C L A S S N O T E S
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W 46 dave Clark 801 Haldeman Road schwenksville, PA 19473 610-287-9065 dfclarksr @ aol. com
I hope all had a good summer and spent some time with friends and family. I had a reply from Willard Miller in response to my complaint that I never hear from anyone from this class.
I wasn’ t happy when John MacCarter’ s wife called to let me know of John’ s passing. John and I had a long and friendly relationship as we were from the Philadelphia area and our work kept us active in Philly. I thanked his wife Kay for taking such good care of John. The last few years John was in the hospital four times in three months. Finally the doctors found a blood clot in his lung. That kept him housebound the last two years.
Charles Rushton has some problems, so we have not met him and Peggy for breakfast. We hope to see them real soon. Don Harris and his wife are having some problems. We hope to hear that they are all improving.
Best wishes to all and I hope the rest of’ 46 are well and happy!
Dave Clark
W 48 W 49
dick Phillips 127 Richard Road Aston, PA 19014 610-497-3878 dickp127 @ verizon. net
Class notes are due, so here we go again.
March 2017: I received a post card inviting me to join the Class of 5W4 for their spring luncheon on 4 / 4 / 17. They always have a great time and I would love to go, but, alas, I am tied up full-time with Donna and could not make it. Thanks for the invite; you are a faithful group.
April 11, 2017: I called the following classmates to inform them that Fred LeFevre passed away today. Harry Binder: left a message. Norman Cressman: Norm is OK, keeps moving with his Rollator. Jo is doing well. Ed Freno: His wife Carol has cancer and Ed is at her side in a senior center, but they haven’ t given up their home. Walter Jackson: Wife, Betsy, just got a pacemaker and seems to be doing good. Walter Mensch: I talked with Walt and he will notify Bob Rupert. Dave Sergeant: Still hanging in there. Dan Surplus: left a message. Al Whalen: OK. Don Zimmerman: Spoke with Kat, she will let him know. Dick Magee: the message said the phone had been disconnected. I hope he is OK! Gordon Jenks: I have not been able to find him for quite a while. Ken Feeser: no answer. William Sibley: phone disconnected. As far as I know we have 15 classmates still living.
An ice cream social was held at Crosslands, where Fred Lived, for Fred’ s memorial. Marie Watson, Celia Heckler, Walter Mensch, and Pete D’ Orazio attended from Williamson. Fred, as you know, was chairman of social activities for our class and he spent many hours and quite a few bucks to keep our class together. Many years back, Fred had plastic pocket name tags made for each class member. They were unique and I believe we were the only class that had them. Fred supported Williamson in every way. He will be sorely missed by all. Marie Watson dropped me a few lines about Fred’ s memorial and since I could not attend it was very helpful. Thank you, Marie.
June 3, 2017: I attended the President’ s Breakfast with Marie Watson, Barbara Pusey, Walter Mensch, and Dave Sergeant. Following breakfast I watched the dedication of Watson Dormitory. Marie Watson was there to cut the ribbon and many folks toured the new dorm which is beautiful. The outside has been built to look like the existing dorms, but the inside is completely different. There is a large living room for the students and a very nice apartment for the dorm manager on the first floor. There are bathrooms and washrooms on each of the top floors( a huge improvement), in addition to the student rooms. The student rooms include a bed, wardrobe, and desk for each student. There is also an elevator which can be very useful! Bill Bonnenberger headed up the entire operation and he did a fantastic job! There were many others who worked on the new dorm and my thanks go out to them. It is evident that this dorm was built by professionals.
July 21, 2017: Ed Freno sent me an email which said,“ Dear Phil, this email is to inform you that my wife, Carol, died of throat cancer on June 23, 2017, and was interred at Glen Abby Memorial where we have a common grave site on July 7, 2017. Carol was a sculptress and an artist and she and Ed were world travelers. They enjoyed 55 years of married life. Ed, I am very sorry to hear of Carol’ s passing. My prayers go out to you and your family.
August 12, 2017: I received a call from Gerry DeWees who told me she had been scammed and lost money, but she got it back and her son took care of everything. She is doing pretty good now. Gerry, we are so sorry to hear the bad news, but we are happy that you are safe now. God Bless you.
