Click the banner above for Ben Lippen Alumni merchandise.
Ben Lippen Alumni |
 |
|
Click here for
pictures of the old Asheville campus. Warning: May
load slowly!
|
Ben Lippen Alumni |
|
|
Click here for
pictures of the old Asheville campus. Warning: May
load slowly!
|
|
Thank you for visiting our pages.
If you wish to add an entry, you may use this send the following information to my email address - becky@compuserve.com. Thanks!
Name PLEASE NOTE: Please bookmark the following Web page to check back for details:
John Denman, Class of 1982 <john@denmans.us> Walnut Creek, CA, USA Back in the US since 2003 after 13 years in France, living in California, with the wife (2nd time lucky) and 2 adopted kids (1 each from China and Taiwan so constant war), girl 7 and boy 4. Dan L. & Ramona (Veenker) Wiley, Class of 1966 <wileycyote1@bellsouth.net> or <dwactplan@att.net> Hobe Sound, Florida, USA Mona and I were married in 1970 in Michigan and shortly after moved to Florida where we still make our home. We have a national consulting practice in judicial system operations and facility planning. Our children our grown. We have enjoyed staying in touch with several of our classmates and occasionally getting together. We'd be delighted to hear from those with whom we have lost connection. Mahima (Endigeri )Cooper, Class of <mahimacooper@yahoo.com> Toccoa, GA, USA Hey Becky, Erik Amaliksen, Class of 1986 <erik@misgroup.net> Essex, VT, USA It is definitely a flash back to the good times of Ben Lippen reading all the messages posted here. I read of the joys and sorrows life brings to us all. My heart breaks to hear of those the Lord has taken home, but at the same time I remind myself of the blesing we have had to hear the message of salvation through Ben Lippen. Reggie Skinner, Class of 1985 <rskinner@embarqmail.com> Smithfield NC, USA Greetings Classmates, guess I've been out of touch for quite a while. I have been working at DMV Headquarters at the Drivers License Help Desk for the last 17 years. I live in Smithfield NC, still single and have 2 dogs - Rock and Dottie. I've been in contact with Robin Peterson, Seivright (when you can find him) and a couple of other drunk phone calls -sorry about that- did'nt mean to scare you. Love all, miss you, would love to hear from you. Please feel free to email. More soon. Luv ya! Reg* Jean Marie Clemenger, Class of 1967 <jmclemenger@shaw.ca> or <jmc@mcbd.ca> Calgary, Canada Forty-plus years on, I'm "Jean Marie" to most of my acquaintance but still "Jeanie" to family and old friends. After three decades I'm still working as secretary and researcher for the same boss, Preston Manning. He has moved on from being Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Parliament to starting up the Manning Centre for Building Democracy based in Calgary, Alberta (www.manningcentre.ca), dedicated to preparing Canadians for principled participation in politics (alliteration not my own). It's a joy to be a servant to someone who sees himself as a servant, always a challenge and a blessing. William S. Meredith, Class of 1985 <william.s.meredith@lmco.com> or <wmere001@yahoo.com> Clarksville, TN, USA I am currently Senior Engineer with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control based out of Orlando FL, but working with the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY. Between Deployments, I have a beautiful wife and a daughter who just got married in June of 2007. Nathan Kaminski, Class of 1993 <natekam@gmail.com> Atlanta, GA, USA It is nice to read about you all. I Graduated from College of Charleston with a BA in Biology in '99. I have put that Bio degree to good use by going into technology sales for IBM in 2000. I have been working for IBM ever since. I am currently trying to finish up my MBA. Robert Aguayo,Class of 1986, <Aguayonews@prodigy.net.mx> or <RobertA@CCAEagles.org> Merida, Mexico Wow, it is amazing what you can find from an Internet search. I did a search today after getting an e-mail from a Ben Lippen classmate and found this site. It was great to see what had been happening in the lives of all of those who have found this site. It brought back a lot of memories, and I had to drag out my yearbooks to connect names, faces, and events. Unfortunately, my kids saw the yearbook and started laughing at all of us. It was also a bitter-sweet time as I found out that my roomate, David Rogers, had passed away six years ago after we lost touch after College. Joel Natwick, Class of 1979 <tanalianaviation@starband.net> Port Alsworth, AK., USA I have 5 children ages 6 to 18. We still live in a remote area of Alaska. I am now a freelance pilot, aircraft mechanic and invest in aviation related projects Julia Bonafine,Class of 1986, <jbonafine@rssu.org> Cuttingsville, VT, USA Some of you might remember me. I went to Ben Lippen my freshman and sophomore years. Although I was only there two years, those years were some of the most memorable and influential in my life. I moved back to Connecticut to be with my grandmother for my junior and senior years. I then went to the University of Vermont and got my elementary school teacher’s license. I never left Vermont. I have been living here since I was 18. I have taught kindergarten and first grade for the last 16 years. I have a very witty, bright 16 year old son named Franklin. Even at his young age, he loves to travel. Most recently he has been to Nepal, China and London. I am not married. I'll spare you the details! Jennifer Early Calvert,Class of Faculty 1982-1985, <jcalvert@cannonschool.org> or <bffs@jennifercalvert.com> Concord, NC, USA Becky,
Kathy Weeks Aull,Class of 1972, <kaull@lex2.org> Lexington, SC 29072, USA Dear Becky, Ann Bruce Breslin, Class of 1985 <imaginescape@hotmail.com> or <breslin.ann@epa.gov> Media, PA, USA Hello All - Robby and Karen Richardson,Class of 1975, <robby@gospelcommunications.org> North Muskegon, MI, USA Becky, I received a card yesterday from Betty Basting’s nephew yesterday. Betty went home to be with the Lord in the early morning of Wednesday, September 19. BL Alumni from our era will remember Betty as the “boys’ nurse” on staff at Ben Lippen. Don’t know exactly the footprint of her time on BL staff, but I know that she was there from 1973-1975 when Karen and I were in school. While I’m writing, let me give a brief update on our family. I continue in the position of Director of Internet Ministries here at Gospel Communications in Muskegon, MI. Karen is very involved with a local Christian camp as an instructor and facilitator for the high ropes course, rock climbing wall, etc. We are “officially” empty-nesters now … our son Eric and his wife, Kathy, live and work in downtown Los Angeles, and our twin daughters, Jenny and Amy, are both first-year teachers in the Boston area. We’ve got a “Midwest reunion” of some of the members of the class of 1975 coming up in November. Looks like about 8 or 9 of us, and our families, will be able to get together. Should be a lot of fun. Thanks, Becky, for the service you provide with this site. In His service,
Robby In Memory of Bruce Short This is Beverly Short, Bruce's wife. The message that was sent to Andy [Maples] was that Bruce died on September 6th, and that they think it had something to do with his heart. We are waiting on an autopsy report. He was napping like he would often do because he learned to nap at Ben Lippen, and when I went in to talk to him, he would not wake up. Our twin sons have just started college, and he was so happy for them. Bruce and I had fond memories of the 30 year reunion, and he often talked about how I seemed to fit in with everyone, and you would have thought that it was my class reunion. My sister was wondering if he was the first in the class to die. I do not remember at the reunion having a memorial for the classmates that were no longer living.
