Spring 2008
Our own Lynx Carolyn Ward Edwards lost her
husband in December and is having to stop writing
your 1953 news article. Thank you, Carolyn, for all
your dedicated time and energy for all these years.
You will be missed by your Editor and I am sure
greatly missed by all of your 1953 classmates! Winter 2007-08 Hello Class of 53: Based on my most recent information, plans for the Lincoln High 100th Birthday
Celebration are progressing nicely. We all appreciate the efforts of Bill Koons, Darrell Bangerter, Gail
Herzog, and Sharon Reams and others for their efforts in providing the Class of 1953 memory board
for display at the open house September 8. Guests
were welcomed, refreshments served, the Abraham
Lincoln statue rededicated and memory boards from
the various classes were on display. The celebration
continues until August 2008. Fall 2007 Hi Classmates: The first full day of summer in the Arkansas Ozarks has come and gone with high temps of 90 degrees. We notice in Seattle the high temps are about 70 degrees. You people in the Northwest appreciate and enjoy! I heard from several people, some from other classes, that the All Class Luncheon was an outstanding event. Over 487 in attendance! Our class was responsible for the event this year. Many thanks and congratulations to Bill Koons and his committee for an excellent job! Don Olson was a fantastic Master of Ceremonies! Darrell Bangerter took lots of photos and will report on this when his 'dead' PC is resurrected.
Greetings everybody, from Loretta Ransom
Hucks! Carolyn Ward Edwards has had to resign
as class representative for personal reasons. Our
many heartfelt thanks to her for the time she's put in
doing this job for so many years. Most of you have
most likely received information about the 55-year
reunion by now. If not, it will be July 25 at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood. There is more detailed
information on our official website - www.lincolnhighseattle1953.org.
You can also contact Bill Koons at snookykoon@comcast.net who
is now the chairman. Gall Thomas Herzog has had
to take a leave of absence. She recently underwent
very serious colon surgery, but is looking forward to
dancing again, very soon, and seeing everyone in
July.
We've had several deaths this
past year, but we wish to particularly acknowledge John Heilbrunn.
Gail Thomas Herzog wrote the
following obituary about John: The
class of '53 is indebted to John for
the role he played in getting our
class reunions underway 30 years
ago. When Gail Thomas Herzog
decided to organize the reunion
committee it was November, 1977.
She called the school to see if anyone else was interested and got John's name. She
called John and said, "This is going to be a push to
get it done for June, 1978 - with Christmas coming."
He said, "Not to worry. I'm Jewish!" John had an
insurance office in Bellevue and offered the office for
the administrative details. The process began: stuffing envelopes, licking stamps and envelopes and
seeking contributions to cover costs. It was an amazing operation - most of which he organized. Friendships were established between classmates, who
barely knew each other at Lincoln, and are still going
strong. Aging is a great common denominator. We
have all gone through similar life experiences.
Everyone worked together and a great 25-year
reunion was the result. Thank you, John, from all of
the class of 1953 for your work. You'll be missed. John
Heilbrunn, of Camano Island, died Dec. 11, 2007 in
Everett. He was born in Hamburg, Germany July 18, 1935 to Ernest and Margot Heilbrunn. John was a
member of the Holiday Rambler RV club, an insurance agent for 42 years in the Bellevue area. He
leaves his wife, Barbara of 53 years, his two sons,
John, Jr. of Plant City, FL, and David of Maple
Valley, his three daughters, Lee Anne Thibodeaux of
Bothell, Kathy Fernandez-Sierra of Camano Island,
Sharon Steiner of Des Moines, IA.
Recently, George Eastman submitted a CD of our
Lincoln Chanters recorded on December 21, 1952.
The Chanters were featured on a program called
"Voices of the Northwest," presented on KOMO. Part-way through the half hour program, the announcer talks about Lincoln High School, the Chanters, and
Carl Pitzer. You can find a link to the program on the
"Our Music" page at our web site. Darrell
Bangerter, Webmaster, received several responses
to the above item: From Alda Rice Reynolds: It was
neat to be transported "back in time" by listening to
the link you provided. I continue to marvel (enviously)
at your skills with the computer. Perhaps someday,
when I'm not so involved with other projects, I'd like
to attempt a website for our ladies barbershop quartet, "Four On A Match". We're still very busy performing. While I'm "snow birding" it here in Melbourne,
they practice back in Maine. We had our 3rd annual
Florida retreat just last week, though.
