Elkhart ’61 Blog
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         Another 1961 class member has passed away.  Daniel G. Wright ( Dan) died January 3, 2010 at home after a brief battle with cancer.

         Dan is survied by his wife, Marie: one son,  Daniel J: three daughters, Deb Goodman, Susan Barlow and Celeste Mashburn: one brother Richard, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

        He worked for Krogers at Pierre Moran Mall for more than 47 years performing all of the stores duties at one time or another.  He was also a high counselor for the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He enjoyed playing bluegrass on his guitar, fishing, writing and researching family genealogy.  He also kept an English garden at his home.

       Online condolences may be sent to Billings Funeral Home at www.billingsfuneralhome.com

       Our condolences to the family.

       An article in People Magazine , December 21, 2009 issue,  tells the story of a young woman who just celebrated her 25th anniversary with a transplanted heart .   On October 8, 1984, Dr. Phil Oyer, as a member of Dr. Shumway’s heart transplant team at Stanford Hospital, placed a heart in the chest cavity of the two year and ten month old little girl named Lizzy Craze .  Lizzy made medical history as one of the first toddlers to undergo a successful heart transplant.  She is also the longest-surviving pediatric patient.  At the time, the surgical team was hoping that it might last 5 years.   Phil stated  , "Making it to 25?"  "It’s a bit of a miracle."   Phil is pictured with  Ms. Craze  in the list of contents.

       Phil was also given "kudos"  from Danelle Steele, the prolific author, in her book, "Change of Heart" , a few years ago.   

       Phil has certainly made  the class of 1961 proud !!!!     

             The Class of 1961 has lost another member.  Lee Feddersen passed away on November 17, 2009 in his home.  Lee was the Owner and Operator of Hawkwind, Inc . in Elkhart and also had worked as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service, retiring in October 2009. 

            Lee is survied by his daughter Jennifer of Brooklyn, NY, his son Jeffrey, also of Brooklyn, a grandson, one sister, Ann of New York and a brother John of Elkhart . His wife, Mary Nichols,  passed away in October of 2002. 

           Our sincere condolences to his family.

               Brent Leroy Barkman passed away on September 21, 2009 in Cicero , Illinois.    Brent married Christine Jamka and she survives along with two sons and three grandchildren.  He is also survived by  two brothers, Tom ( Sandi) Wade, and  Daryl ( Carol) Wade, and one sister ,  Meribeth ( Don )Mulnickle.

             Funeral services were held on September 25th at the Baran Funeral Home, Chicago.

            Our condolences to the family.

             These pictures of the Roosevelt Junior High School 7th grade basketball team and football team were first printed in the Roosevelt paper, the "Blue and Gold" in June of 1956. The photos were attributed to Jim Fair.

Front row – Manager Brent Barkman, Merrill Smith, Tom Mathis, David Harvey, Bill Kincaid, Bob Silcott, Don Galloway, Coach Hank Morris. 

Second row- Owen Weldy, Bill Himbaugh, Larry Yoder , Dave Duthie, Charles Twa,   Third Row- Charles Gramm, David Pendill, Bill Holdeman, William Hilliar, Tim Barrett, Willy Newsome.   

        Front row – Dennis Mann, Merrill Smith, Owen Weldy, Steve Lichtenberger, David Pendill, Dave Duthie, Bob Woodward, Bill Petty, Dennis McCarty 

Back Row – Allen Mechling, Stanley Reilly, Otis Irving, John Coblentz, Don Galloway, Tom Mathis, Bob Silcott, Tims Hicks, David Kidder, Phil Oyer, Louis Linderman , Coach Hank Morris.                                                                                            

     William C. Lambdin passed away in Nashville, TN on June 19, 2009.  He graduated from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Business in 1968 and was employed by General Electric for 25 years.  He enjoyed golf, ham radio, food, traveling and family vacations to North Carolina.

      He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ann (Miller) Lambdin, two daughters, and one son, and his sister, Sharon Lambdin Stauffer.  Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, Nashville, TN   ( http://www.harpethhills.com )  is assisting with arrangements.

     Our condolences go out to the family.

      The EHS Class of 1961 has lost another member.  Kay Plummer James passed away August 24, 2008 at UNC Hospital.  Kay was employed by the hospital and worked in the reproductive endocrinology department.

      Kay was survived by her husband of 44 years, Daniel, 3 sons, 1 daughter, 3 grandchildren, 1 brother ( David ) and 1 sister ( Nora Webb).

     You may sign the register @ http://www.lowefuneralhome.com

    Our condolences to the family.

      These three pictures were sent in by Judy Sawyer Holdeman. She didn’t identify the students in the 3rd grade class.  Do you recognize any of them?

       Mrs. Niles 3rd Grade Class at Rice School

Mr.Bowman’s 5th  Grade Class at Rice School

Back Row: Mike Myers, Jerry Glant, Roger Denny, Dick Klingaman, Kenneth R., Randy Baker, Terry Taylor, David Miller 

Next Row: Dick Huffman, Colin Nifong, Dick Holdeman, John Gilliam, Diane Wagner,Barbara Hodge, Susan Holdeman, Jim U. 

Next Row: Jeannine Hughes, Susan Markley, Karen Schranz, Martha Headley, Betty P, Kay Krider, Billy Lilly, David S, Stephanie Truex, Duwane D. 

Front Row: Esther Sarantos, Karen Stephenson, Pam H., Ann Burkhart, Nancy Keech, Barbara Babcock, Judy Sawyer, Dave Hummel.

              Mrs. Ebersole’s 6th Grade Class at Rice School

1st Row :  Dale Hummel, Unknown, Unknown,Roger Denny, Bill Lilly, Judy Sawyer, Ann Burkhardt, Nancy Keech

2nd Row: Unknown, Unknown, Nancy Markley, John Gilliam, Terry Taylor, Stephanie Truex, David Miller, Dick Klingaman

3rd Row: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Jeannine Hughes, Karen Schranz, Kay Krider, Lee Parker, Susan Holdeman, Barbara Hodge

Back Row: Unknown, Susan Markey, Karen Stephenson, Diane Wagner, Esther Sarantos, Unknown, Dick Huffman, Unknown, Barbara Babcock, Martha Headley

        1961 Classmate  Dee Pliskin Congress passed away at home on Sanibel Island, Florida after a lengthy bout with cancer on August 5, 2008.  After high school, she attended the University of Miami .  Dee  was married to Larry Congress for 46 years.   She and Larry founded Congress Jewelers in Sanibel, Florida in 1982.  She is also survived by four children, Scot, Doug, Juli and Brad  and nine grandchildren plus two brothers, Barry Pliskin and John Pliskin

        Our condolences to her family.

          1961 classmate Dennis R. Gardner passed away on April 4, 2008 in Elkhart  where he resided. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, the former Pamela Sue Ellis, three daughters, and two sons, a sister Linda and a brother Michael.

         Denny began working for the Elkhart Truth one week after graduation as a journeyman printer and later was a night composing room foreman.  He retired after 45 years , ending his career in the prepress department.

       Our condolences to his family.  Online condolences may be made at  www.billingsfuneral-home.com