Beverly Short, Estela Salberg,Class of 1994, <elsalberg@yahoo.com> Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA I am now living in the SC Lowcountry...I am having fun and loving life! Drop me a message via my email or MySpace page. Hope to hear from some you... Philip Dell, Class of 1972 <dellrm@netzero.com> Dayton, Ohio, USA Hello all, a name="Kathleen Barnes Wyllie">Kathleen Barnes Wyllie, Class of 1972 <jkwyllie@swbell.net> Saint Louis MO, USA I thought it was time for me to update my entry and went to check what I had last said. I found to my surprise that I had disappeared! I must have floated off into the ether so it's definitely time for another update. Peter Stube,Class of 1969, <peterstube@suddenlink.net> New Bern, NC, USA Since leaving Ben Lippen, I finished college beginning at UNC-Asheville where I played varsity soccer with Jon Marcy, then on to CBC. I met Rachael at CBC. We have been married 33 years and have raised 3 wonderful sons. All of our sons are now college grads, one is married and is engaged in social work, a second soon will be married and a minister of youth at an Episcopal Church, the third has just finisted college and is teaching at a Christian school. Mark Staples, Class of 1967 <mark-marlene_staples@wycliffe.org> or <printshop_canada@wycliffe.ca> Calgary, Alberta , Canada My wife, Marlene, and I were married in 1974. We met in Quito, Ecuador at Christmas time 1973. After Ben Lippen I attended Moody for two years, one year at Univ of South Carolina-Lancaster campus, and two years at Bob Jones Univ. Never really did finish my requirements for university graduation because I was working full-time and the schooling got put aside. Christopher Charles Stube,Class of 1970, <XiferStube@Gmail.com> Bishop, California, USA Hello Becky, Ryan Senator, Class of 1992, <rdsenator@gmail.com> or <rsenator@mindspring.com> Avondale Estates, GA, USA This note is an attempt to catch up with some of you whom I spent some of the most arduous and rewarding years of my life. Those of you that remember me please feel free to send an email (rdsenator at gmail dot com). Jim Uttley,Class of 1967, <jmuttley2000@yahoo.com> or <ilm.editor@indianlife.org> Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada While researching on the internet, I came across this site. Wow! Wish I'd known about this a long time ago. I saw my sister Ruth's ('69) but she never told me about this site. Great to be in contact with the BL family. Sam Germann, Class of 1977, <sgermann@carlson.com> Champlin, MN (Just a small suburb northwest of Minneapolis), USA Where do I begin (sound like the beginning of a song – oh yeah it is!) After leaving BL (Thinking I was stuck there for five years) I graduated and went to Capenwray Bible School in England. I did the one year coarse there and moved back to the U.S. and went for two years at Greenville College in Greenville, IL just west of St. Louis. Was asked not to return and was grateful for that since I then had the experience of becoming a Houseman (Butler) for the Governor of Alabama (Forrest Hood James) worked there for three and a half years. When the Governors term was over, he (the Governor) hauled me down with his family to Gulf Shores, AL where I helped with running a Marina for a year. I then went back to school one year at Tennessee State then went for the next two and half years to David Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN and graduated. I then left Nashville and had planned to work in Switzerland for at least two years at our family owned retreat center called “Edelweiss”; however the Lord had other plans which I was unaware of. I had a double hernia operation when “SHE” walked in with my sister and I knew that she was the one for me. I moved back to Fargo, ND and got married to my lovely bride Linda. We have been married for 20 years this past May 30th and have two wonderful children. Linda is a teacher and works as a Para with special Ed students Quinn (16) will be a sophomore in Champlin Park High School Mariah (11) will be a 6th grader at Jackson Middle School We have lived in Minnesota now for 17 years. I am involved with the youth at our church (Maple Grove Covenant Church) I am working with one of the largest travel companies Carlson Wagonlit Travel based out of Minneapolis and have been with them for 15 years but prior to that working for one of their franchises in Fargo for 6 years. I think we are now all caught up with my life and NOW it is your turn. Please send me an email – sgermann@carlson.com and let me know what you are up to or if you are in town call me at home 763-424-9835 or my cell 763-360-2726. Thank you for letting me share this with you and MOST of all Thank You Becky for setting this site up for us! Love in Him who has made Love possible – your brother in Christ Sam Will try to get my brothers Peter, Calvin, Luke and Dan to send you their update as well! But briefly, well let us see: Peter is in Washington State in a town north of Spokane called Kettle Falls and has a counseling ministry there and taking care of my Mom. (Dad passed away about 8 years ago). Peter is married to Diane and has two children Emily who is at North Park University in Chicago, IL and a son Nathan who just graduated from HS and will be attending University in Denver CO. Calvin is in Creston BC, Canada and has a wife named Judy and he has five children, Heidi, Becky married and has two children, Jessie who lives in England and married and has one child, Esther and Natalie. Luke is in Memphis, TN and has a wife named Sloan (Both are teachers) and has three girls. Eddy who is a junior in HS, Ginny who is sophomore, and Ruthie who is in 5th grade.
Danny lives in Jamesport, MO married to Sheri and will be house parents for a home of about 12 kids. They have four children. Daniel who is 19, Michael who is 18 and then there is Melanie who is 17 and then there is Heather who is 15. --- Previous Entry ---
I live in the suburb of Minneapolis MN. Have a wife Linda and two children Quinn he is 6 and Mariah she is 2. Dave Craymer, Class of 1972, <craymerds@comcast.net> Mechanicsville, VA, USA Hi Becky, Everything is going well for us - we are living in Mechanicsville and I am working for Dominion at the Innsbrook office in the West End. Stafford is a rising junior at Va Tech and Rebecca graduates from high school Saturday and is going to UVA next year. Eliza is a rising junior in high school. Sally is the Reading Specialist at Beaverdam Elementary and loves it. Everyone in my family is doing fine.
David A. Craymer Stuart Kraft, Class of 1971, <stuart@stuartkraft.com> Dallas, TX, USA
Dear Becky
Hi Becky, This is Dorothy (Christian) Jackson '77 and Jay Jackson '78 in Greenville, SC. We haven't updated in a long while and with the news of Mr. Hathaway's death, it just made me think to email you. Well, we still live in Greenville, SC and have for about 20 years now. Jay recently retired from his fire department job and owns a nursery in Simpsonville, SC, which he runs full time now. I teach 8th grade Language Arts at Riverside Middle School in Greer, SC and have taught there now for two years. I previously taught at Southside Christian School for 11 years. Our oldest daughter, Jessica, was married 3 weeks ago at the chapel at Furman University in Greenville. She graduated from The University of South Carolina last year and married a Clemson graduate, Brad Page. They are very happy and live in Simpsonville, SC. Our second daughter, Johanna, is a senior at The University of South Carolina and is studying English and has a minor in Spanish. She will graduate next May. Our youngest daughter, Julie, is 16 and is a rising junior at Southside Christian, where her older sisters graduated and I used to teach. I hope this updates our family for awhile! It's been 5 years since we went to a reunion in Columbia but maybe we'll get down that way again soon!
Take care and God bless,
Mr. Hathaway's Obituary and Guestbook Entries Hi Becky, This is Sharon, Bob and Bonnie's daughter. I know Mike attempted to send you an e-mail to a different address earlier today from one of my accounts. Unfortunately, I had server issues and we aren't sure it went through. Please excuse this e-mail if it you did receive the earlier one. Dad died peacefully earlier this morning (Sunday, May 27) after a battle with Parkinson's Disease. We were wondering if you could send an e-mail to the addresses you have captured of alumni if you have them in an e-mail group. The funeral is Wednesday, May 30 at Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee. Visitation/viewing is Tuesday evening from 6-8 at the same location. Thank you,
Sharon
Leslie Craig (Holcombe), Class of 1988, <lesliejocruise@yahoo.com> Fayetteville, NC, USA This is such a great idea. I am way behind though, apparently. Here's my update...I got married in 1996. We have 3 children: Kayla (9), Brad (5), Brooke (5). We have lived in TX and several different cities throughout NC. I have been in touch with some of my classmates throughout the years but was currently attempting to get in touch with Festo Mutagaana. I see where he had posted in the past. I also read the entry from Mark, David Rogers brother and would love to get in touch with him as well.