My singing buddies escaped the wintry blast back
home and enjoyed some real warm weather here in
the Sunshine State. We even viewed the most recent lift-off from Cape Canaveral, right in our back
yard. It was thrilling!
Judy Turner writes: Thank you for putting that on
- I absolutely loved it! That Mr. Pitzer was a genius
to get such music out of a bunch of kids. I was in
Chanters 3 or 4 years. Did you hear me on there? I
was the alto - 3rd from the left. Actually, it was one of
the highlights of my high school years - loved singing as part of a group!
Lois Peterson Eastman had this to say: I really
enjoyed listening to the Chanters concert. I can remember that day. Kay Peck Bartlett and I were skiing all day and just barely made it back to the studio
on time for our concert. But we did. Ski clothes and
all.
Marjorie Yeadon Kapoi replied: I was a Chanter
in 10th, 11th and half of 12th grades and remember
fondly this program and also a program that we presented from the balcony of the Civic Auditorium while
the All-City Choir sang from the stage. We were told
by the people in attendance that the Chanters singing from the balcony could be heard better than the All-City Choir singing from the stage.
The recent T-Day celebration, part of the 100-year
birthday of Lincoln High School, was attended by a
few '52 and '53 graduates: Ron Williamson; Claudia
Benedict Wagner and her husband, Joe; Ed
Fruehling and Jim Stoa; Mavis Dodge Amundson
and her husband. Mavis reports that Jo Case
Dawson, the special guest of honor, told the crowd
how T-Day got started. She was a junior at Lincoln in
1944 when she was elected Girls Club President. Not
long after, officers from various Girls Clubs throughout the city high schools gathered at Beaver Lake to
talk about plans for their schools. "I want to start a
special day at Lincoln because we don't have one,"
Jo told the Beaver Lake group, and T-Day was born.
The following year, Lincoln celebrated its first Tradition Day on February 12, the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln.
The 2008 event featured a lineup of former Mr. and
Mrs. Lincolns. Photos in the hall included our very
own Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln - Don Brown & Marilyn Spurr
Rall. We all thought that they were the best ever!
(See the centerfold for pictures.)
Fred Wright will teach a course on group therapy
at Adelphi University on Long Island this spring. He'll
also present on the same topic at The American
Group Psychotherapy Association national conference at the end of February. Finally, he has a two-year-old grandchild (his first) and now knows the
meaning of life - after a long search.
Gayle Brozovich Warrington who owned the Elegant Clutter in Danville, CA, for many years -
finally retired from that very successful business and
decided to take up a "little hobby." Antiquing! Now
she and two partners are busy again - displaying and
selling at an Antique Mall in Petaluma.
Don Olson is recovering from esophageal cancer
surgery. He's gone from a 36 to a 32 waist! Kind of a
tough way to do it. Bill Koons says he's in good
spirits.
Bill & Ann Koons went to Palm Springs to visit
Joe Johnston and play golf. Don Helland and Jim
Berg are in Arizona playing golf, also.
Loretta Ransom Hucks & her husband, Randy,
spent March in Puerto Vallarta- soaking up sun, surf,
sound of waves crashing on the rocks, a few
Margaritas, lots of Mexican beer!
Please send me information about what and how
you're doing - things I might be able to use in the
next issue of Totem II. If not to me - then to Bill
Koons whose e-mail address is earlier in this column. Mine is lor.randy@verizon.net.
Don't forget to check in at our website occasionally - catch up on what's going on, leave a note
in the guestbook. Many, many thanks to Darrell
Bangerter for doing this - he's amazing, isn't he?
