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One of God’s Angels 1955 Leon and Ramona (Watkins) Frankamp have been blessed with three outstanding daughters, 12 grandchildren, and one great grand son. Since retiring in 1989, they have filled their time with service--doing volunteer work as a construction supervisor or photographer for Habitat for Humanity. They are also involved in outreach and the mercy ministry at the church they helped to build, where Leo serves as an elder. They would love to hear from classmates. PO Box 5232, Pine Mountain Club, CA 93222 lfrfh4h@ frazmtn.com 1958 Roger and Betty (Williams) Lessly have a new address: 329 Fox Fire Knoll Dr, Kimberling City, MO 65686. rlessly@gmail.com 1961 Daniel “Danny” Kingsley has moved: 8008 34th St, Lot #58, Lubbock, TX 79407. Danny was elected president of the Texas Assoc. of Single Square Dancers for the 5th year. He has been a member for 22 years. In May he was given the honor of Ranch Host of the Year for the National Ranching Heritage Association, where he serves as a ranch host and event photographer. 1964 Janetkay Gurganus is to be congratulated for being awarded the title of Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Managers on Sept. 8, 2012. She is the office manager for Duggan Endodontics in Austin, TX. 1967 Salah Ibrahim is teaching part time at a local junior college in San Antonio. He and his wife Nosaiba have been blessed with three sons: Sami, Ramsey, and Shaady. 7711 Oakhill Park, San Antonio, TX 78249 sibrahim@satx.rr.com Rene’ (James) Phares recently completed 27 years of working for the Magnolia Center CofC in Riverside, California, as the church secretary. She would love to hear from other 67’ers! She and her husband Kelly live at 4466 Sutton Place, Norco, CA 92860 rene@magcenterchurch.com
16 | Heritage | FALL 2012
Larry Souder is self-employed (Souder Productions) as a videographer producing videos for non-profit organizations. He also produces and voices a weekly radio feature segment called Souder & Friends for World Christian Broadcasting. His wife Martell is a retired teacher. 421 Amquiwood Ct, Madison, TN 37115 www. Souderproductions.com Larry@ SouderProductions.com Judy (Amundson) Odom lost her husband of 42 years, Forest David, on August 25, 2012. Deepest condolences to Judy, her sons Frank and Jay, as well as two granddaughters. 10840 PR 2221, Abilene, TX 79602 judo.odom@ gmail.com 1968 Carl and Janet Clift updated their info. PO Box 928, Bentonville, AR 72712. 1970 Ed and Carolyn Hance have moved: 30393 High Spirit Ranch Rd, Hempstead, TX 77445. ckhance@ aol.com Mary Beth (Ames) Palyash passed away on Feb. 10, 2012, after suffering a major heart attack. Her husband Jerry said that she spoke very highly of her days at YC. jerry67205@aol.com 1973 Mark and Marcia (Stark) Gronberg recently were blessed with the opportunity to travel to New Zealand to meet their newest grandchild. Mark is a point of care coordinator and clinical laboratory scientist at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Marcia is a registered nurse with Home Healthcare. They have 6 children, including 2 daughters-in-law, and 5 grandchildren. Lord willing they will add an additional son-in-law and daughter-in-law in 2013. If you are planning to be in the area, please let them know. 10135 Broadmoor St, Overland Park, KS 66212 mnmgronberg@yahoo.com 1974 Sylvia (Chavez) Barron is a registered RN and would like to hear from classmates either on Facebook or email. “See you at Homecoming 2014 for our 40th!” sylviacbarron@ yahoo.com
On October 27, people from around the world watched a special memorial service that was live-streamed on the Web. The 2.5 hour service was not for someone wealthy or powerful… at least not by worldly standards. By heavenly standards, Laura (Loutzenhiser) Reppart ’72, was indeed a person of renown, loved and respected as a great woman of faith by people on several continents. Laura, a longtime missionary in Kenya, died October 23, 2012 after a short battle with cancer. Laura left behind her husband of 40 years, Jim Reppart ’72; daughter Rebekah ’97 and her husband Shawn ’97 and their three children of Nashville, Tenn; daughter Rachel ’01 and her husband Bryan ’01 and their two children of Lincoln, Neb.; and son James and his wife, Sarah of Dallas, Texas, as well as other family and friends from around the world. If the 14,000+ visits to her Caringbridge site are any indication, her loved ones were many. Jim and Laura worked in Kenya for more than 20 years, planting churches and equipping leaders. They also operated a store-front clinic to serve the urban poor and Laura ministered to street children. Laura was known throughout the region for her ability to teach children about God and Jesus. “Laura was the organizer and administrator of a holistic mission for Caris Foundation that has changed the lives of hundreds and will change the lives of thousands,” says friend and mentor Dottie Schulz ’58. “Laura leaves behind 200 single-parent mothers and numerous orphans who call her blessed because she reached out to the poor and disenfranchised. Because of her efforts and the efforts of her husband, Jim, these women are able to support their families and educate their children. And because of Laura, they know her Lord; many have turned to Him.” Jim and Laura got their start in missions at York College, says their daughter, Rachel. They met and married at YC, then went on a two year assignment to Cameroon with the Master’s Apprentice Program. That trip set the course for the rest of their lives. They finished their degrees at Abilene Christian University, then went back to Cameroon for a time. Eventually they made their way to Africa, and Kenya had been their home ever since. Rachel says they were interested in blessing the poor in sustainable ways and helping lift them out of poverty. Rachel remembers her mother: “Her kids and grandkids were so important to her. She invested a lot in her family. She was a mom...to so many beyond her family.” Jim’s brother, Thomas Reppart, was one of the many to speak at Laura’s memorial service. “In Laura’s life there was an inner illumination that often shined a bright light into some of the darker corners of this world—and as well, into some of the darker places in some of our individual lives,” he said. “Three scriptures that she has illuminated particularly well in the last few months and weeks of her life are: ‘Pray without ceasing’; ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’; and ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain’.” Jim has returned to Kenya to continue the work he and Laura began so many years ago.