University of Mary Washington - Index

University of Mary Washington - summer08 - Index

with Merle Updike Davis and husband
Bob at their pretty home high in the
Berkeley, Calif., hills overlooking
the Golden Gate Bridge and the San
Francisco Bay. “We are thankful for
the friendship we have shared for
68 years and will always have fun
together reminiscing about our Mary
Washington years.”
Anne Benner Gee has been
traveling with her bank, going on
mystery trips, and spending four days
in Branson, Mo. She has visited Omaha,
Des Moines, and Kansas City, and seen
Phantom of the Opera, the Rockettes, the
Lipizzaner Stallions and the Glen Miller
Orchestra. Congratulations to Anne
for being recognized for her 40 years of
volunteer service with the Southwest
Iowa Theater Group in Shenandoah!
Hazel Strong Morris has really
enjoyed reading TODAY and was
surprised that Mary Washington is 100
years old. (We are nearly as old!) She has
been in touch with Jean Wade. She said
that Nancy Duval Andrews has moved
to another nursing home in Richmond
but is OK. Hazel stayed in Delaware for
the winter instead of going to Myrtle
Beach or Florida. She still hears from
her cousin Polly Herd in Arizona, who
was found through our alumni news.
Hazel was a close friend of Josephine
Potts Coleman, who passed away in
January from a massive stroke.
Fran Tracy had a new experience
in January. She was asked to be a
mentor for CrossWorld, a program for
future missionaries, and thoroughly
enjoyed working with the girl assigned
to her. Fran and a friend took a trip
to the Jersey shore last year, and she
later traveled to Vermont to visit her
old stomping ground. A highlight was
visiting the cottage where she had spent
summers during her younger years.
Virginia Hawley Butler lives with
her daughter and her husband near
Blacksburg, Va. Their two children
live close by. Virginia enjoys Virginia
Tech sports, bridge, Red Hats, day
trips with Montgomery County Parks
and Recreation, and church activities.
She visits her other daughter and her
husband in Roanoke, Va. Their daughter
was married in Naples in November
and now lives in Lexington, Va. Virginia
said her sister, Helen Hawley Turner,
lost her husband, Randolph, just before
Christmas. We will be thinking of her
and her family.
Martha Scott Roger sent me this
information: Katherine “Doodie”
Tompkins Branner and Bob have
moved to a retirement home in
Richmond. Emmy Lou Kilby resides
at Sunrise of Arlington. Also, Bertha
McPhail Johnson and husband Jim are
semi-retired from their music stores
around Hattiesburg, Miss., and are
healthy enough to go to the Country
Club every day. Martha and her husband
still live in Onancock or, as she says,
“our good old Eastern Shore of Virginia.”
Both are thankful to be healthy and
active; he fishes, she gardens, and they
still take time to travel.
I just received a letter from
Carolyn Atwell ’51 that her good friend
Elizabeth M. Bowers passed away in
October 2007.
1945
Frances Watts Barker
P.O. Box 749
Parksley, VA 23421
jbarker@intercom.net
In the winter issue of TODAY, it was
interesting to see the 1943 College
Shoppe picture. Did you recognize three
of our classmates: Jinny Gunn Blanton,
Lillie Macheras Decker, and Hildy
Parks Cohen? What fond memories we
have of the C-Shoppe and the Honakers,
who were long-time managers.
We extend sympathy to Ann
White Leonard, whose husband
passed away in November 2007. Ann’s
support group includes five children,
six grandchildren, and many friends,
including Mary Washington alumnae
Betsy Shamberger Eggleston and Betty
Sharp Sellinger.
Thankfully, Marjorie Storms
“Jerse” Reddoch is in remission
following ovarian cancer and stressful
chemo treatments. The Reddochs
have seven grandchildren, four greatgrandchildren,
and one on the way. Jerse
asks for prayers. One of her grandsons,
a West Point graduate, is a medevac
helicopter pilot in Iraq, flying into
hostile territory to pick up the wounded.
A Christmas letter gave an update
on Nancy Aitcheson Taylor and
Bill, both of whom have experienced
health issues. Nancy’s surgery for a
broken hip was successful. Following
that, she had knee
replacement surgery.
Physical therapy, the
use of a scooter and
stair glide, the care
and love of family
and friends, and
determination all
contributed to her
recuperation. Now
she walks without
even a cane. Bill also
has encountered problems that put him
in the hospital for brief stays, but Bill
and Nancy are both positive thinkers.
They enjoy life and their family.
Nancy’s Mary Washington
roommate, Doris Lanham Einbinder,
lives close by and the two stay in touch.
Doris helped celebrate Bill’s 83rd
birthday at a dinner with the Taylors.
