil retired from Mogul Rubber Corporation in Goshen, Indiana and was a self-employed photographer and a seller at Flea Markets in Shipshewana, Peddlers Village in Goshen, and Borkholder’s in Nappanee. 1952 Dr. Hubert “Puck” E. Kiser, Jr. of Martinsville, Virginia, passed away on October 26, 2018. Dr. Kiser was a captain in the United States Air Force, past president of the Rotary Club of Bluefield, West Virginia, a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution and past president of the Lunch and Fellowship (LAF) Group of Martinsville, Virginia. Professionally, he was past president of the Southern Association of Orthodontists, past president of the Virginia and West Virginia Orthodontic Associations and served as a consultant to the American Board of Orthodontists. Dr. Kiser was an adjunct clinical instructor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He published a collection of personal stories in 1998 ‘Only In Tazewell II’ to benefit the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia, where he served as chairman of the board. Dr. Kiser also served on the Tazewell Community Hospital Foundation Board. Dr. Kiser was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and received the Southern Association of Orthodontists Citizenship Award, the Oren Oliver Distinguished Service Award and was recognized as a Pioneer of the Specialty in 2009. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded “Puck” with a certificate of award in community service in 2002 in Bluefield, West Virginia. Dr. Kiser and his wife, Anne, visited all 50 states, the 7 continents of the world, traveled to Europe on numerous occassions and visited over 80 countries. 1953 William “Bill” J. McCann of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on February 20, 2017. Bill was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a combat medic for the U.S. Army and retired from Norfolk & Southern Railroad as an Industrial Engineer. Bill and his son were the founders of Precision Golf in Bluefield, Virginia. Bill enjoyed golfing and taking up tickets for Graham High School Football games.

country in the U.S. Navy during WWII and retired from the West Virginia Public Commission. He was president of the Lions Club, a 50-year member of American Legion and lifelong member of the Shriners. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, ushering Charleston minor league baseball games and Civic Center events, as well as following the Cincinnati Reds. 1939 Thomas H. Cooper, III of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on June 4, 2018. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy and participated in nine major battle campaigns in the Pacific during World War II. Thomas was later employed by McDonald Douglas Aircraft as Senior Service Representative, Product Support at NAS Corpus Christi. 1940 Geraldine “Jerry” Buckles Crute of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on June 3, 2017. She was a former co-founder and co-owner of Jermie’s Incorporated and a member of the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club and Tuckahoe Artist’s Association. Ralph “Pete” A. Petrone of Claytor Lake, Virginia, passed away on January 27, 2019. Pete worked for Norfolk & Western Railroad, served in the United States Army Air Corps, and was employed as a life insurance agent, golf course superintendent, business owner, and real estate agent. Pete was the offensive tailback or ‘Pony Back’ for the Bluefield College Rams and lead the way to 3 wins in 1938 and 4 wins in 1939. To read more about Pete’s story, please visit: http://www.bluefield.edu/article/petrone- transformed-by-bc-football/ 1942 William R. Witt, Jr. of Bowie, Maryland, passed away on May 14, 2018. Bill was a member of Bowie Elks Lodge #2309, American Legion Post 66, Fleet Reserve Club of Annapolis and Retired Officers Association and a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church. 1943 William D. Bane, Sr. of Pearisburg, Virginia, passed away on September 2, 2018. Bill served as deputy treasurer and elected treasurer in the Giles County Treasurer’s Office and was an agent of the Division of Motor Vehicles. He served as a deacon, treasurer, stewardship chair, Sunday School teacher, Finance Committee member, and pastor search committee member at Walkers Creek Baptist Church, Pearisburg Baptist Church, and Castle Rock Baptist Church. He was a director and treasurer of the Robert Sheffey Memorial Camp Meeting Association. Professionally, he was an officer of the Treasurers Association of Virginia and the Southwest Virginia Treasurers Association. He was Scoutmaster of Boy Scouts of America Troop 72 and aided five boys in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and guided eleven other boys in developing life skills. He helped organize and was the treasurer of the Poplar Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Bane was president of the White Gate Community Improvement Club when they were selected as the top club in southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee and was a charter member and officer of the White Gate Ruritan Club. He helped organize and was an officer for the Giles County Historical Society. He was treasurer of the New River Valley chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He authored several books: Memories of White Gate Community, Giles County, Virginia and Life at Cedar Grove Farm (2003); Bane-Davidson Family Memories (2002); and History of Walkers Creek Baptist Church (2010). In the course of his life, Bill visited all fifty United States and several European countries. After his father’s death, Bill took over the Cedar Grove farm (at age 20) and continued to operate it into his retirement years.

in memory

1937 Virginia Bowling Gregory of Hickory, North Carolina, passed away on September 19, 2005. 1938 Lance E. Oblinger of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on February 19, 2014. He served his

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