Until next time - all the best to everyone. Loretta
Shirley Tarbox Taylor of Allyn,
WA was born in Rochester, NY on
June 2, 1935 and passed away
while in Surprise, Arizona on November 13, 2007. Shirley was a
song leader while at Lincoln. She was
married to PGA Golf Professional,
Ernie S.Taylor. Shirley served as
Food and Beverage Director for
numerous Golf and Country Clubs
in the Puget Sound region. She was also a very successful real estate agent and family accountant. Shirley's passion for life and love for Jesus served as a road map for her children to follow. Shirley had a
profound love for her dogs, cats, and horses. She was
a wonderful teacher, nursemaid, confidant and friend.
Shirley's adventurous nature led to the purchase of a
motor coach for travel and to have fun. Shirley loved
going new places and especially enjoyed her trip to
Mexico and fly-fishing Montana's Bitterroot River and
Rock Creek. She adored the RV life and the opportunity to meet new friends along the way. Ernie and
Shirley bought a home in Surprise, Arizona and she enjoyed spending the winters there. Preceded in death
by her father, Kenneth Tarbox, mother Jody Tarbox,
first husband William Wonders and son Dale Wonders of Belfair,Washington. She is survived by her husband
Ernie Taylor; daughters Vicki Napoleone of Bulleen,
Australia, Lori Voller of Eatonville, WA, Laura Gainor
of Spokane, WA, son Ernie Taylor Jr. of Bellevue, WA
daughter Michele Werdall of Allyn, WA.
Martha Gebert Houk writes: I always thought that
the world was so big, but I am finding as I get older it
is really small. I grew up across from Lincoln in the
little grocery store on 43rd & Interlake. Down the
street towards 42nd lived Fran Barden, (O'Dea '53)
He had an older sister named Peg Barden. Then
middle block was Don Snyder and a fellow named
Frank Lowry '43. Back in the mid 70's when I was working
for University Savings Bank (Ins Sub.) we hired a
lady named Peg Lowry. During a conversation one
day we were talking about Lincoln and she said she
lived down the street from Lincoln.
I asked where and she said 42nd & Interlake.I
asked her maiden name and she said Barden. I nearly
fell off my chair. So after a few years later I got to see
Fran again. Then at my sister-in-law's funeral,
Darlene Houk Spivey '57, I was talking to an old
family friend Ron Dunn (brother Ken Dunn, '51 was
a friend of my husband Delmis '51), about moving.
Ron & his wife Joyce Oster Dunn '55 asked me
where I was moving to. I said Gleneagle in Arlington.
He said that is where he and Joyce live on the 8th
hole. Another shock! At the Lincoln luncheon in June
2007 at the Lake City Elks I ran into Frank and Peg
again. Frank said, "where did you say you moved
to"? I said Gleneagle. He looked at me and said I
think that is where Fran moved to. Fran had lived in
Portland for years. Sure enough when I got home from
the luncheon I called Fran. Come to find out he not
only lives in Gleneagle, but just down my same street
about a block and a half. So you see the world really
isn't that big.
Robert (Bob) Harrop died in
Tampa, FL on 3/17/04 due to liver
disease. He is survived by his wife,
Edie, and two children. He graduated from U of W in accounting and
joined the U.S. Air force and had a
22-year career retiring with the
rank of Major and a navigator on
reconnaissance planes flying out
of Omaha, NE, Strategic Air Command Headquarters. After retirement at 47 he and his family moved
to a warmer climate, namely the
Tampa area. He then went back to school and received a nursing degree and worked at nursing many
years. He also had a Masters degree in counseling.
Jeanette C. Bronk Snowden
passed away 1/6/05. She attended
Haller Lake, Jane Addams, and
then Lincoln as reported by her
best friend Helen Argus.
Robert R. Shefchik passed
away March 17, 2007.
Dorothy Janice Brown
Nicklaus died February 25, 2008
in Federal Way, WA. She was born
December 29, 1934 in Hickory
Plains, AR to Alice L. (Cloclasure)
and James T. Brown. She moved
with her family to Seattle in 1946 and graduated in
1953. Dorothy married Vernon D. Nicklaus on October 26,1956, resided in Federal Way until 1976, then
moved to the home they built in Edgewood until Vern
passed away in 2003, after 46 years of marriage.
