Elkhart ’61 Blog
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                                      Northside 8th Grade Choir with Mrs. Corns

Row 1 – Denny Zollinger, Queleen Mayhousen, Mike Bibler, Unknown, Judy Booker, Dave Steede, Sue Booker, Eilly Estes

Row 2 – Jeff Van Horn, Gloria Smith, Tom Linder, Karen Johnson, Bruce Mechler, Steph Wright, Denny Speas, Jerry Grimes

Row 3 – Devon Garberick, Phylis Pauley, Gary Bevier, Barb Cunningham, Tom Miller,  Unknown, Teacher Drusilla Mallery

Row 4 – John Peckham, Toni Van patten, Bob Walton, Larry Ort

The above pictures were contributed by Stephanie Wright Wenzel with additional information from John Peckham

Hawthorne Brownies - 1951

                                           Mrs. McCall’s 5th Grade Class at Hawthorne

                        The above pictures were contributed by Carolee Renn Searles

EHS Class of 1961 graduate William Lewis Holdeman passed away on March 20, 2011.  Bill married Judith Sawyer , another EHS class of 1961 graduate in 1962.  She survives along with a son, Brian K ( Sherry)  of Douglasville, a daughter, Christina Linn Head ( Dale ) of Rydal , six grandchildren and a sister, Linda ( Tim ) McCavitt  of Indiana.

Bill and Judy reside in Hiram, Georgia where he was employed for over 30 years at Al’s Supply.  He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and also Alta ( Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association ). Clark Funeral Home in Hiram is in charge of arrangements.

Our sincere condolences to the family.

   The following picture and comments were sent by Diane Maas Ficarelli.

         I’ve never forgotten my EHS classmates so it is a joy to discover this blog & see some news about you ( and discover with sadness that some have already passed away ) .  I’ve been living in France ( near Paris ) since 1970, worked in a French industrial company as a translator and bilingual secretary, am now retired, married to a Frenchman, no children. Both of us are busy with volunteer activities ( for me: singing in the choir at the American Church in Paris, working on a guide book for English speaking expatriates in France, promoting sail training on Tall ships).  We love to travel.  I still have family in the US ( Chicago area and Northern Michigan ), but no more relatives in Elkhart where we have been several times in the past but never the right year to attend a class reunion – not sure we’ll make it this year, but we’re sure tempted to come for the 50th.  Here is a recent photo of Patrice and me – hope to see pictures of you on this blog also !

Dear Classmate,

Can you believe that  it has been nearly fifty years since our graduation from Elkhart High School?

Some of you have visited the blog before, but, for many of you, this is your first visit.  After the last class reunion, we decided to develop a class blog to help keep everyone informed of class news.  This was made possible due to the technical expertise and hosting services of Sandy (Weir) Teller and hours of work by Ellen ( Chrispyn) Turnock.  Ellen has served as our blogmaster and keeps updating the blog when ever she receives new information

We would ask that all classmates enter their e-mail address in the “Subscribe” box in the upper left hand corner.  By doing so, you will automatically be informed whenever there is an update to the blog.  This will be done by your receiving a notice titled “Elkhart”61″ Blog” in your e-mail inbox.  This will save you from visiting the blog when there have been no updates.  For those of you with spam blockers, please enter the blog address in your contact directory so that any future correspondence will not be blocked.

There is a section marked “class directory” where we keep the information we have regarding addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for class members.  You will note there are some classmates for whom we have no information.  We would ask that should you have information on any of these people, please forward this to the blog master.  Likewise, should you ever have any changes in your personal information, please send the new information to us.  There is also a listing of “deceased” classmates whom we can confirm or who have been reported to have passed away.

With our 50th reunion forthcoming, we would ask that any of you who have “old ” pictures of elementary school or junior high school classes/activities to send those to us for future inclusion on the blog.  You may either send the original pictures or you may scan the pictures and send an electronic copy.  Please include what school, grade, activity, etc. and names for those in the pictures where known.

The blogmaster may be reached at her e-mail address buzzandellen@comcast.net or if you wish to send information via the postal service, her address is

Ellen Turnock, 2206 Cambridge Drive, Goshen, In 46528

We hope many of you will be able to join us for the reunion scheduled for August 19th and 20th. The City of Elkhart is spending close to $15 million to completely renovate the old Elco Theatre.  When complete in May, the facility will revert to its original name of the Lerner Theatre.  Part of this renovation includes the creation of a conference center attached to the theatre.  We have rented this facility to host our banquet on Saturday evening, August 20th.

We hope you enjoy the blog and will take advantage of this medium to keep classmates informed of any new and exciting developments in your life.  During the next six months, we have plans to communicate several special things plus reunion plans electronicaly as much as possible.

THE REUNION COMMITTEE

Chuck Bower furnished this photo of the Samuel Strong Softball Team of 1954-1955.

1st Row – John Huster, Bill Ray, Don Asher, Bill Edwards, Dave Jarrell, Jim English, Tim Donavon, Denny Culp

2nd Row- Jim Boussom, Bill Zipser, Robin Podawiltz, Chuck Bower, Jim Jarrell, Willie Meyers, Sid Ulis

Back – Coach and 6th grade teacher Jerry Freed.

1st Row: Jack Turnock, John Paston, unknown, Steve Davis, Wayne Hostetler, unknown, Dan Wagner, Dick Dehayes, unknown

2nd Row: Jerry Bremer, Phil Nusbaum, Frank Walker,Mike Lehman, Ricky Aherns, unknown, unknown, Bill Hollar, Merrill Smith, Cornelius Miller

3rd Row: unknown, unknown, unknown, Harold Leer, Ron Tharp, Ron Null, Charles Mapes, Bill Landoc, Bob Silcott, unknown, Tim Hicks

4th Row: unknown, Dave Duthie, Bill Kinkaide, Bob Woodward, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, John Cleveland, John Coblentz,Richard Moyer

The principal is Mr. Larimer

The above photo was furnished by Heidi Teusher Paston