Thanks again! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wendy Arnim" Subject: Winnie Grimm Hummel's graveside service Here's an e-mail that I received from Kathy a week ago. If you are unable to attend, there is info below for sending a card or note for a book they are putting together. -Wendy Here is the invitation my sister just sent out for the graveside service for my mom. All of our BL friends are cordially welcomed to come. I will not be able to attend, which I regret, but I think it will be a special time of remembering mom's life. My sister forgot to put down the time of day, but I think it's in the morning. [According to the info below, it may be right after lunch.] If anyone would like to come, they can contact me and I will send out more details. [Kathy's e-mail address is kathym42@gmail.com] Thanks, Kathy As you all know by now, Mom died on March 3, 2007. We had a funeral on March 7 at the chapel at Penney Farms, Florida, the retirement center where they lived. She was cremated, and we are going to have a graveside service for her at the Buchanan family plot in Riverview Cemetery in Waynesboro, Virginia, on May 12, 2007. We are going to get together at the Best Western Hotel in Waynesboro, right off of I 64 (near the intersection of I 64 and I 81). Their website is http://www.bwwaynesboro.com/info.php for further information. We have set aside a block of rooms at a lower rate for anyone who would like to stay there Friday and/or Saturday night. Just make arrangements with the hotel, and mention the service for Winnie Grimm Hummel. We will have lunch there, and a time of fellowship to honor Mom and her life. We will follow that time with a brief service at the graveside. We would love to have you come, although we know that distance and time are big factors with a lot of people. Please let me know as soon as possible what you are planning so we can plan for the food. If you can't be there, but would like to send a card or note about Mom, that would be very nice. We are going to have a book for cards, and notes to pass around to each other. You could send those to either Martha or me: Mrs. Ronald Brady 12913 West Court Street Hanna City, Illinois 61536-9788; or Mrs. David Tritt 702 Macroom Court Bel Air, MD 21014. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers, Betsy for the Grimm kids – Signed on Saturday, March 31, 2007 10:30 AM For those here who might know/remember the Grimm family and Winnie Grimm:
From: Betsy Grimm Tritt
-Wendy (Mullinax) Arnim, Class of '83.]
Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that my mom died this weekend. She's been in hospice care since October, but has been able to converse (although in a confused way) most of the time, until this week. She had some small strokes Thursday, was perky Friday. I spoke to her (she couldn't answer) Saturday and a few hours later she died. We feel very blessed, because she was getting wonderful care and it went quickly. Please pray for her husband, Carl, and please pass the word on to BL friends. I'm working on getting to the states leaving tomorrow. My sibs are in transit, so it may be a while before the Asheville/Columbia friends are contacted. There will be a memorial this Wednesday (not sure of the time) at Penney Farms Retirement Center (45 min. from J'ville) and later (a matter of days/weeks??) there will be a graveside service in Waynesboro, VA, where her family was from. I will be glad to forward the details, in case anyone nearby would like to come, as soon as I know. Thanks for your prayers. Kathy – Signed on Sunday, March 4, 2007 2:50 PM Evelyn (Sadler) Dubbs, Class of 1987 <summers0606@hotmail.com> Salisbury, MD, USA Back in Salisbury, would love to hear from you!
William Callison, Class of 1985 <techframer@yahoo.com> Missouri, USA Just a little update on address and email address from me. Wanted to say hi to everyone that has stopped by to this site. Great site…too bad not everyone could stop in. email address is techframer@yahoo.com and am living in missouri close to where my parents are living and brother and sister. Would love to hear from anyone.
Ray Smith, Class of 1967<raysmith3@cox.net> Norfolk, Virginia, USA
I am listed in the class of ’67. On the odd chance that someone from BLS may try to reach me by email, would you change my address to raysmith3@cox.net?
Ray Smith Ruth Mooney Akers, Class of 1977 <Sunshine59@comcast.net> Downingtown, PA, 19335, USA Hi everyone, I realized my last update was YEARS old so here I am. I am still working at the same hospital in Bryn Mawr PA and am the manager of the Cardiology department. My husband David Akers who I met at Covenant College have been married for 25 years. My oldest son Robert Harrison is 19 and attending the University of Hartford, CT majoring in Vocal preformance at the Hartt School of music. Justine Paige is 17 and a senior in highschool. Haley Brooke is 14 and a freshman. All my children are gifted with the talent for singing and acting. And are all involved with music. We still own and operate Akers Construction. We are still best of friends with Louise Stewart Kemp and family and are happy to say they live near us now having left the mission field. Some of my BL classmates continue to be my closest friends to this day. Louise Stewart, Bob Morrison and Harrison Tullidge.
Ruth Akers RN, BSN
Rachel (Pols) Vander Wall, Class of 1995 <vwallfam@yahoo.com> Lowell, Indiana, USA I suppose the fact that I'm approaching 30 (gulp!) has made me a little sentimental/curious about everyone from high school. Just wondering what everyone is doing etc. After graduating I attended USC and Cornerstone University (in Michigan) for about 2 1/2 years. I planned to teach English (inspired by the beloved and sadly missed Mrs Key). I worked a ton and didn't really enjoy the school thing so I decided to give up. Only I don't exactly see it as giving up because I wasn't satisfied. I see it more as giving in. I then did what I had been interested in for a long time, but never encouraged to do by my parents - went to beauty school! About halfway through I discovered that severe eczema would keep me from doing hair for a living. I was determined to finished what I started though. Right after that, in July of 2000 I married my wonderful husband, Pete. Life has been a whirlwind since then - Peter Ryan was born on December 7, 2001. Katherine Alaina was born on June 12, 2003. On August 31, 2005, we welcomed Madeline Olivia into our family. We are expecting number 4 in April 2007. So life is busy and chaotic and loud and messy - but wonderful. I stay home with the kids and Pete works as an accountant. I also work from home as a consultant for Usborne Books (the perfect job for a stay at home mom). We are planning on homeschooling, so I will get to be a teacher after all! I am excited and a little overwhelmed, but Lord willing I will have the patience and wisdom for this to work. I would love to hear from anyone! Especially if you're staying home and/or homeschooling!!!
Rachel Alleene Petty Kracht, Class of 1964, alleenekracht@mindspring.com USA Becky, I was just looking at something on Ben Lippen and saw you had a project going on. I am from the class of 1964 which has been fairly active over the years. We have someone who has kept us in touch with one another. I will e-mail her and tell her about your project. I notice that no one from our class has signed in. We will try to change that.
Alleene Petty Kracht
Jon (Jonathan) Walton, Class of 1976, jwalton99@yahoo.com Atlanta, GA, USA (or wherever the current consulting contract is) Becky, I finally found your web site - excellent work. I'd like to get my information out there. Document is attached. Thanks,
Jon Walton Update on the Hathaways - April 27, 2006: I phoned the church and spoke with Carter Johnson. He said there has been an amazing outpouring of love via money and letters for the Hathaways - over $11,000 to this point! Additionally, some doctors have heard about the situation and have agreed to forward "physician samples" of the Parkinson's medications Bob uses. This is truly wonderful! Please pass this news along, and I'll keep you posted! Bonnie attends church every week, but Bob is not able to get out. If you haven't gotten a receipt for your donation yet, please be patient, and I'm sure you will get one. I mentioned it to the pastor, but he didn't know much about the bookkeeping procedures. I'm sure he will check on it, though.
Thanks so much for your continued support.