Dorothy worked for the Federal Way School District
as an educational assistant for nearly 25 years. She
truly enjoyed working with children and was happiest
with her grandchildren. Dorothy and Vern enjoyed traveling, fishing and just putzing around on the "farm".
She is survived by her children: Kim Daniels of Federal Way, Kaylene Dent of Waynesville, MO and Kelly
of Puyallup.
John W. "Wes" Coppage, 73, of Henderson,
passed away Feb. 6, 2008. He was born July 13, 1934,
in Seattle, and had resided in Nevada for 39 years.
Wes was employed by the City of Henderson for 25
years. He served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy
Reserves. Wes was married to his loving wife, Joan,
in Vancouver, Canada, in 1961. He was past president of the Las Vegas Good Sam RV Club. Besides
RVing, he loved working in his garage, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.
Wes is survived by his wife, of 46 years, Joan; his
daughter, Heather Jonas.
THANK you to Lynx who have paid their dues: Arline Shulmier Daniel, Seattle, WA, Carolyn Ward
Edwards, Mountain Home, AR, Peter & Marlene
Holman Hansell, Burlington, WA, Robin G. Buchan,
Des Moines, WA 98198, Jack H. McGinnis, Lake
Forest Park, WA, James L.Tollefson, Modesto, CA,
James & Barbara Atkins Green, Wenatchee, WA.
THANK you to Lynx who have gifted the Scholarship Program: Arline Shulmier Daniel (in memory
of Ray Shulmier '50), Carolyn Ward Edwards, Jack
H. McGinnis, James L.Tollefson.
I had a great email from Judy Fosse Snider. She
is giving her brother a subscription to Totem II for his
birthday. How is that for a great idea!!?? Judy and
husband Neal have recently returned from a cruise
on the QE-2. They left from Southampton, England
and traveled up the coast of Norway, visiting the
fjords, waterfalls, and gorgeous scenery of Norway.
They sailed up above the Artic Circle visiting a number of cities. The QE-2 has been sold to Dubai and
after this year will be used as a hotel there, making
the Snider cruise a historic event.
I understand Sally Jo Eaton Kregger is looking
for property in Oregon with oldest son Steve. She
now resides in California - where it is TOO hot. Sally
was widowed after 52 years of marriage and raising
four children. She makes jewelry and she and her
son have a shop and do some antique shows.
Lila Heywood Hageselle and husband live in Seattle-same house for 45 years; have raised four children and have several grandchildren. Sally Jo Eaton
Kregger and Lila were best friends at Lincoln and all
through college.
Sad to report: Sharon Squibb Brown died June
23, 2007. Our deepest sympathy to her husband
Don, daughter Kathy, son Dan, and her twin brother,
Billy. Note: This notice appeared in the last issue of
Totem II with an incorrect photo. The notice and photo
were inserted after my column material had been
completed and released by me. My apologies for
this error. (Your Editor and our Publisher offer apologies too! Sometimes computers, and cyberspace.
are mysterious let alone a HUGE newspaper!! We
try to be perfect to no avail. Very Sorry!! Editor. Ginny
Munn)
Jean Adele Mathewson
Worthington died September
26, 2007. Our deepest sympathies to husband Forrest and son Steve.
I always.appreciate hearing
from classmates and appreciate receiving news you would
like to share with classmates
thru the Totem II column. Contact me anytime. See the back
of each issue of Totem II for my
name/snail mail/email addresses.
Have a great winter
and holiday season! [Written by Carolyn Ward Edwards.]
Loretta Ransom Hucks reports that she thought she could fly (maybe too many super hero movies) but instead, tripped over shoes and crashed into the wall and floor. She had several stitches on her face and crushed left shoulder. She has become the bionic woman; with a metal ball and shaft for her shoulder! Husband Randy had a 2 plus month hospital stay with gall bladder and triple by-pass surgery. We do hope Loretta and Randy are doing OK now.
Fred Wright has been busy. He was the keynote speaker at a conference in Belfast Northern Ireland. Fred has a psychology practice in New York City and is Professor of Psychology at the City University of New York. Fred reports that his new grandson, Luke, is amazing!
Had two reports of classmates' deaths:
