Why Wesleyan? - West Virginia Wesleyan College

Alumni News & Class NotesAlumni Updates123C!@ W V WD O Y O U H AV E N E W STO SHARE?Marriage? New baby? Newtown? New employment?Advanced degree? Contact theOffice of Alumni Relations tosubmit a class note and shareyour news with classmatesand fellow alumni at EricksonAlumni Center, 59 CollegeAvenue, Buckhannon, WV26201, 800-768-8264, oralumni@wvwc.edu.Photos welcome!Watch for Homecoming 2010information in your mail. Classescelebrating reunions are 1930,1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960,1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990,1995, 2000, and 2005.1936AARON H. RAPKING, JR., Princeton,NJ, is pictured with three of hisfive daughters (four of whom areWesleyan graduates). From leftto right are: TRIANA RAPKINGBRUSO ’69, AARON RAPKING ’36,CHRISTINE RAPKING COX ’69 andCAROLINE RAPKING ’79. Christineand Caroline are both membersof the WVWC Board of Trustees.Triana was the instigator of the“wearing orange and black onCommencement Sunday” inresponse to the email sent toWVWC Alumni. They had a lotof fun picking out their outfits.Aaron is wearing an officialWesleyan Society tie! 11944LUCILLE DEBAR LYKINS, Ashland,KY, was 84 years old before shehad her first grandchild. Now shehas three: Jacob, 3, Joshua, 2, andElla Grace, 1.1953ORLO C. STRUNK, Calabash, NC,has published another novelentitled The Geriatric Murders. Youcan reach Orlo at glass@atmc.netand his books may be purchasedat: PublishAmerica.com,Amazon.com, B&N, other onlinebookstores and local bookstores.1957ROBERT LYELL GUE, Cary, NC, andhis wife, BARBARA CLASS GUE ’59,have been married for 54 years.They have two daughters andthree grandsons.19581966RUTH GROSE BLAKESLEE,Leesburg, VA, and her husband,Art, enjoyed a Christmas holidaywith all their family in Wales.Their daughter recently boughta 450-year-old thatched cottage.Ruth and Art left 18 inches ofsnow in Washington, DC, andwere greeted in London by seveninches of snow and fog. However,they enjoyed their 10 days together.1959HENRY D. WEISSMANN,Binghamton, NY, and his wife,CAROL SIMONS WEISSMANN ’60,celebrated their 50th weddinganniversary on December 11, 2009.DAVID N. GEIGLEY, N. Bethesda,MD, retired from WestinghouseElectric 16 years ago. With hismate, Barbara Marsden, Davidhas visited nearly all the citiesin Europe as well as in the U.S.196819611965ELLEN GIRD KNAPP, Bennington,VT, retired from psychiatric socialwork after 40 years. Ellen andher husband, Ronald, are stillmaintaining their home in Ireland.You can check it out atwww.irelandvacationhouse.com.BONNIE MACCALLUM FERNEAU,Salter Path, NC, received theHonor Award for the SouthernDistrict of the American Alliancefor Heath, Physical Education,Recreation and Dance (SDAAH-PERD). The Southern District ismade up of 13 southern statesfrom Virginia to Texas. Bonnieretired from Carteret CountySchools physical education departmentafter completing a36 year career. In addition to thisaward, Bonnie has been honoredby the America Heart Associationand was the 1997 SDAAHPERDJump Rope for Heart Coordinatorof the Year. 2DEAN E. BYROM, Coraopolis, PA,retired from active ministry withThe United Methodist Church,effective June 30, 2010. He and hiswife, Dawna, will be living in OhioTownship near Pittsburgh.GEORGE THORNTON, Bucyrus, OH,and his wife, MARGARET FEHRMANTHORNTON ’69, are grandparentsto these future Bobcats! AudreyHelmick, age 3, daughter of IANHELMICK ’00 and ANNE THORNTONHELMICK ’02, and Ben Jones, age 3,son of Mike and AMY THORNTONJONES ’98, wait in the courtyardoutside the Virginia Thomas LawCenter for the Performing Artsbefore the Jazz Band ReunionConcert. They are standing besidea brick with their names on it.Ian played drums, Amy playedtrumpet, and Aunt J.B. THORNTONTAYLOR ’95, played piano in theconcert. Grandparents George andMargaret are hoping the Wesleyantradition continues! 3JAMES R. WAGNER, Erie, PA, isretiring after 41 years in ministryin The United Methodist Churchof Western PA. His wife,KAREN BROWN WAGNER ’67,is retiring from the elementaryclassroom. They are anxiousto kick back, relax and enjoytheir grandchildren!2 4 SUNDIAL SUMMER/FALL 2010