Days are busy for Doris. Her grandson,
Michael, a third-year cadet at the Naval
Academy, marched in the St. Patrick’s
Day parade in Alexandria, making
Doris proud.
Anne Dawideit Dickerson was
invited to represent the Class of 1945 on
March 14 in Dodd Auditorium at the
Centennial Founders Day Convocation,
which included greetings from Gov.
Timothy Kaine. A special component of
the ceremony was a processional led by
a representative from each class. What
an honor! Our class members were
proud for Anne to represent us.
Once again, Anne, Betts Roberts
Johnson, and Lois French Lockhart,
and their husbands met for lunch in
Orange, Va. Two Dickerson grandsons
have joined the family business in
Fredericksburg, which makes Anne and
Duval very happy and grateful. Another
great-grandson was expected to join the
family in January.
Lillian King Everette has
experienced both happy and sad
times since our last report. There were
many trips, local outings with friends,
picnics, shopping trips, parties, doctor
appointments, church functions, and
visits to the sick, and a regular schedule
of meeting friends for breakfast and
dinner. The death of her sister and
her own surgery in September were
traumatic, yet she feels blessed to be
well now.
Wedding bells rang! Betsy
Shamberger Eggleston and Gene
Smart, a church friend, were married
in November. A small service was
performed in their church, with families
and close friends attending. Following
the deaths of their spouses, Betsy and
Gene discovered common interests and
a mutual bond. They enjoy traveling,
and one of their main interests this
winter is supporting and going to
Randolph-Macon women’s basketball
games. Congratulations and best wishes
to the newlyweds.
In February, Grace Bailey Lindner
and Carl were honored guests at the
Richmond Gentry Social Club’s 50th
anniversary black-tie dinner/dance. As
a past president and charter member,
Carl gave the toast to Richmond
Betsy Shamberger Eggleston ’45
and Gene Smart were married
in November at a small service
in their church, with family
members and close friends.
Gentry and its former presidents. The
Richmond Times-Dispatch reported this
social event, complete with a picture
of Grace and Carl, the only charter
couple present. Later in the month,
the Lindners escaped the cold Virginia
weather and enjoyed a cruise on the
Caribbean.
Jean Hudson Inskeep visits her
husband, who remains in a care facility
in Front Royal. Hospital volunteer work,
an active exercise program, and time
spent with family and friends keep her
days full and her attitude upbeat. Her
daughter-in-law helped design a fourstory
float for the Rose Bowl Parade. Jean
hears from Louise Lilly Barrett, who is
well settled in her retirement home.
Dot Arrington Trivett lives alone
in her new home in Grundy, and her
son lives close by.
Our classmates have faced many
medical problems and challenges
since our last newsletter. Gloria Post
Goodsell is still positive after months
of exhausting chemo treatments
following surgery for pancreatic cancer
in October. She is grateful for the skilled
doctors and modern medical facilities,
as well as the care and love of her many
friends and family. Roger now qualifies
as nurse as well as cook and caregiver.
Chris Brauer Krausse wrote that
Spott is improving from multiple health
problems. Many doctor visits and tests
indicated leaking heart valves. At last
report, he would receive treatment,
not surgery, to correct this condition.
Chris’ sister, Elsie Brauer Lee ’46, is in
a retirement nursing home.
Elinor McClellan DeCamp
underwent successful heart bypass
surgery and reports that she feels better
than she has for years. Following the
hospital stay and time in a rehab center,
Elinor was able to return home and
resume life with her dog, Max.
Dorothy “Skip” Potts Taylor’s
hip replacement was a success and a
welcome relief from excruciating pain.
Acupuncture seems to be easing the
discomfort she suffers from an arthritic
back and knee. In spite of health issues,
she and Wally have an amazing, busy
schedule of volunteer work, community
socials, church work, gardening, and
exercise programs.
News in our family is scarce. We’re
keeping up with many appointments
on the calendar and the usual home
maintenance chores. Our greatgranddaughter
has brought much joy
to our lives, and we’re looking forward
to the arrival of her brother. The words
“MeMa” and “DaDa” are fun to hear.
Our grandson, who has been in Tokyo
working on his master’s degree, will
return to the States in August.
1946
Patricia Mathewson Spring
160 Butternut Lane
Kensington, CT 06037-1200
1947
Betty Moore Drewry Bamman
335 Briarwood Drive
Christiansburg, VA 24073
bbamman@verizon.net
My son, Harry, and his wife, Jennifer,
along with her 8-year-old grandson,
have moved from my garage apartment
to Haines City, Fla.
Ruth Meyer Butler reports that
she still communicates with Jean
McCausland, Sue Womer Almond,
and Mary Jane Lindenberger Setzer.
For the last two years, Ruth has lived
in a retirement home near her son in
Austin, Texas. She keeps busy chairing
a book club, serving on the program
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