Paula Spoede Halvorson, Class of 1976, halvo8@msn.com Annapolis, MD, USA Helen! Either call again or send me an email! I want to get in touch after all these years as well!
An update: ----- Original Message ----- From: Fary, Timothy E CPT USA FORSCOM Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 1:09 PM Subject: Please Distribute to all Ben Lippen Alum Dear Falcon Faithful: My name is Timothy Fary, I attended Ben Lippen from 1985 to 1988. I am currently an Army Chaplain, and just returned home from my second tour in South-West Asia. One of the benefits to my mobilizations is that I've had opportunity to move my family back to my home town of Dayton, TN. Imagine my surprise to learn that Bob and Bonnie Hathaway had also moved to Dayton and joined our church, Westminster Presbyterian! You may or may not know this, but Mr. Hathaway is battling Parkinson's disease. Due to their fixed income, Mrs. Hathaway works 2 jobs in order to pay for her husband's medicine. I've learned that their bill for medicine alone is $400.00 a month. This is why I am writing to you today. Mrs. Hathaway served faithfully at BLS and fed us. You may have had Mr. Hathaway for Algebra ("pie are round!"), as a soccer coach, or if you were like me you may have known him best as the chair of the discipline committee. In any event, they touched all of us, and we need to pitch in. My wife and I have decided to tighten our belts, and give $400.00. This is will only provide a month's worth of medicine for Mr. Hathaway. My hope is to mobilize the "Falcon Army" and raise $5000.00, enough to pay for a year's worth of medicine. I have talked to our church, Westminster Presbyterian, and they have agreed to handle and distribute the funds. Please prayerfully consider helping out these dear saints who gave their lives to the students of Ben Lippen. Checks can be sent to: Westminster Presbyterian Church 230 First Ave. Dayton, TN 37321 Please put "Hathaway" in the memo line of your check so the deacons will know what the funds are for. If you have any questions, or just want to get in touch, don't hesitate to contact me at Timothy.Fary@us.army.mil or you are welcome to call my cell: 828.713.2174. Please join me in this. Blessings, -T – Signed on Monday, March 27, 2006 1:09 PM (EDT) ----- Original Message ----- From: Ted Eckman To: Becky Dimon Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 4:03 PM Forwarded From: Ray Smith Date: February 18, 2006 7:27:53 PM EST Subject: Fw: Distinguished Blanchard Dies at 89 WHEATONITES: While I never met my wife's Blanchard cousin (same great-grandfather), I was John Blanchard Jr's Wheaton campus contact as he researched new information on his family history. Alumni are grateful for the legacy he leaves, partially recounted below. *** Oldest of Jonathan's Descendants Named "Blanchard" Dies at 89 Yes, he carried the Blanchard name but--surprise--his distinguished lineage to the founder of Wheaton (IL) College came through his mother. The Rev. Dr. John Flint Blanchard Jr.died at age 89 on January 14 as he sat down for breakfast with wife, Lois, in their Kirkland, WA kitchen. "Uncle John was very sharp, and seemed well, when we talked over the phone just three days earlier," said nephew Dr. Bruce Congdon, dean of the Arts and Sciences College at nearby Seattle Pacific University. Blanchard was the son of John F.Blanchard Sr. and Jane Caroline Blanchard BA '09 (no relation), she the elder of two daughters of Dr. Charles Blanchard '1870 and his second wife Amanda Jane (Jennie) Carothers. Jonathan's son and his first wife Ellen (Milligan) had four daughters before she died. There were no children from Charles' third marrage to medical doctor Frances Carothers. The two unrelated Blanchard young people met as students at Wheaton in the early 1900s and married on June 29, 1915 only after John assured his future father-in-law, the school's president, that the Alabama orchard belonging to his family could support a family. Since Charles' daughters had all married professional men, papa may have been dubious of the farm lad but never had later reason to doubt his blessing. The couple were wed in the Blanchard living room on Howard St. by the bride's father, the Rev. Dr. Blanchard, with half-sister Julia (College librarian) attending and left for rural New York State to introduce Jane to her new dairy farmer in-laws. John Blanchard Jr. enjoyed a long and fruitful career in Christian education at the elementary and secondary levels, but it took awhile to find his calling. Born in Toledo, OH in 1916 he was graduated from Wheaton in 1938 with a BA in Political Science. It was while both were working summers at Cedar Lake (IN) Conference Grounds that he met Anne Bihl and they married in 1941. He went into personnel work in both government and industry in the midwest, but eventually became restive. It was Dr. S. Richey Kamm, a favorite Wheaton prof, who steered him to Ben Lippen Schools, NC and it took. He taught and then was offered the headmastership. He was ordained by the West Ashville (Southern) Baptist Church in '49 and, while earning his Master's in Education at Harvard (1951) he served part-time first and then fulltime later as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Plymouth, MA. Then Culter Academy in Los Angeles recruited him as its headmaster for nine years, and it was there and into his headmastership of Wheaton Academy (1962-64), that Blanchard concurrently became Executive Director of the National Association of Christian Schools. He soon moved to the latter fulltime, serving until 1972 when the family moved west permanently. As headmaster of Portland Christian Schools he was also on the board of the Association of Christian Schools Int'l, and eventually joined its regional staff. He taught as an assistant professor in education at Judson (OR) Baptist College. He was awarded an LL.D from Azusa Pacific University in 1967. This was a person, say his colleagues, who exemplified the motto on a plaque in his office: "He who dares to lead or teach must never cease to learn." So it was that Blanchard developed a marked interest in working with children who had learning disabilities. He completed various courses at the Slingerland Institute between 1967-77 and instituted a special program at PCS for "children who learn differently" which attracted attention from public schools that needed help as well. He established The Wayside Language Center to provide counseling and assistance to families. Another passion that engaged John during his retirement years was Blanchard genealogy. "This began as simply wanting our grandchildren to appreciate their heritage," he once told me in explaining the extensive research and writing he was doing on the Blanchard brothers and their progeny in early New England. Daughter Betty Blume '65 recalls the gleam in father's eye when he'd come back from a foray to the New England Geneological Society enthusing: "I found another link" to some distant ancestor. She took him to Concord, NH once where he located the graves of Blanchards dating to the 1700s. Copies of his papers are at Wheaton College where Archivist David Malone says: "We are grateful for John's original research. He added greatly to our collection." Blanchard's sister Mildred Congdon '42, now living in Pueblo, CO, recalls her older brother's keen sense of history even back growing up in their modest Depression-era home and their more recent visits when together they would try to piece together missing facts in their heritage. Bruce remembers an uncle, dating to his childhood contacts, always "deeply concerned about my Christian life and the centrality of Christ and, later, that I had a Christian worldview." This was especially meaningful to the PhD biologist with 2l years on the faculty of SPU. An example of John's eclectic nature comes out in a gift to his pre-teen nephew--a book on gliding. "I think he just wanted to help me broaden my vision--to tell me that I could do anything I wanted to do." Blanchard's Christmas gift practice to his families begun several years ago was animals donated through Samaritan's Purse and other organizations to families in 3rd World countries. Several family members have followed his lead and now give chickens, goats or heifers to one another. Blanchard is survived by Lois, a widow with three children of her own, whom he married after Anne died in 1985 and later moved to the Seattle area, plus his own three children: James '64 of Auburn, WA, Betty Blume '65 of Newton, MA, Barbara Sonnheim of Cherry Hill, NJ. He also leaves seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and sister. Betty knew her father well when her birthday gift to John last October was six individually wrapped books. He opened them one at a time and was reading each in turn before he died, she found out. As you might expect of a "brave son true." By Ray Smith '54 – Signed on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:44 AM (EST) Mike Coleman, Class of 1983 <mcoleman100@yahoo.com> Roanoke, VA Hi Becky, Great website! I spent only one year at Ben Lippen, in 11th grade in 1981-82, which would make me class of '83 had I finished up there. I am currently Vice President of Information Systems for Advance Auto Parts in Roanoke, Virginia. I don't have a ton of memories from my time in Ben Lippen, but the one that stands out as fun was delivering the invitations to the Senior Prom by flying an airplane over the campus and tossing them out the window. We sort of missed and they landed in the woods behind one of the dorms, but at least they still landed on campus. No word on whether the pilot of the plane still has his license. I enjoyed seeing a few names I recognized from my year there. Thanks for taking the time to put all this together!
