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uation , Smokey found a job with a contractor but not long after being hired , he became disenchanted with the work . Smokey then sought out the advice of Mr . Heckler who assisted him in finding employment with another contractor . Smokey expressed much appreciation for the support his former instructor (“ The Bird ”) had provided .
In the winter of 1957 , Smokey departed from his work with the contractor , joining the Marines . While on a training mission , he recounted an event that required picking up an injured Marine to be taken to a medical facility . Much to his surprise the injured Marine facing him was none other than Dick Bateman from the WTS class of 1955 .
Prior to graduation from school , Smokey told of trips to Dick McCormick ’ s home in Upper Darby where he and Mick ’ s grandmother would often engage in conversation , speaking in what was a foreign language to Mick ( PA Dutch !) leaving poor Mick out in the cold without a clue as to what they were talking about . Many good memories continue to be his after having visited with Mick at his home .
Smokey came from a family of 11 children , one of whom was a twin brother . His family having little money , left him with few educational opportunities . Upon hearing of WTS , he applied to the school and was accepted . Following freshman orientation , Smokey chose the carpentry trade . Following graduation , he joined the Carpenter ’ s Union and was a union member until his retirement in 1996 .
Smokey makes his home in Cleona , Pa . Having lost his wife in 1986 , he continues to live the single life supported by his son and daughter who live nearby and are a big help to him .
The coronavirus certainly brought much harm to the people of our country , not only regarding the cost to lives , but also to the social order that our nation has long enjoyed . Let ’ s be praying God will bless our country with recovery when we will once again be able to gather with family and friends without fear and people will be able to get back to work .
It won ’ t be long before we come up to our 65th year since graduation from school . If you have any interest in getting together for a reunion be sure to let me know and I ’ ll get busy making arrangements . I ’ ll be waiting to hear from you ! Keep in touch !
Jack
W 57 Edward A . Miller 12449 SE 173rd LN Summerfield , FL 34491 ( 352 ) 653-3340 otmiller1 @ comcast . net
Hello all you 5W7 masked basement dwellers . Once they give us the OK to come up for air , don ’ t forget your sunglasses and sun tan lotion . This has been
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a crazy lifestyle . Hope you all stayed safe during the holidays .
Both Carl and Shirley Lingertot are experiencing some senior health problems right now , so , no travel or fishing stories to report . Carl says they get a delicious 4-course meal delivered to them every evening and a bonus bottle of wine once a week . Not bad .
He says he spends time trading in the stock market . Now we know who is responsible for the DOW hitting new highs lately . He is looking forward to getting a knee replacement as well as the virus shot .
Both Joe and Lane Updegrove are doing fine . Nothing to report from their basement . Expecting their second great-grandson in March . Looking forward to their virus shots on Jan . 25 and 26 . Don ’ t worry , Joe , it doesn ’ t hurt that much .
Heard from Edna and Don Rumbold the other day . Like everyone else ( except Floridians ) they are basement dwellers . Edna has Don clearing out the basement since there is nothing else to do . Edna is still sewing and making quilts for all the grandchildren . That is a lot of quilts ! She informed me that they will have 20 great-grandchildren by June ( how are they going to get them all in the basement ?) That is one large inclusive family !
Considering the rest of the country , we have been lucky here in Florida . Pat and I have been able to go to church , eat inside restaurants , and shop in stores ( using masks and distancing when not in the car and house ). On the down side , we have not seen our great-grandson ( Edward A . Miller IV ) in Georgia since Christmas of 2019 . ( Facetime doesn ’ t do it .) We have not been out to see our four grandsons in California since April of 2019 . I have been playing golf three days a week since April ( one golfer per cart ).
That ’ s it for now . Remember , stay safe and wear the mask and get the virus shot .
Ed 5W7 Miller
W 59 Paul Jackson 92 Weaver Ave . Ephrata , PA 17522 717-738-4907 pnjjackson92 @ yahoo . com
Hi 5W9ers , I received notes from three of you so here we go .
From John Kisters : I ’ m retired and living in Winder , Ga ., now . It ’ s between Atlanta and Athens . We ’ ve been here about 15 years . I retired from the YMCA as facilities director in Dover , Del ., and Winder , Ga . I lived in Dover for 18 years . I went to Dover as plant engineer for the three plants at Int . Playtex . I also worked at Ralston Purina in Wilmington , Del . and St . Johnsbury , Vt . They closed both plants . I put in two years in Fairbanks , Alaska , as a missile repairman
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. Did a lot of big game hunting in Alaska . I played industrial basketball for years . I ’ ve been married for 36 years . My wife is a retired ICU nurse . We had a motorhome and traveled some . I was president of the Good Sam Club until everyone got too old to travel anymore . When I hurt my head six years ago we had to sell the motorhome . I sure miss it .
