Frances Watts Barker
P.O. Box 749
Parksley, VA 23421
jbarket@intercom.net
Mary Hunter Stern moved to the upper West Side of Manhattan to be closer to
two of her three children. It may be hard to believe, but Mary says New York
is a more convenient and stimulating environment for seniors than some suburban
areas in which she previously lived. A car is not needed since everything
is within one block of her apartment. Meals are served in the cafeteria-style
dining room and various activities keep her busy. She enjoys being part of
a large extended family. Once a year, Mary visits two sisters in Boydton,
Va., which is being preserved as a historic county seat.
Elizabeth “Lib” Owen Boozer has been a widow since 1980. She has
two sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Lura Korth Gillis reported from Clearwater, Fla., that she was well and happy
following two open-heart surgeries. Her daughter, Jean, is a Mary Washington
alumna and lives close by, as do two granddaughters. Lura keeps in touch with
Margie Storms “Jerse” Reddoch, also a Floridian. Jerse and her
husband celebrated their 59th anniversary in June. Their biggest concern was
where their grandson would be assigned after graduation from West Point.
Lillian King Everett recently returned from a cruise to the Caribbean Islands.
Mary Lou Conover Miller and Bob are busy, healthy and happy. During the winter,
they experienced a climate shock traveling from their home in Palm Desert,
Calif., to Boise, Iowa, to take care of their 5-year-old grandson while his
parents vacationed in the Bahamas. Mary Lou plays bridge and golf and is in
charge of decorating her church for Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas
services. Their son, Peter, who lives in Virginia, is editor of the National
Geographic Quarterly. Another son, Bob, and his family have moved to Palm
Desert, near Mary Lou and Bob.
It has been a very difficult and stressful year for Elinor McClellan Cox DeCamp.
Her husband, John, passed away after nine months in a nursing home. In addition,
her son had successful bypass surgery for artery blockage. Elinor plans to
remain in her home in Indiana with her dog Max.
Christine Brauer Krausse and Spott enjoyed visiting with Chris’ three
sisters in Port Charlotte, Fla. Chris also organized a church bus tour to
the Golden Isles of Georgia. Other trips included a visit with daughter Carolyn
in Huntsville, Ala., and to Spott’s family reunion in Florida.
Gloria Post Goodsell sent a picture of her beautiful white Persian cat, Willie
Bonita. She and Roger highly recommend pet therapy. Gloria has a very responsible
job in her church – she is president of the United Methodist Women.
It is time-consuming but rewarding, with emphasis on missions. Gloria is well-qualified;
we remember her leadership abilities when she served as president of our senior
class and coordinator of our many reunions.
Grace Bailey Lindner and Carl are just “rocking along” with the
same activities in their church, giving tours and traveling. Carl enjoys his
status as senior member of the men and boys’ choir of All Saints Church
in Richmond. Grace is helping to write a history of Collegiate School, where
she started her teaching career and continues to volunteer in the library
one day a week. Grace recently came across a letter written by Dr. Alvey in
1945 recommending her and Virginia “Jinny” Gunn Blanton for teaching
jobs in Hawaii. Their plans were vetoed by both sets of parents.
Phyllis Plante Sugrue lives in Dover, N.H., but plans to move back to Massachusetts
to be near her children. Her husband died four years ago. Phyllis would love
to hear from her friends.
Dorothy Potts “Skip” Taylor and Wally decided not to go to Florida
last winter, and it proved to be a good decision. Skip suffered a long bout
with laryngitis and bronchitis, followed by successful carpal tunnel surgery
on her left hand. In the spring, she was scheduled for the same surgery on
her right hand. In between these nuisances, she and Wally drove to New England
to visit relatives in New Hampshire. Their exciting family news was that another
great-grandchild was due in August and an adopted grandchild would soon join
the family. Skip and Wally’s daughter, Nancy, was undergoing chemotherapy
and radiation treatment for cancer, but they are optimistic about her prognosis.
Betsy Shamburger Eggleston and Dick are as active as age permits. Their daughter
and her family live with them. During a recent visit with their son in North
Carolina, they attended a scholarship dinner at Meredith College honoring
Betsy’s mother. Mary Boynton Goodloe Hargraves and her husband visited
the Egglestons as they traveled to and from Canada and Florida.
There are six other active Mary Washington graduates in Betsy’s church:
Betty Strader Shamburger ’48 (Betsy’s sister-in-law), Trudie Lucile
Pope Midyette ’49, Nora Bryant Monroe ’47, Carlene Mitchell Bass
’54, Ida Gregory Saunders ’38 and Ann White Leonard ’45.
Another class member, Frances Stebbins Shelton, lives in Ashland,Va.
Adrienne Herbert Smith Doll ’44 is settled in a Santa Barbara, Calif.,
retirement community, which accommodates her cats. Jeanne Shade Bott lives
in a retirement community in Martinsville, Va.
Trudy Kramer Larsen lives in Dallas near her grandchildren. Her two sons live
in Houston and Richmond. Her husband died soon after their move from North
Carolina to Texas.
Janet Keefer Wurmstich also lost her husband. She moved from Virginia Beach
to New Jersey to be close to her family. Ann White Leonard has recovered from
back surgery. She is a volunteer at the regional hospital and the Ashland
Christian Emergency Services.
From San Diego, Virginia Ricker Hall sent news that nothing much had changed
since she last wrote except that as a result of being a year older, it takes
more time to do things around the house and in the yard. She retired after
21 years as a Red Cross volunteer. Virginia continues her travels around the
states; she recently enjoyed a stay on Catalina Island and was looking forward
to a train trip to Montana and a visit to the Laguna Arts Festival in California.
Virginia hears from one roommate, Wilma L. Clore, but has lost touch with
Mary Rita O’Rourke. Can anyone give an update on her?
It has been a rather quiet year for Hilda Chrisman Pendleton and Willard.
There was no cruise this year since their favorite ship is no longer in operation,
but they enjoyed short visits with family and friends in Virginia.
Elizabeth “Bets” Roberts Johnson, Anne Dawideit Dickinson and
Lois French Lockhart, with their husbands, met for lunch last May and enjoyed
a long, happy time reminiscing. Anne still works in her husband’s business
in Fredericksburg and is active in her church, politics and community volunteerism
such as Meals on Wheels. Lois moved to Bridgewater to be near her daughter
and grandchildren. Bets is active in church work and likes to garden. She
is no longer able to drive due to eye problems. Bets’ close college
friend, Yvonne Thompson Errickson ’44 passed away.
I mistakenly reported in the summer ’04 issue that Dorothy “Dot”
Arrington Trivett’s husband had passed away. I contacted Dot and apologized,
and she was very understanding. However, he did pass away on June 19, 2004.
Jack and I are thankful for our blessings every day. Our activities are much
the same as when I last wrote. There have been some health problems, but we
keep going and find pleasure in our family, church programs, friends and cat
Teddy.