Best Regards...Mike
Kicki (Nordenstam) Hellquist, Class of 1988 <kicki_hellquist@hotmail.com> Stockholm, Sweden My name is Kicki (Nordenstam) Hellquist. I live in Stockholm, Sweden, and graduated in 1988. My e-mail is kicki_hellquist@hotmail.com. I was so glad to see this page and read entries by people I remember so well and have so many great memories of. I live in Stockholm with my husband (since 11 years back, wow time flies...) and our two children, Clara who is 5 and Theodor, 3 years. I work at General Electric right now, but I have also worked in printing & publishing for a few years, which I really enjoyed, and I also worked in missions for a few years. My husband and I spent 3 years in Singapore, which was a great experience. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.
Bye for now, Kicki.
J. Kevin Thompson, Class of 1985 <kell0880@bellsouth.net> Atlanta, GA, USA I just got back from the 1985 class reunion held in Asheville. It was great fun to see friends from the old days and to see the old campus. And to hear about what is going on with everyone and how we can now reflect about what a huge impact God had on our lives through Ben Lippen. I was so pleased to see that the new "retirement community" is going to retain some of the old campus buildings and much of the look of when we were there. I can't believe they aren't tearing down the boys dorm and instead making it into an inn. I actually met and spoke with the owner/developer while we were on our "tour" and he seemed very nice and sympathetic to retaining some of the history. His attorney is actually a BL alum. The land there is absolutely beautiful. The roads he has put in on top of the mountain and the clearing he has done has really opened it up back there. I'd much rather have it still be the BL campus, but if it has to change, at least it appears that it is going to be done right and look beautiful. It was awesome to see Ms. Harden. I can't believe she actually still had our mini-autobiographies that we wrote in her class - all filed away neat and nice. Talk about organized! It was funny to read mine from 22 years ago. Being in Ms. Harden's class back then has served me well during my life. I am excited that our class is going to start an effort to reconnect folks and try to get together an 80s reunion in the summer of 2008. I hope that happens. It would be awesome! As far as a personal update: I am still at Deloitte Tax and am now a senior manager still working mainly with airlines. My wife and I now have 3 children: Violet - 6, Carter - 5, and Anabel - 3 months. They keep us busy. We are homeschooling and have found a church near our home that we enjoy immensely. Anyone from the classes of the mid-80s, please drop me a line sometime. My work e-mail is kevinthompson@deloitte.com. Home e-mail is kell0880@bellsouth.net. God bless!
- Kevin
Nancy Hightower, Class of 1988 <nhightow@du.edu> Boulder, CO, USA Hi Becky, Lovely site. My name is Nancy Hightower, and I attended Ben Lippen in 1985 and '86. I finished out high school in Colorado since my parents moved there. I then went to college in Durango, CO (beautiful campus), and went on to get my Masters and Ph.D. in Literature. I teach at the University of Colorado at Boulder now, and am really just having a blast. I've been teaching college kids for the past ten years! Wow, how time flies. I really did love my time at BL, and would like to hear from anyone that might remember me! My email is nhightow@du.edu.
Many Thanks, Sarah (Walton) Stillion, Class of 1985 <bonesong@earthlink.net> Seattle, WA, USA This web site is a life saver in that more and more people show up here. To update: My husband and I are back in Seattle, but praying about possibly moving to Atlanta, GA. All you people in the Atlanta area will have to tell us the advantages of living there. I just had a son on Father's Day this year (2005). You can see him on www.stillion.com on my husband Martin's side of the site on his blog, plus pictures of us. In the past few years I've traveled a lot to France several times (yes, met with John Stauffager and his wife), Ireland, Scotland, England, and Greece. Right now the big thing is our class 20th reunion. Somehow, I got elected to organize it. Bill Edgar has helped me do this. We are having it in a couple of weeks October 28-30 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. Anyone from other classes are welcome to come, but it has been hard even getting the word out to our class. About 15 families are signed up to come at this point and a few more last minute people might come. Please, if you are near Asheville COME! We'd like to have an all 1980s class get together in Asheville. I think we should take 5 years and organize it (contacting people is the biggest thing!). Taking that amount of time, maybe the people that do live overseas have a fighting chance of being able to plan to come? That's the thought. We need a champion for each class to contact me to plan this. Then we need an overall champion to organize us all. I elect Wendy (Mullinax) Arnim from the class of 1983 for overall champion! What do you all think?
Let me know. Melissa Matthews Kight, Class of 1988 <mmkight@hotmail.com> Asheville, NC, USA Melissa Matthews Kight (Class of 1988) Update from Bob and Dot Weeber: HI, Becky - From Bob and Dorothy Weeber: Greetings and thanks soooo much for what you are contributing to inspiring these contacts with the 'ole great Ben Lippen Family - the "On The Mountain" family. It was great getting that forward from Billy Townsend! I sent it to A C McWilliams and we both have exchanged emails with Bill. How meaningful to learn of the Lord's direction for him and his big family. Keep up the good work. I hope many more learn of what you are doing and join in to share their own journies. What a great group of wonderful "kids" attended BL "On The Mountain" and what great and sometimes difficult times we shared as the Lord graciously taught us all so much about Himself and ourselves as He was molding us for the specific future He had for each of us. Just a few catch-ups on Dorothy and me and our five. We (Dot and I) did move with the school in '88 and the Lord led us to a small three bedroom house which has nice ly met our needs, located! about ten minutes from the campus. After 41 years ( 33 "On The Mountain" and 8 in Columbia ) we "retired" in '96. Can't stay away from campus. Am out there for ball games, committee meetings faculty get-togethers and are learning to put up with those little aches and pains that show up at 79 and 77! The Lord continues to bless the school and the faculty's prayers and vision to see the students come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior and Lord in a real personal experience, much as He did "On The Mountain." Can you imagine 950 students ( K4-12 ) with a Faculty-Staff of 90? and the Lord's provision of meeting the financial needs. It's different but wonderful. An update on our family: Judy and John Dahl live in Denver where she is a massage therapist and also really enjoys teaching water aerobics to senior citizens; John and Juliette with son John Gabriel are still in th e banking business in Par! is , France: Joy 's latest is a PhD from NCSU in the special field of "Disability Identity Development" and is on the faculty at the UNC Pembrook, NC.; Jeanne and Tom Jones live in Richmond, VA. and she is involved with Insurance Sales. They have a daughter Alex,, a high school senior: and Janice and Howard Steensma live in Hastings, MI. with Brittany, a high school senior and Josh a middle schooler. Keep up the great job you're doing for the Alums. Homecominmg is just about 4 weeks away. Looking forward to seeing a lot of our "Mountain" grads there. Cordially, in our wonderful Lord, Bob, for Dorothy too Bob Weeber bobweeber@earthlink.net – Signed on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at 14:38 (EDT) More from the Blantons:
9/22/2005 - Hurricane Update and Pictures Once at the home page, click on "Hurricane Update" in the right column. Prayers for all those in Rita's path.