Keep in touch. It’ s later than you think. Above all, be good to each other!
Dick 4W8
Will“ Pills” Eastlack 111 Dock Drive Lansdale, PA 19446-6230 215-362-3278 Pills1949 @ aol. com
4-17-2017 Dave Baker called. He has had Parkinson’ s disease for awhile and is on medication that is helpful. He goes to the hospital and has brain stimulation valuations. Janet does all the driving including the RV. Janet is still active in dog rescue and occasionally drives to Hershey, Pa., on dog rescue trips. When Janet is gone Dave’ s daughter, who graduated in 1987 from Penn State University’ s Medical School, stays with him. We talked about skiing and he mentioned that Blue Knob ski resort is approximately seven miles away from his home.
7-30-2017 I was talking with Marge Schrenk. Mickey has been gone 11 years. She is having some problems walking. Then on 8-5-2017 I was talking with her and family at Dave Schrenk’ s place at Fairview Lake in the Pocono Mountains. She arrived at Dave’ s by boat.
8-7-2017 Ted Moyer called and we had a nice chat. He and I both worked at American Olean Tile Co. starting out in life. I left after about 10 years, but Ted stayed for many years. The tile company was sold to another company and then sold to another company and Ted was hired by all of them and he received three retirements. He also owns a house in the northern part of the state where they are drilling for gas and he receives a very nice monthly payment from the gas company because they are drilling in his neighbor’ s yard which is close to his. They also test his well to be sure it is OK. Ted has one son and three grandchildren. He is doing fine except for two problems. On Sept. 5, he is scheduled for cataract surgery and has glaucoma.
8-12-2017 Received a letter from Marge Schrenk. It was good seeing all the old Williamson people last weekend. We in the Class of’ 49 all had our good times to look back on but, there are fewer and fewer of us left. The memories left behind are great. I was sorry I couldn’ t come ashore at David’ s, but my walking is not good. I had hoped to have Nina down but it doesn’ t look like it’ s going to happen. I miss her a lot, but traveling has become hard for both of us. I am about to become a great grandmother for the 17th time. The date is Aug. 29. Life does go on. Give me a call sometime and let me know any news. Williamson has always been the backbone of my life.
8-30-2017 Talked with Howard Fluck. He is flying to Dallas, Texas, on the second weekend of September to visit his grandson and greatgrandson.
Will Eastlack signing off. On 9-13-2017, I’ ll be biking along the Delaware River trail north in Jersey, crossing the river on a walking bridge, having lunch, and riding south on the Pennsylvania side.
Something to think about: Title: Draper’ s Book of Quotations for the Christian World.“ Self-control is the ability to keep cool while someone is making it hot for you.”
W 50
Russ Harvey 106 S. New Middletown Road media, PA 19063 610-565-6790( home) 610-324-9106( cell) rharvey @ williamson. edu
“ Those were the days my friend, we thought they’ d never end.”
When this year’ s freshmen sat in chapel for the first time, it was 70 years since we were greeted by J. Harvey Byers. He was president of the board of trustees.
Dave Aulthouse, do you, John Horrell, and Art Carlen, who were in Derrickson with me our freshman year, realize Miss Sarah Sharpless or Sharpie as we used to call her, was 26 when she first came to Williamson to be a housemother as they were called in those days?
Today, the Class of 5W0 numbers above the sod are eight: four machinists- Dave Aulthouse, John Horrell, Dave Miller, and Ross Sipe; two power plant- Art Carlen and Clyde“ Rocky” Ransom; one mason- Sam Swayne; and one paint and decorating- your truly, Russ Harvey.
I have been out of whack with my class rep notes lately. Sorry for letting you down. My wife has had a series of strokes. The third one was a major one three and a half years ago. I finally retired from teaching drafting two years ago at 85.
Last October, our daughter and her husband bought a beautiful home in Christiana, Pa., near Gap in Lancaster County, and wanted us to live with them. That was a blessing.
I managed to make contact with Art Carlen down in Florida last week. Dolores has been having some health issues, but those Media girls are not only pretty, but tough. Art told me with his wife’ s guidance he has been doing some of the cooking and Dolores is still doing well.
