Spire Summer 2020

class notes

Fred L. Troy of Los Alamitos, California, passed away on January 15, 2020. He was a B-17 bomber pilot in the Army Air Corps and flew 35 missions over Germany and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. He was employed with General Electric, Motorola, Fairchild Semiconductor, Inc., and sold real estate for DeBenedictis Realty and Century 21. Fred’s WWII memoir, ‘Flak Storm’, is available at https://www.amazon.com/FLAK-STORM-Soldiers- Journey-Decorated-ebook/dp/B00RI9R5QI/ref=sr_1_1? keywords=flak+storm&qid=1584566603&sr=8-1 1943 Franklin C. Johnson, III of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away on March 8, 2014. 1944 Dorothy Granger Bryant of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on April 30, 2019. She was employed with the IRS during WWII and retired from Bluefield News Agency. Dorothy was a volunteer at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. 1945 Arlene Goosby DeNardo of Annandale, Virginia, passed away on February 1, 2019. She was the pianist/organist for 56 years at First Baptist Church/ United Baptist Church and a member of the Wilburdale Civic Association. Marilyn B. Mustard Tinder of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on July 21, 2019. She attended Marilyn Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham, North Carolina. Marilyn was an employee of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and for Maggie Bennett, a boutique in Bluefield. She was a member of the East River Mountain Garden Club and served as a board member for the Bluefield Area Arts and Crafts Center. 1947 Donald S. Adkins of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on April 2, 2012. He served in the United States Army and was a former employee of the State of West Virginia, with responsibilities for immunizations within the state. Roy E. Caldwell of Sevierville, Tennessee, passed away on April 25, 2017. He served in the United States Army and was a member of the American Legion Post#104. with General Electric in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Georgia, and Kentucky. Conrad pastored churches in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, and was the interim minister at six churches in Tennessee. Conrad was a member of the Kiwanis Club and supported the International Storytelling Center of Jonesborough. Pollyanna Yost Lucas of Lebanon, Tennessee, and spouse of the late Thomas F. Lucas (‘45) passed away on March 03, 2019. Polly was a teacher and guidance counselor in Tazewell County Schools. Patrick A. Romano, Sr. of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on July 4, 2012. Pat served in the United States Army, was a member of the Army band and received a Purple Heart. He was an industrial sales representative for Texaco. Pat was member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1404, Elks Lodge, and Sons of Italy. Pat sang in the choir at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Dr. Conrad G. Crow of Jonesborough, Tennessee, passed away on August 21, 2018. He was employed

