Spire Summer 2020

class notes

Wilton Max Rhea of Saltville, Virginia, passed away on February 19, 2020. Max was a teacher and administrator at several schools in Smyth County and Bath County, Virginia, and was a principal at Saltville Elementary School. James E. Shumate of Coal City, West Virginia, passed away on March 18, 2013. James was the former owner of Shumate Furniture of Coal City. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist denomination of the Coal City Community Church where he served as deacon and Sunday School superintendent. 1960 Robert ‘Doug’ Coon of Bluefield, Virginia, passed away on March 30, 2019. He served in the Army Reserves from 1961 to 1967. Robert’s career included tenures at Dixie Appliance Company, Norfolk and Western Railway, Poly Scientific, and retired from Pyott Boone Electronics. He was a mechanic, electrician, craftsman, and gardener. Doug was a member of the Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church and a participant with the Bluestone Choral. 1962 Denos C. Demopoulos of Bluefield, West Virginia, and originally from Leriza-Nemea, Corinth Greece passed away on August 17, 2019. He served as a lieutenant in the Greek Army and traveled across Europe with NATO as an intelligence agent. Denos emigrated to the United States and was a clinical psychologist at Bluefield Mental Health, Southern Highlands, and Mercer County Health Department. He was awarded the Americanism Medal by the John Chapman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Denos was inducted as a Paul Harris Fellow and voted Rotarian of the Year by the Bluefield Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Century Club. Dorothy Sinsheimer , of Gladstone, Missouri, passed away on January 21, 2015. She was a licensed clinical social worker with Comprehensive Mental Health. Ronald L. Wagner of Woodstock, Georgia, passed away on March 18, 2020. He was employed with The Dow Chemical Company and excelled as a National Sales Manager for Styrofoam Products. Ron had numerous hobbies including astronomy, woodworking, fly fishing, ham radios, photography, water color painting, and traveling. Thomas H. Webb of Lynchburg, Virginia, passed away on October 24, 2018. He was employed with the Campbell County School System, served on the Lynchburg City School Board, was an elder of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, and involved in many philanthropic activities. 1963 Barbara “Bobbie” Jones Vinson , of Pearisburg, Virginia, passed away on January 22, 2020. She was a pre-school and elementary school teacher and a member of the Angels Rest Baptist Fellowship in Pearisburg, Virginia. 1964 Preston L. Foster of Lowry, Virginia, passed away on May 25, 2016. He retired from B & W Technologies in 2006. Preston served on the Board of Directors of CVFCU and was a substitute teacher in Bedford County. Milford V. Rollins, Jr. of Hayes, Virginia, passed away on June 23, 2012.

Doug was also the Chairman of the Board of Tom McCord Construction Company and of Continental Stucco Products. He served as president of the little league association and the high school football booster club. Doug was a member of the Rotary Club, and was Rotarian of the Year on two different occasions for this work with Interact. He served as a deacon and was a member of the Seekers Sunday School Class. Doug and his wife, Janice, remained dedicated and loving to Bluefield College throughout the past 60 years. While generous donors to an endowed scholarship, the BC Fund, and many other initiatives, they were instrumental in several capital projects, including Harman Chapel and the recent expansion of the Science Center. Because of their generous support in two major improvement projects associated with Harman Chapel, you will find a plaque in the foyer acknowledging Bluefield College’s gratitude for their generosity. Additionally, Doug served as a faithful leader on the board of trustees and held the rank of Emeritus Trustee. “I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Smoke Rise Baptist Church, 5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 or to Bluefield College, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, Virginia 24605. Please add “Hawks Scholarship” in the memo field of the check. Paul E. Weikle, Sr. of Cocoa, Florida, passed away on January 12, 2018. Paul served in the United States Air Force. He was employed with The RCA Corporation, GE/RCA and retired from Computer Sciences Raytheon as a Systems Analyst. He coached Cocoa High School football, baseball and basketball, Cocoa Little League and Cocoa Youth Football. 1958 Teddy F. D. Farrar of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, passed away on September 3, 2017. He had worked with The American Counseling Association of Arlington, Virginia. Phyllis G. Gibson of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on June 1, 2018. She had taught piano lessons for the past 60 years and was the pianist at Pine Grove Church of Christ. Joseph E. Moricle of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on July 1, 2017. He was a detective with the Bluefield Police Department and security guard at Flat Top Bank and First Community Bank.

Sales at Rish Equipment, and partner and founder of Global Equipment in London, Kentucky. He was an elder, deacon, and Property Manager for the Administration Committee at First Presbyterian Church, in Bluefield, West Virginia.

Glen T. Shrader, Jr. of West Chester, Ohio, passed away on August 23, 2017.

Freda Belle Simpkins of Rocky Gap, Virginia, passed away on October 7, 2017. She was a supervisor at Celanese. Freda enjoyed softball, bowling, archery, and fishing. 1955 Richard B. Calvert of Deland, Florida, passed away on February 6, 2020. Richard served the people of Miami Dade County, Florida for 36 years as a police officer. David W. Dunn of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away on March 3, 2020. He served in the United States Army. David was the Territory Manager selling farm equipment for AGCO Corporation and served as an elder, deacon, and trustee at Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church. Dr. James H. Heaster of Tate, Georgia, passed away on September 15, 2017. Jim was a Navy Captain and Physician in the United States Navy. He spent most of his military/medical career in the South Carolina Low Country. After retirement, Jim was a lifeguard at Dataw Island, South Carolina, where he taught children water safety and instruction. Charles R. Schellenger of South Point, Ohio, passed away on September 19, 2010. He was a World War II Navy veteran and a retired trainmaster from Norfolk and Western Railroad. 1956 Shirley Moon Brooks of Tappahannock, Virginia, passed away on May 23, 2015. She was a realtor and former member of Tappahannock Essex Chamber of Commerce. Alton G. Hancock of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on January 25, 2017. Alton was a retired lawyer. Leonard C. “Pooch” Yost, Sr. , of Pulaski, Virginia, passed away on November 24, 2019. Pooch was a veteran of the United States Army and National Guard. He was a retired physical education teacher in the Bluefield public school system, a member of First Christian Church (DOC) in Pulaski, the Dublin Lions Club, and the Dublin American Legion Post #58. 1957 Douglas B. Hawks, Sr. of Monroe, Georgia, passed away on June 21, 2020. During his youth, Doug developed a love for basketball and played at Bluefield College, Virginia. While at Bluefield, Doug’s hometown of Pound was devastated by a flood and his family lost everything. Doug returned to college and told the president that he was dropping out. Soon after, Doug was told that the remainder of his college had been paid for by an anonymous donor. Doug decided that he would do everything in his power to someday pay it forward in life and business. After graduation, he joined the Tom McCord Construction Company of Decatur, Georgia, as an assistant to the president and later became the company’s president. Stuart R. Grim of Barboursville, Virginia, passed away on January 5, 2015.

Ronald L. Stacy of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away on October 11, 2019.

James W. Turner of Martinsville, Virginia, passed away on January 19, 2019. He had retired from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours.

Stanley R. Woodyard of Melbourne, Florida, passed away on February 2, 2018.

Roy N. Young of Saint Petersburg, Florida, passed away on October 25, 2018. He and his wife, Mary Lou, had resided in Saudi Arabia for a brief time. Roy retired from the University of Tampa. He was a member of the Boca Ciega Yacht Club and enjoyed dancing. 1959 Eleanor H. Barnett of Bluefield, West Virginia, passed away on March 5, 2013.

Robert L. Parks of Huntersville, North Carolina, passed away on April 14, 2017.

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