Art is still playing some shuffleboad. Talking to Dave Aulthouse, he should enter the Senior Olympics. Dave told me he rides his bicycle on the Susquehanna Trail twice a week. Dave says it is 14 miles long, but he only rides 12 or 13. I ride my NordicTrack stationary bike in a room five minutes and get tired.
Talking to Dave, Ross Sipe is just about blind, but hanging in there. Remember Ross in your prayers.
Called Sam Swayne in Virginia. He has a lot of problems with his legs right now, but being a mason he has a good foundation so he is handling it.
Lou Johnson, our Junior Night emcee, is constantly on oxygen, but seemed upbeat on the phone. Lou lives in Kentucky.
I had Dave Miller on the phone. He and the Mrs. have moved from Mrytle Beach, S. C., to an independent living facility in July- 10290 Brook Road, Apt. 107, Glen Allen, VA 23059. He told me the food is almost as Joe Warrell use to provide.
Talking to John Horrell, he retired about the age of 75. His voice really sounded strong and upbeat, which was good to hear. I remember one time John and I were up in Lima on Pennell Road. John looked at his watch and told me we have to shag a-- to get back in time for study hall. Neither one of us were on the cross country team, but somehow we made it on time.
Last, but not least, I had Rockey Ransom on the phone from Media. He said he was about 76 when he retired. I remember way back when Helen told me Rock had to get a slide rule for some course he was taking. I hated the slide rule. Thank God the calculator came out by time I was in the engineering department at Sunroc.
Finally, I never forgot one we use to hear on the Dawn Patrol every morning before lineup. Jan Peerce singing“ Bluebird of Happiness.” Certain lines I never forgot.“ The peasant with his plow, the poet with his pen, the beggar man, the mighty king are only different in name, so learn your lesson before it is too late.” It took me a long while to get self confidence, but through God’ s love and my wife I really grew. Signing off until the next time. Always close your eyes in hard times and think of the good times.
Russ 5W0, C-18
W 53 donald W. Zipse Maris Grove Retirement Community 417 Bluebird Crossing Glen Mills, PA 19342-3362 610-358-1462 don. zip @ ieee. org
It is Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 and the beginning of Labor Day weekend. We have been down in Rehobeth Beach since mid-May and with the college students leaving in mid-August, the traffic is now tolerable. In midsummer on a weekend it can take 45 minutes to an hour to travel seven miles with the 6-lane highway a bumper to bumper parking lot. This past June 2017, I spent flying from Philadelphia to Los Angeles every week leaving the first week on Monday and returning on Wednesday. The second week I left on Tuesday and returned on Wednesday. The third week I left on Wednesday and returned on Thursday. I was about to do the same thing the fourth week, that is leave on Thursday and return on Friday when our daughter, Donna reminded me that it would be 4 July weekend.“ Dad”, she said,“ Don’ t you realize that you will be coming back on Friday afternoon at 4 p. m., landing in Philadelphia and driving 100 miles to Rehoboth Beach in all that Friday holiday traffic? It will take you four hours instead of two hours.” I immediately changed my flight from returning on Friday morning at 6 a. m. from Los Angeles, to the redeye and I left at 12:30 a. m. in the early, early morning, red eye flight landing at 10 a. m. in Philadelphia. I had a pleasant relatively traffic-free 2-hour drive to Rehoboth Beach.
I would arrive in Los Angeles at approximately 11 a. m. and by the time I checked out of the airport, got a rental car, I could be at Redondo Beach by 1 p. m. I have nine ammeters that I have the utility company put on the overhead distribution conductors. These ammeters measure the 3-phase conductor’ s current. I return the next week and have the utility company’ s linemen remove the SensorLink’ s data recorders, download the data into my laptop, and have the utility companies’ linemen install the data recorders on another set of distribution lines. We do it each week until all three sets of distribution circuits have been recorded.
I take the data and calculate what the neutral return current should be. Then I subtract from the calculated neutral current the actual neutral current was measured and the results is the amount of current that is straying, uncontrolled where it flows in the earth on its way back to the Topaz substation and uncontrolled in how much flows in the earth on its way back to the Topaz substation. This legal case could be valued at a half billion dollars.
There are more persons that are being shocked electrically in the LA area. This stray, uncontrolled man-made neutral return current can and