Connie & Don Blanton
Kristy (Ball) Loughborough, Class of 1986 <kjillybear@adelphia.net> Elizabeth City, NC, USA Dear Becky, Thank-you for doing this website! I didn't know it existed until I met a lady in our new church who went to BL, and graduated back in 1973. She told me about it! To all my classmates of 1986: I can hardly believe it has been 19 years since High School.... After graduation, I went home to Upperville, VA, to live for a year with my parents before I would attend college. There I worked as a Preschool teacher. Then I met Rick Loughborough... My plans were to change! Rick is 5 years older than me. He was a banker. Needless to say, we were married on April 25, 1987. We lived in an apartment in Manassas, VA, for almost 2 years. I worked in a local department store. Then Rick told me he felt called into the Ministry. I didn't want anything to do with it... having grown up as a PK. However, later I had a real sense of peace about it. We moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Rick attended Moody Bible Institute to get his Pastor's degree, after already graduating from The American Institute of Banking. While we lived there, I worked downtown Chicago at an Insurance Agency for one year, then I was a nanny for a family in the suburbs for 2 years. I was blessed to be able to take some classes as well at night with other married students' wives. Our son, Joshua, was born in December of 1991, 2 weeks before Rick graduated. We then moved to Columbia, MD, to help plant a contemporary style church (part of the Willow Creek Association), where Rick was the Assistant Pastor. Our daughter, Jordan, was born in May 1995. While living in Columbia, Md., I was blessed to be a stay at home mom. Rick went back into banking... He was promoted, and we moved to Charlotte, N.C. in the fall of 1997. There we lived in Lincolnton for 3 years, and Gastonia for 4 years (30 mins. west of Charlotte). I worked part time doing some Marketing for 12 of the area McDonalds... also Activities Coordinator for one of them. Well, all this to say Rick felt he needed to get back into full-time Ministry...so long story short... in January 2005, this year, we moved here to Elizabeth City, N.C. I am a stay home full time mom now! Yeah!!! Rick is the Executive Pastor for New Community Church here. God is so good!!! It is the perfect job for him! It uses his Business background, as well as all of his Pastoral training. Our son, Joshua, is 13 in the 8th grade!!!! Wow!!! I can't believe I have a teenager!!!! Our daughter, Jordan, is 10 in the 5th grade!!! They go to a local Christian school here. I am very involved in the women's ministry at our church. We love the church and people here! It is a contemporary style church! (Dramas, multi-media, worship songs, etc...). We live about 1 hour from the Outerbank beaches!! We enjoyed going over there some this summer! Please write me when you get a chance! I've enjoyed reading all of your letters!!! After 18 years of marriage...It's amazing to look back and see all of what God has brought us through!!! God is so good to us!
Love in Him, Kristy Ball (Loughborough)
Hurricane Katrina Report from the Blantons
Don and Connie Blanton, Class of 1972 <>
From SUNDAY, August 28th: Just trying to check in with everyone in connection with Hurricane Katrina. We boarded up our home in Mandeville and headed to our condo in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Don's parents left their home in Covington and are with us. Faith and two children were on their way down to LA (from VA) for vacation but they met us here. Don was able to change his flight out of New Orleans to Ft. Lauderdale and fly out of Ft. Walton this afternoon to do a seminar in Ft. Lauderdale Mon. and Tues. He is to return late Tues. night IF the flights are coming in by then. There is an evacuation of Okaloosa Island (which we are on) because of potential flooding. But we are staying and the condo assoc. is leaving our power ON, but turning off power to the vacant units. So unless the power goes out here, we should be ok. We are about 250 miles from where the eye is scheduled to make landfall. The tide is occasionally lapping up to the sand dunes (if you remember where those are.) Next are the four foot walls around the pools and then the ground floor of the condo. The Gulf is angry! Possibly the worst we will experience is power outage and not being able to get back home if there is a home left. It's surreal. I'm really uneasy without Don here, but we know Who is in control. I tried to contact some of you local people before I left, but couldn't get anyone - hopefully you had already left town. If you receive this, please let me know where you are. Pray for the people who couldn't get out of N.O. - this is going to be really bad. The news says the worst time for N.O. is going to be between 9 am and 3 pm Central time Monday. I'll try to keep in touch as long as we have power. I love you all. From MONDAY, August 29th: Thank you for those of you who have replied to my earlier email. We came through the night with no problem and still have power. As you probably know the storm shifted east and will hopefully spare N.O. proper of the brunt of the eye. The sustained winds here are 40 miles an hour and expected to increase throughout the day. The surf has moved no closer than it was yesterday, but also expeced to increase throughout the day. We have been in touch with Don's parents' neighbors who stayed in Covington and they said they can see no damage to their home. That's all the word we've had from home. Please continue to pray - it's not over yet. Thank you, my friends. From TUESDAY, August 30th: The power has gone off and on several times throughout last night - stayed off for 30 minutes one time, but that was the worst in regards to power here at Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Faith and kids are leaving today to go to Orlando to try to have some kind of vacation. The kids have done pretty well being cooped up here for 3 days. Have not been able to get any info on Mandeville/Covington - no phone service. I have not even been able to talk to Don in Ft. Lauderdale, FL since yesterday afternoon for the same reason. He is supposed to fly back in late tonight to Ft. Walton. So it's just more waiting - wondering what we will find when we are able to go back home. From here to home we have to drive through the worst hit area - MS - don't know when those roads will be passable. Two good points: 1. Most of the evacuaees went West and North instead of East (where we are) so it hopefuly won't be as bad as others trying to get home. 2. The major news channels are not reporting anything on our area so that may possibly mean it may not be totally devastating in that they only report the very bad stuff. Holding out all the hope I can. Thank you to so many have encouraged us over the last few days - please forgive me if I don't respond individually to you all but I do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Got this info from 2 message boards: Greenleaves (my subdivision) and Covington did not flood. Gazillion trees down, no power/water, parish (county) is closed. Rumor is that text messages can get through, but not calls to/from phones with 985 area code. Don flies in tonight - his flight is delayed due to another plane having to make an emergency landing in Atl. Aunt Pat in Daphne, AL on the Eastern Shore of Mobile has power and water. From THURSDAY, September 1st: Don's parents' house doesn't have any trees down on it!! Our house has a tree laying up against the game room (by the pool) but has not broken through the roof. Thank you, Lord! We lost our oak tree and giant crepe myrtle in the front yard. Parts of the fence are down, one column and a couple of planters are down where the tree in the back yard is up against the house. The neighbor's tree is down in our side yard. All this info is from Ray Duncan - they made it home last night. Ray was going to try to find a generator today (Please pray that he finds one.) They also have the option of going on to Houston to stay with his son who just had knee surgery or they have several relatives in Mobile and of course, they could come back here. I hope they dont try to stay there with no electricity! James text messaged (incoming calls to 985 area code still not working) Matt Robicheaux in Covington - they stayed for the H. but are all fine. The Welches had one tree down in their front yard, but not on their house. No word on any other friends in the area. So it looks like the worst we'll have to deal with is spoiled food in the fridges and freezers. Thank you all for praying - if you hear from anyone in my area, please let me know!