From Charlie Smith : Happy New Year ! Everything here in Romeoville is fine . No one has been sick and being retired has been a big relief financially with a steady income not dependent on working . So I guess we are blessed at the right time . We had planned a vacation back East last fall , but we had to cancel as everything was shut down . I enjoy your emails . Keep them up . I get email from Chuck every day . Stay healthy . Charlie .
From Wayne Perkins : Barb and I want to wish everyone a happy healthy New Year . We are not sorry to see 2020 gone . Our prayers are that 2021 will a better year . Not sure it will be , but we cannot give up . We need to speak up when things are not done correctly . The next four years could be a rough ride with our new president . Our grandson Austin is still in Iraq . We are hoping he will be home earlier than expected . God ’ s blessing to everyone . Wayne and Barb
The New Year is not starting very well for us right now . Jane has been diagnosed with some health problems . I ’ m doing OK for an old guy , but I do have some old guy aches and pains . Nothing serious at this point . Praise the Lord . My biggest concern , other than Jane ’ s problem , is for our country . Please keep our leaders in your prayers . We have not let the fear of COVID keep us locked down . We ’ re being careful , but pretty much carrying on as we used too . Our daughter Wendy is a nurse on a COVID floor in her hospital so she keeps after us to be very careful .
That ’ s all for now . Keep looking up . Paul
W60
Edward Hatchigian Jr . 1615 Shoemaker Dr . New Oxford , PA 17350 717-624-5506 Cell : 610-864-8541 edleahhatch @ verizon . net
These are difficult and strange times we are all dealing with . It seems in so many ways , COVID-19 has taken over our lives in one way or another . The school continues to struggle yet maintain some order of continuing education .
As you know , our class efforts to celebrate our 60th class reunion is once again halted . The school has already cancelled plans for Alumni Day 2021 . I forwarded a recent letter to each of you indicating that our class will not be hosting a class reunion . I know we are all disappointed , however , under the
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present conditions it seemed the right thing to do . At this point with one year passing already , I believe we will wait until a much better time .
I sent an email request to each of you asking for class news . I got a response from a few classmates . While the one from Jim and Mary Davis is rather long , I have asked Carl Vairo to publish the entire letter .
Received a nice letter from the Smiths . Bill still enjoys working in his garden and shopping with Barb . They were unable to make their annual Christmas visit to Hanover this season . We missed seeing you guys . Leah had planned another big dinner , along with the Berwagers and Clappers .
A short note from Andy Keller . They are doing well and trying to avoid the virus . Present conditions have really altered their lives , like so many of us . Back in June , they did get away to the Outer Banks for a week . Andy is fighting arthritis and has had a couple of shots .
A short note from John Hackett . They both received their first COVID-19 shot . John , upon reviewing his ancestry , found out he can apply for citizenship in Ireland . He and Veronica plan to relocate and live there .
As we are neighbors , we see Bob and Mary Ellen Berwager regularly . We occasionally do dinners at home or call out for dinners . Bob recently had surgery on his wrist for carpal tunnel . He is currently restricted with a cast . Later he will have the other wrist done , too .
See below for the entire note from Jim and Mary Davis .
Hi , Ed , Sorry I fail to write more often . I think of you whenever Mary watches TV programs about Alaska . And I can ’ t help but think of you as being the most recent connection with a classmate who went missing in Alaska , Bob Oates , aka Sid Oates . What is his status ?
Mary watches Buying Alaska , about folks who decide to go there and buy a house and land to realize their dreams . They always show it in summertime with people wearing T-shirts . I don ’ t see the draw .
Wishing you and Leah much happiness in your new home and glad you did not pick Alaska .
Mary and I are both doing fairly well , missing all the good stuff due to CO- VID-19 . We are missing our kids and grandkids . Some recently moved to Maine and some to Florida for the winter .
We are both still active on the condo board of directors and that means we get to wrestle with the COVID-19 stuff , too . We just recently had a few cases in our building . One death from a coronary due to COVID-19 a few days ago , but no cases were reported until a couple weeks ago . Mary is active in the effort to sanitize many surfaces such as handrails , elevator buttons , doorknobs , light switches , shopping cart handles , and other surfaces that people in the building touch . She does all of our
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