CLASS NOTES as opposed to our beautiful lanai. In were crazy to invest so much in an early April, we enjoyed our trip to Lexarea outside the city. Now, there are more than 400 spectacular residences ington, Virginia, for the Class Agent in the development. Conference and our stay with Dick and I sent email to the class regarding Sarah Collier and their three Boston the plans for a get-together this fall. terriers. Dawn had a Boston terrier as However, for those who don’t receive a pet growing up in Wisconsin, so she them, I will provide this information. was in “doggie heaven.” I reserved 15 rooms at the Wingate We were disappointed that Lexington Inn in Lexington in the name of VMI had snow the Sunday before we arrived, Class of 1956 for Oct. 7-9, 2014. The and we missed the riot of color that usurate for queen rooms is $99 per night. ally comes in the spring. It had been a Reservations for dinner will be made rough winter in Virginia. after it is determined how many will Russ Davis, our class president, wrote Class of 1956: Bernie Bossard, left, with Andrew be attending. The number to call is in April encouraging us on our plans to Deal ’12, VMI Keydet Club development officer, during 540-464-8100, and Pam Myers is my move. Russ appreciated the work both Bossard’s visit to VMI in April 2014. contact. Dawn and I have done for the class After receiving a birthday card from Bob to the Barks for all their health problems. Spider these past many years. Russ is most considerate. Brickner with his usual wonderfully worded has reserved one of the suites at the Wingate for Since Bill Dean died in November 2012, comments, I called to thank him for his remem- our get-together in October, and they plan to take Adriana has relocated to Florida. Her new adbrance. He has moved from Chicago, Illinois, an extra day for Anne to drive up to Lexington. dress is: Mrs. William S. Dean Jr. 22310 Piazza to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is living in one of the They planned to watch the New Market celebra- Doria Ln., No. 208, Estero, FL, 33928. condos he owns there. Some renovation is be- tion at VMI on the website. Ken and Katie Dickinson drove from Merritt Jim Dillard called to say he was in Virginia Island, Florida, for lunch at Halifax Plantation, ing done on a number of the units. Much of his things are still packed away in boxes. He contin- and hoped to get together with some of the class- and we had a great visit. Dawn even made catues to be interested in what is happening in the mates in Richmond. He had recently talked with nip mice for their two cats, Bear and Puff. lives of his BRs. His support of VMI has always both Linda Brophy and Linda Jones in Florida. Bob Fiske, in Ormond Beach, Florida, has been strong. Quite a few others from the class They are hopeful of getting up to Lexington in taken up pickle ball. He says it is the fastest and VMI staff were kind enough to remember October, as is he. growing sport in America. He ran into several I received a list of the former cadets who VMI alumni playing pickle ball at The Villages. me on my 80th birthday. I joined many other alumni in honoring one of fought in the Battle of New Market from Class They have 138 courts there! the cadets who fought in the Battle of New Mar- Agent Jan Abernathy ’67. He worked on getting Frank and Ann Gilmore in Alexandria, Virket 150 years ago. After restoring some damage alumni to visit known burial sites in honor of the ginia, invited us to visit them again as we did to the tombstone, I placed a wreath and flags on 150th anniversary. After learning that two were in April 2013. Unfortunately, with our plans to the grave of Dr. Norborne Clark Lewis ’867 in in Brunswick County, North Carolina, I agreed move, we drove directly back to Florida. to help. I located the one buried in Oakwood the Lawrenceville Cemetery. Joy, the widow of Jimmie Jean, has moved I talked with Spider Allison, who informed Cemetery, Dr. Norborne Clark Lewis ’867. The from Maryland to Wisconsin to live near her me Paul Bark’s wife, Betsy, was in the hospital other was buried in a family plot, which no one son. He writes that she appreciates the cards and recently with a heart attack but is at home re- was able to find. I had to cut limbs from the ce- notes, and Joy wants to stay in contact with VMI covering well. However, her daughter who was dar tree that had knocked the top off the tomb- and our class. Her new address is: Joy Jean, P.O. staying with her also suffered a heart attack and stone and cement it back together. I ordered a Box 299, Ellsworth, WI, 54011. John and Loretta Kuchnia from Raleigh, had open heart surgery. We send our sympathy wreath in VMI colors and put it, along with U.S. and Virginia flags, on the plot. I hoped to attend North Carolina, sent two pictures of their adthe re-enactment at New Market. This concludes opted grandsons. Both of their daughters went my report for this quarter. to China, and each adopted a boy. Zackary is the Yours in the spirit, son of Amy and Andy Miskell in Raleigh. Liz Dick and Michael King live in Las Vegas, Nevada, with their son, Ian. John said, “Both these little guys are a real joy to be around.” Clayton M. Thomas III Howard Lawrence sent several pictures of 903 Brookridge Lane the southwest Virginia luncheon in Roanoke Ormond Beach, FL 32174 (H) 386/437-4604 Jan. 20, 2014. There were 20 brother rats at the Shenandoah Club. “It was great fun!” he said. Time passes quickly. I just received the 2014-IsJohn Poffenbarger sent a newspaper article sue 2 VMI Alumni Review, so it is time to write of his wife, Susan, being named 2014 Woman my notes due May 15. It is comforting to per- of Achievement for her ability in painting. She form routine tasks, since Dawn and I are in the became the first woman in West Virginia to reunsettling flux of moving into our new home ceive a federal commission for art. She has also Class of 1956: Scottie Boland and all that entails. won the coveted Governor’s Award four times. cooked on a grill in his backyard in It is unseasonably warm in Florida, which As I have stated several times, our sister rats are Florida March 20, 2014. chases me to our air conditioned kitchen nook something special.
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