From TUESDAY, September 6th: It’s hard to sleep nights – so many have lost everything. We feel guilty that we have a place to go to when so many thousands are displaced/homeless. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future! We are still working out many details with regards to our business and it will be awhile before we get all the bugs worked out. Our plan now is to stay here in Ft. Walton Beach for the next several months until the New Orleans (Louis Armstrong International) Airport is running on a full schedule again. Don’s schedule is packed from now until Christmas and the airport here is only 15 min. away so this will actually work out well for him to fly in and out of here. Jeff Hopper and his wife, Stephanie, were the “Live Case” at our annual convention in New Orleans in 2000. This means Don went through the financial planning process with them in front of the attendees to the convention. Then on October 19, 2003, Jeff became the 12th victim of the D.C. Sniper and survived. Jeff and Stephanie were our guests once again at our annual convention in 2004, and shared the events of that terrifying day with our attendees. Jeff partnered with MoneyTrax last December as our Technology Partner has been invaluable during this disaster. I called him Saturday morning and told him “we need a disaster plan” never dreaming that we would actually have to use it. With his direction we successfully uploaded the hard drive of the Mandeville office computer to a computer in Melbourne, FL, (where Jeff is located) dedicated to MoneyTrax. Now from our computer here at the condo, I log onto his computer and work just as if I were sitting at the Mandeville computer! Who would have dreamed that when Don and Jeff met that Jeff would come to our aid because of a hurricane six years later? God did! Don has 20 agents coming here to the beach for a Mentoring Program on Thursday and Friday. As far as we know now, we plan to go home on Saturday to assess the damage from the downed trees and clean out our fridges and freezers. A subdivision down the street (Meadowbrook) got power back today. We’re hoping that Greenleaves may be restored this week also. Then Don is back on the road again. Thank you to those of you who have offered your help. As far as we know now we do not require anything personally, but we are sure that once we can get back and visit with folks at home there will be those who need help to put their lives back together and need financial assistance. We will give you some specifics when we know more. Love to you all – Connie Blanton Below are some links of pictures and web sites that some of you may be interested in: The web-page (www.trinitychurchonline.net) has a new section to collect reports on your location, needs and experiences.
Trinity Church blog:
Mandeville Pictures:
More Mandeville pictures
St. Tammany Parish Government web site
“Where was God when Katrina hit?”
From WEDNESDAY, September 7th: Many of you have asked how you can help. Below is the link to our church in Covington, LA - Trininty Evangelical Free Church. They are set up to take donations of financial aid, manpower, and supplies to help local families in our hometown displaced by Hurricane Katrina. http://www.trinitychurchonline.net/ The pastor of our church, Michael Sprague, has three trees down on his house. Thank you again for your generous offers to help. I reported to you yesterday, that we thought we might go home on Sat. 9/10 - not sure that we are going at this point. Will keep you posted.
"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Connie
Robyn Montgomery Myers, Class of 1975 <myers9@hotmail.com> Lincoln City, OR, USA Hi, Becky - what a blast from the past!! I was looking up info on the high school I actually graduated from (Los Alamos High School in New Mexico) after attending BL for 2 years, and a bunch of other high schools came up; lo and behold, here is all the great information you have compiled on BL. Such a treat! Thank you so much for doing all this!! Ruth Ellen Howdyshell, also from the class of '75, has been doing a newsletter annually for our class, so it has kept me up to date with them, but I really enjoyed reading about others from previous and later classes. I have not done a good job of keeping in touch with anyone. The only person I still have contact with is Laura (Rutledge) Simmons, as her parents have property on Orcas Island, in Washington, where my folks live. So here is the info for this web page: As I said, after leaving BL I graduted from Los Alamos High School, in New Mexico, then attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, majoring in child psychology. It took me awhile, and a couple of college changes, but I finally received my degree, from Brookhaven College outside of Dallas, Texas; I ended up majoring in early childhood special education, which I taught for several years before getting more training and going into social services, which I have been doing for 15+ years (yikes!) Before settling down I spent time in California, Texas, Wisconsin, and Florida (where I spent time with Jodi Harris - class of '74). I spent time in food service, retail sales, banking, and as a nanny for 7 children. I also visited Europe and Asia. Currently I am busy teaching Lifeskills activites for the Department of Human Services in Oregon as part of their Welfare to Work program, and I also coordinate an Indpendent Living program for students with special needs who are about to exit high school. Both programs are similar in that I do barrier removal, counseling, and employment related activities with the goal being self-sufficiency. The work is stimulating and frustrating! The hardest part is watching people try to fill the emptiness in their lives with external things (drugs, alcohol, money, etc.) when the only "cure" is Jesus. I have been happily (for the most part!!) married to Larry, a builder, for 23 years. We have 2 children, Lauren, 20, who is a Junior at Oregon State University, majoring in child psychology, and Ben, 17, who we are praying will make it through his senior year of high school mostly unscathed!! I also have a son, Ryan, who is 24; he manages a restaurant in Corvallis, OR. We live on the beautiful Oregon coast, near the town of Lincoln City. I spend most of my free time in my garden, taking my dogs for walks on the beach or around the lake near our house, and attempting to play golf with my husband (I call it 'hit and giggle.') We still make several trips a year to Orcas Island, where my heart is; someday I will figure out a way to get my husband to move there!! My father recently passed away, at age 87, but my mother, who is also 87, is still there, so I will have a good excuse to make lots of trips this year!! I have only been back to North Carolina 4 times since leaving BL, and have not been back to the old campus. I plan on going there this fall when I accompany my mother to Montreat to visit her sisters. I would love to hear from any and everyone who wants to get in touch from "back in the day." My e-mail address is: myers9@hotmail.com
Warmest Regards to all - Robyn Montgomery Myers, Class of '75
Bill Townsend, Class of 1971 <billsoli@earthlink.net> Waxhaw, NC, USA Greetings and salutations! A lot of water has passed under the bridge of life since leaving Ben Lippen 36 years ago. I came across this website while looking for old friends, Mark Miller, and Bill Wills. For those who had Bob Weeber for freshman Bible class, remember the song he taught us, "Christ is all I need!" At the time I thought the song rather simple but now 36 years later I know the profound meaning of it. Though my time at BL was rather rocky, setting perhaps the record for detention hall (6 consecutive months of campus restriction) in my two year stint there minus 2 weeks, because I ran away from boarding school to find out about the reality of God my own way. Mr. Elniff, my counsellor my sophmore year, spent alot of time trying to convince me that I wasn't a Christian due to my behavior and took me off of sports, which I loved, and spent many an hour with me in his office lifting weights for my phys ed experience while all the while trying to get me saved. Remember how Mr. Elniff would hardly be seen without his cup of coffee in hand and a pencil in his ear. Even though in those days I was getting "saved" every week when the "hell, fire, and brimstone" guest preachers would come and speak in chapel hour, I now know that I needed just to keep my slate clean (I John 1:9) in order to lay hold of His peace in my life. Though I learned much from my Ben Lippen days and treasure my memory of the Fortosis family, had I to do it over I would have elected to spend more time with my earthly father, Cameron Townsend, who to this day is my greatest roll model of Christ. I was a late bloomer and married to my lovely Latin wife, Soli (Soledad), at the ripe old age of 36 and we now have 6 special blessings we are responsible for: Elaine (15), Priscilla (13), Christina (11), Amy (8), Cameron (4), and Janna (3). I was only three when I asked Jesus into my heart at a Billy Graham Crusade in 1956 and my favorite song since is "Now I belong to Jesus and Jesus belongs to me!" I enjoyed reading of others I knew at Ben Lippen like Bob Major, Sarah Perry, Bob & Chris Fortosis. If it hadn't have been for the kindness of David and Steve Fortosis, I probably would have received the left foot of fellowship from Doc. Thanks to Doc's letter of recommendation I was accepted to Moody where I spent my freshman year of college hoping to be a missionary pilot. I did end up being a pilot until last year when my contracts ran out, flying for the US Department of Agriculture photographing farm land in Georgia, the Carolinas and Alabama. As was Jesus prayer, my longing for us is that we be one with the Father and His Son. Growing up in missionary communities was a great heritage I'll always treasure and of sorts that was what Ben Lippen was for us all. I now know that that is what God wants to bless us with starting on this side of eternity. Psalm 133:1, and Psalm 107 are a reminder to me that our heavenly Father does want to take us out of the wilderness experiences and put us in "cities of habitation". Of course Satan is trying to puff us up in our individualism (divide and conquer routine). At age 52, my 8 year old daughter Amy told me today, "Daddy, when you die, I'm going to miss you!" The greatest treasure we have is God and the brotherhood of believers. Let's run the race to win even if it we are just door keepers for His kingdom. