CLASS NOTES Bobby Kristensen called in February after he had seen the February class notes with the reference to John Allen, who was one of his roommates along with Ted Bohn. He wanted John’s phone number so he could give him a call. Betty Lu Stephens wrote in February that she, Clint and Rose Anne Hurd were planning on the reunion, in fact they had made their motel reservations, so they are serious. Her son, David Sheckells ’86 had just recently moved from Maryland to Fort Walton, FL, which put him only a couple of hours from Mobile, for which she is glad. She and the Hurds are going to VMI for the graduation of her grandson in May. Helen Casey called in late February to say Mark had had a stroke in January. Prior to that he had been doing well and had even talked about coming to the October reunion. He has no paralysis and his outlook is good. We wish the best for both of you. Ding and Nobbie Patton rented a condo in Melbourne, FL, for the period January thru April. They were kind enough to invite us for a visit so we went down at the end of February for several days and had our usual fine time. They planned to return to Staunton a couple of days before Easter, and they did. When we got home from Florida, we heard from Earthmole Lewis that Earlene had died on March 2 and was to be buried March 5 in Chickasha, OK. Our sympathy goes out to Earthmole and his family on their great loss. John Hayes wrote a note in March and said he was having major orthopedic problems, but since grown men can’t cry, you just grit your teeth and get better. He has no travel plans for awhile, but I hope that will change in time for the reunion. We want you there, Brother Rat. Jack Evans called in early March – nothing in particular, just a lot of general conversation. He and Pat are doing okay and have their dog to look after. In early March, I received a call from Elizabeth McCauley, wife of our Brother Rat Cleyburn (Ray) McCauley saying he had died Dec. 13, 2010, after a short illness. He went from VMI to West Point – graduating in 1950 and becoming a fighter pilot. He flew P51s in Korea where he was shot down. After retiring from the Air 2011-Issue 3
Force, he became a lawyer and practiced in Washington, before moving to Wilmington, NC, in 1976. He is survived by his wife, four children and three grandchildren. Our sympathy goes out to the family. Nux Enochs wrote in March that it had been a slow winter for the construction business, so he had time to work on his cypress and hardwood trees. He has 6000, and his cypress plantation is looking good. I talked to Earthmole Lewis in mid March to see how he was doing. He had been to Louisiana to visit his brothers and had talked with Tommy Bowers and Grover Outland. Tommy Challoner wrote in March to say they had their reservations for the reunion. He mentioned that two cars were parked side by side in front of the beauty parlor; VMI 49A and 49B VMI. Tommy was finishing up with a haircut, and Billy Noffsinger was bringing Margaret for a hair do. They had a good visit. Bobby Thomason wrote in March that he and Jean hoped to make the reunion, but like so many of our age with aches and pains we never know this far ahead. We plan to see you there, Bobby. Bill Sweeney called in late March to say he and Nada would be at the reunion. As a senior judge he can perform marriages, and he recently performed one in J.M. Hall at VMI in which the place was filled to capacity. Bill told me a couple of jokes, but unlike him, I can’t remember them long enough to write them down. Guess we can get him to tell a few at the reunion. Tommy Bowers called to say he lost the letter so did not know the reunion dates. He then went into some of the things that happened during his “hardship tour” in the Caribbean. While walking on the beach wearing his VMI hat from the 60th, he was questioned by a guy as to what kind of hat it was and what right he had wearing it. Tommy quickly made sure the guy knew he had every right to have and wear the hat. In the process he found out the guy was also a VMI man who was in the islands on his honeymoon. George Wolfe called in late March after Greg Nelson asked him why he hadn’t signed up for the reunion. We had a nice conversation during which George said Jean is at home where he has help a portion of each day. Their son from Florida
had visited recently, and Jean was glad to see and visit with him. Max Feinman’s granddaughter, who is a high school junior, chose to do her essay for school on Stonewall Jackson’s time at VMI. She did a great job, and Max is rightly very proud of her. One thing she noted was that one of the cadets serving as a casket honor guard for Stonewall was Richmond cadet, Moses Ezekiel, later to become the world famous sculptor Sir Moses Ezekiel. Max pointed out that Ezekiel was the first Jewish cadet to attend VMI and he followed 85 years later. Tom Cooke wrote that he attended a family reunion in Lynchburg in late March in which 95 cousins made it. A great time was had by all – lots of hugging going on. Greg Nelson had mentioned that Tom had something in early April that landed him in the hospital where he caught pneumonia. In talking with Virginia, she said he is still having a couple of problems, but in great spirits and plans on the reunion. Earthmole Lewis called in April to say a couple of his daughters would drive him to the reunion. From there they can go to Florida for the wedding of one of his granddaughters on Oct. 15. I talked with Buddy Marshall in early April concerning types and amounts of wine required for the reunion – hospitality room and two dinners. So far he is still working on it. With all the fires burning all over Texas, including Austin, I called Lon Walter to see what their situation was. He said nothing was coming close to them, thankfully. This spring has seen the most severe weather I ever remember for the southeast and lower mid-west parts of the country. Jackie Prillaman wrote in early May to say she was doing well and is in pretty good health and has no trouble going to visit family. She stays busy in her church and helping out where needed. She is not planning on the reunion – wish you were. As I was finishing up these notes, Ding Patton called to say he and Nobbie had just returned from northern Virginia, where they had been keeping (babysitting) their son Jimmy’s kids while the parents were on a cruise. Ding said there was only one day out of the 12 that they were there that the weather was nice enough for them to sit out on the porch. 55