passed away on August 20, 2019. She was a charter member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church and a member of the Women’s Club of McLean, Virginia. She volunteered at INOVA Fairfax Hospital and its Treasure Trove Shop. Lance E. Oblinger of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on February 19, 2014. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII and retired from the West Virginia Public Commission. 1939 Marjorie Norman Bailey of Narrows, Virginia, passed away on January 15, 2020. Margie volunteered for Sunday School, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Lion’s Club Eye Exams, Junior Woman’s Club, and Red Hat Society. As a long-time member of Giles Country Club, she recorded a hole-in-one (much to the chagrin of her husband). 1940 Ruth Ownbey Gibbs of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on February 13, 2018. Ruth served on the Youth Planning Board, the American Red Cross and Red Cross Youth Council, Multiple Sclerosis Board, the Sub Juniors of NC Federation of Women’s Club, judge for Youth of the Month program in Greensboro; and adviser to Who’s Who for Greensboro High Schools. Ruth was one of the five founding members and served as president for the O’ Henry Woman’s Club, and was appointed by Governor Bob Scott to the NC State Youth Advisory Board and to the White House Conference on Children and Youth. She served as Sunday School class president, Circle leader, and WMU president at First Baptist Church and was co-chairman of the Baptist Women’s WMU State Convention. Ruth was also a member of the Greensboro Lecture League, Greensboro Symphony Guild, Ingleside Garden Club, Potpourri Club, “Still” Magnolias, YBM, Starmount Forrest Country Club, and Tar Heel Seniors Golf Association. Louis Lazerow of Deerfield, Illinois, passed away on September 22, 2018. 1941 Harold R. Bausch of Amityville, New York, passed away on December 18, 2011. 1942 Doris L. Watkins Fant of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away on June 19, 2019. Doris retired from Miller & Rhoads and was a member of the Elks Auxiliary of BPOE #197. Anita Smith Garrett of Woodbridge, Virginia, passed away on September 26, 2019. She was a substitute math teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools and a private tutor. Anita taught Sunday School and Bible classes, created Faberge style eggs, and was skilled in various forms of needlework. Charles G. Gunn, Jr. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, passed away on September 28, 2018. Charlie trained as a doctor in the United States Navy V-12 program and served on a ship, the USS Bayfield. He remained in the Naval Reserves for decades. Charlie was employed at Ford Motor Company and was the medical director at Hanes Hosiery Company, which later evolved into part of Sara Lee Corporation. He won national recognition for developing a program of preventive care, employee education, and regular examinations. Charlie had many hobbies, such as a 1965 Prairie Bronze convertible, paintings, woodworking, and in writing music and lyrics. He was a volunteer at Contact Helpline of the Triad, the Community Care Center, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Hartman Kearns of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, passed away on May 8, 2017. She was a homemaker. Kathryn Kearns Kirkwood of Odenton, Maryland, passed away on April 29, 2018.

Aid Advisor. They welcomed their newborn daughter, Aella Louise, on October 16, 2019, weighing 8 lbs. and 20 ½ inches long. 2016 Amanda Overby DeVor of Princeton, West Virginia, was accepted into the Chemistry PhD program at West Virginia University in August 2019. Brian W. Vaught of Rural Retreat, Virginia, was selected to serve as the Chairman of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors in January 2020. Brian looks forward to being a voice for the people of Blacklick District and Wythe County. William T. Workman and his wife, Katelyn, of Bluefield, West Virginia, welcomed their newborn son, Sawyer James, on May 20, 2020, weighing 6 pounds 4 ounces and 21.5 inches long. Sonya is happy to have a baby brother. 2017 Kristen Murphy Parker and her husband, Tracey Parker, Jr., (‘18) of Dryden, Virginia, welcomed their newborn daughter, Torryn Elizabeth James, on May 1, 2020, weighing 7.2 lbs. and 21 inches long. 2020 Sarah N. Minnix of Bluefield, Virginia, married Cory Vaughan on March 21, 2020 at the home of her grandparents. 1928 Guy W. Gilbert of Glen Allen, Virginia, passed away on March 31, 1998. 1933 Evelyn Wells Arenz of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away on October 24, 2015. She served with the American Red Cross in Europe during World War II. After retiring from the California School System, Evelyn was a world traveler and an accomplished artist. 1934 George Russell Garrett of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on September 3, 2019. He served in the United States Navy aboard the LST 878 in the Pacific. Russell was a comptroller and accountant at Pocahontas Fuel Company (Consol). He was the treasurer of both First United Methodist Churches in Pocahontas, Virginia and Bluefield, Virginia. Russell was an avid gardener and shared his homegrown tomatoes with friends and neighbors. 1936 Fannie Miller Cole of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on August 19, 2017. Robert R. Stuart, Jr. of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on February 13, 2012. Bob was a captain and carrier pilot in the United States Naval Academy. He was the president of Betsy Ross Bakeries. Bob served on the board at the Bluefield Flat Top National Bank and Fincastle Country Club. He was a deacon and choir member at First Presbyterian Church. 1937 William A. Crotty of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away on August 16, 2002. 1938 Roger M. Aker of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on May 7, 2016. He was a manager at Spear Sterling, and enjoyed plumbing and carpentry. Louise Rae Keith Gloeckler of Fairfax, Virginia, in memory

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