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" - let's sup with Him and one another. Just to mention a few names I would like to hear from, Lloyd Gay, Steve & Ann Olson, Steve Fortosis, Dave Fortosis, Ben Wood, The Wood brothers and Hatcher brothers from Mexico, Mark Miller (who I would have thought would be a Supreme Court Justice or President by now), Bill Wills (who I lovingly practiced my primitive knowledge of electricity on when hooking up 90 volts to the toilet seat as we were "sweetmates" sharing the same bathroom), Dave McQuilkin, who gave up the idea of being my roommate when I devoured all his jar of Tang, Steve Longacre who suffered after Bob, _____ Jones who shaved his head along with Longacre to protest strict hair codes, Jack ______ who passed out X-lax chewing gum during class for a prank that caused his demise in 1968 though I really believe he had a tender heart if you looked beyond the surface, Charles Sexton the chess champ, the Boulifant twins, Debbie Simmons, Dorothy Grimaldi, Ray Payne the curve breaker and great soccer player, Mike Watson, Bob Reed, Howard Hawkins, Miss Van Engen who gave me a new found love for English class which I dreaded previously, Betty Van Engen, Faith & Sam Playfair, Faith Hopkins, Roberta Mummy (?), and the French guy Eddie something or other - sorry Eddie, can't remember your last name. What wonderful memories of my Ben Lippen family! During my sophmore year girls were allowed to ride on the same buses as the guys to sporting events. Anyone remember Kmart Baptist and the Aliance Church downtown? I miss Coaches Mac and Hathaway. Anyone remember the basketball sensation, Nelson something or other, oh yea, Phil Nelson. Remember Lloyd Gay's awesome head shots in soccer. In freshman basketball playing against Eliada Home I came off the bench and scored my first two points for the other team - how embarrassing! How many of us learned how to do our own laundry and ironing while at BL! Thanks Becky for getting this website going, though I don't know you. God bless all of you and keep you 'till we meet again, Bill
ps. Ed Capps and his super brother Joe were the greatest hillbillies I ever met and what great athletes from East Flat Rock - they were two of my favorite heros. Joe took a leave after kissing who in the haunted house we had (Anita Brower was it?)? I don't want to start any rumors. I felt bad for Joe - we shouldn't have been celebrating Halloween anyway. Did anyone else spend an average of two weeks every winter in the infirmary with flu besides me? Don't remember the nurse's name but she was great. Ya'll take care! How could I close without making mention of the faithful janitor and his wife - Mr. and Mrs. Smiley!
Grace Townsend Goreth, Class of 1965 <ggoreth@pacbell.net> Tustin, CA, USA Grace Townsend Goreth My husband Tom and I have been married for 39 years (Feb 12, 1966) We have three childred, Joy 31, Faith 29, at Joel 24. We also have three granddaughters from our daughter Faith. We are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Thanks for staying in touch, Important Information for Class of 1965! We are having a BL reunion for the Class of '65 at the home of Clare (Strachan) Frist in Montreat, NC on August 12, 13, 14 --2005. We are trying to contact everyone in the class. If you see this notice, please contact Betsy (Grimm) Tritt - dets68@aol.com - or Dave Martin - martinnn@aol.com - for further information. Hey, its only our 40th!!! And, we're planning to see the old campus -- but mostly renew acquaintences and catch up!
Pat Major
Ted Eckman, Class of 1950 <ted@eckmans.com> Hartland, Michigan, USA Hi, Becky!! Guess who, it's me Ted again. I thought I might as well throw a little more junk on my Guest Book entry. Nobody ever reads it so machts nichts!! I was in the 9th grade and lived in the "wing" The year was 1948. One of the residents of the wing was a boy I'll call "Penny Buddington". Well, it seems Penny sent a sweater to the laundry in Asheville. They picked up and delivered each week. Well, wouldn't you know that all of a sudden Penny was running around hollering someone stole his sweater. Now, stealing at Ben Lippen Boys School was a chargeable offense just a tad short of murder. Accordingly, the administration was determined to find out who the thief was. They announced the theft at supper and noted that if the sweater didn't show up in a noted time a "fession session" would be imposed. No sweater so, on Saturday all students were assembled in the study hall/chapel and instructed to sit at a desk and keep your mouth shut and sit there and sit there and sit there unit someone confessed or the cows came home. I don't remember how long it was " 'till the cows came home", but come home they did and the criminal was still at large. After sitting in a wooden desk half the day, they let us go and promised "further action would ensue" Shortly after, during the week, Penny's roommate noticed that after opening his Asheville laundry, Penny surreptitiously and quickly shoved something under his bed. The roommate got down peered under the bed and THERE IT WAS" the purloined garment. Penny's lapse of memory would not go unnoticed. He didn't say anything to Penny but, within the shortest time span since creation, everyone in the wing did. Did they ever. If it hadn't been compassion on our part, and woul;d have made such a mess,we would have done away with Penny right there on the spot. We did assemble and constituted what could only be called a kangaroo court. After considering torture, amputation of limbs, blinding and a few other appropriate measures we came up with a plan. THE PLAN: It being the dead of the winter, we figured we could put the elements to our use. We would trick Penny to come out in front of the Lodgein the darkness of evening. We would then seize Penny, pin him to the ground, strip off has clothes, all of them, and run them up the flagpole. Everything worked as planned. To give the proceedings a semblence of legality, the charges were read before commencing justice. Penny was helpless to extricate himself from his predicament. A short but futile struggle ensued. Now, in the matter of running the clothes up the flag pole, the scheme was to run them to the top and then secure the lanyard as high up on the pole as possible. Being the tallest boy on campus, I had little chance to escape the honor of tying that knot on the pole. As a matter of fact, we thought it better and another lad stood on my shoulder tied the knot and justice was served ted feet up. We all fled the scene. Penny, having no clothes on and nearing death by freezing, chose a route to his safety we had not anticipated. Here is where the Law of Unintended Consequences arrived. He did not run through the lobby as we expected, but ran to the headmasters home down the road and presented himself at the door late in the night as a spectacle neither the headmaster or his wife had ever seen. Whether he was invited in or not, I do not know but his somewhat unusual lack of attire begged the question of what was going on. Buddy with no reticence explained exactly what was going on. Identifying the assailants, at least in one case, was no problem since, my height not only stood out on campus, but it also was the first name his memor coughed up at the faculty inquiry. I was dead in the water. I and other kangaroos got our own just punishment. Back in the study hall again, sitting on those hard wooden chairs, the administration obliged us to write 2000 times, are you ready for this?, "A MOB IS THE SCUM OF THE CROWD THAT RISES TO THE TOP" Two thousand times and none of this writing one word repetitively down the paper vertically, and then doing the same thing going on to the next word and so forth, a scheme that could up the process substantially. Nope. it was sentence by sentence 'till the whole bloody thing was done. Was my punishment effective? Well, it's been 57 years since I finished writing the last sentence. I haven't forgot it for one minute neither have I run anyone's pants up a flagpole.
Ted Eckman
|