I spent Saturday morning with some of my former female classmates, thanks to whoever put the event together.
Thirteen of us gathered at the Double M Diner in Greenville to get reacquainted and catch up on each others’ lives.
I am always up to this kind of event and am glad I accepted the invitation. It was great to see everyone.
It wasn’t easy for me to hear every conversation, but that is fine. It was just good seeing each other, which brought back memories.
Those who attended? Susan Walls Harbison, Jeanie Whittaker Unger, Leanna House Whittington, Cheryl Snyder Clouse, Judy Striegel Brandenburg, Carol Bowman Cox, Barb Baker Teaford, Karen Miller Mote, Gloria Carter Ault, Janie Pepple Hammelrath, Tammy Sholley Arnett, Patty Jennings and myself.
Especially enjoyable was the laughter that was shared throughout the event.
Judy Brandenburg surprised us all with a cake she had brought to this special anniversary year, which I won’t divulge.
Thanks, girls, for making this experience a great one. Most of those who came are from the Darke County area, with one from Miami County and Janie Hammelrath all the way from Florida.
Among the discussions that took place was the announcement of the recent death of classmate Mike Shade, who passed away on Oct. 22. He was a Vietnam veteran and retired educator, having lived in South Carolina.
If my numbers are correct, he is the 25th out of our class that we have lost.
In addition to Mike, the others were Jerome Rosenbeck, Gerald Subler, Nick Cox, Ron Thompson, Pat Nunley, Jim Hunt, Dan Brewer, Jim Lewis, Deb Hunt, Linda Doyle Duncan, Jay Morrow, Terry Hall, Luis Macias, Anita Whittington Gibson, Gary Gibson, Keith Cottrell, Steve Shaw, Gail McKnight, Mitch Wiley and Edwina Lambert, Gayle Schlechty Koontz, Charlie Broering, Doyle Woodman and Albert Duncan.
Even though some of our classmates ventured to other cities and states after graduation, they are missed in more ways than one.
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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Mike Shade, George Young, Kathryn Bowers, Pamela Kay Sharp, Bob Holt, and LaDonna Markland.
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Please pray for these people: Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Sonny Custer, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Michelle Coppess Hiestand, Mike Mayse, Greg Moody, Kelly Jo Eikenberry (kidney transplant) and son Allen (donor), Larry Linder, Steve Waymire, Allison “Ally” Miller, Grace Boyd, Jeff Brocious, Jamie Knick, Jenny Pitman, Nikole Baldridge, Chester Bryant, Melinda (Batten) Stacy, Michelle Young, Margaret Hoening, Manual Macias, Kathy McNutt Dapore, Lester Beisner, Delores Beisner, Kermit Foureman, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Mark Lovejoy.
Also, Connie Buemi Hodson, Michelle Grottle Wright, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Doug Winger, Rusty Maloy, Debbie Mayse, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Jeanie Francis, Harvey Hinshaw, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Gary Francis, Anthony and Theresa Grillot, Lee Everhart, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, D’Arleen Waymire, Zach Urbancic, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Michael Mowery, Kenny Edwards, Judie Hathaway, Ned and Brenda Wallace, Rick Marker, Randy Garrison, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Danny Foster, Becky Everhart, Becky Oliver, Steve Neff, James Enicks, Cathy Collins Peters, Donna Bixler, Linda Subler, Sally Burnett Ganger, Gloria Hodge, Jeff Baltes, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy birthday:
Oct. 31 to Gary Knick, Carol Hemmerich, twins Sharon Wright and Karen Shellhaas, Christina Hahn Riffell, Gary Knick and Wayne Farmer.
Nov. 1 to Cindy Brown-Moody, Janet Leis, Bud House, Jeff Rayborn, Jim Magoto, Kelly Brown, Roy Turner, Dalton Subler, Julia Frye, Jean Buxton and Jim Henby.
Nov. 2 to Don Yagle, Andrew Johnson, Cortnie Kremer, Lynn Newbauer, Tonya Boatright, Tom Graber, Nicole Keaser, Amy Barga Maher and Laura Durham.
Nov. 3 to Tom Stevenson, Ryan Riffell, Hillary Moody, Shelly Nieport, Nicole Keaser, Marla Fourman, Vicky Pfledderer and Austin Ignaffo.
Nov. 4 to Scott Rowland, Roger Oliver, Frank Lenker, Shirma Pence, Vickie Martin, Rachel Jenkins, Connie Beach-Mills and Josie Deaton,
Nov. 5 to Mike Koverman, Corey Bickel, Mike McClurg, Linda Stoltz, Autumn Everman, and Jennifer Bedwell.
Nov. 6 to Melissa Riffell Mansfield, Nathan Gray, Maxine DeMange, Chris Muhlenkamp, Darla Batten Printz, Roy Dohme, Colin Moody, Jeff Amick, Jake DeMange, Gabe Howell, Isabel Capowski, Billie Zelsnack, Christopher Hill, Mandy Martin, Sharon Jones and Mary Saintignon.
Happy anniversary to Tim and Donna Wagner on Oct. 31, Rodney and Erica (Buckingham) Hiestand on Nov. 1, and Dennis and Paula Moody on Nov. 5.
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