PITTSBURG HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1955 BIOGRAPHIES *** FOR BEST RESULTS MAXIMIZE THIS WINDOW *** 06/12/2010 __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Cliff Baker--- (As narrated by Sherry Mc Adams Ball) He has a job but if he tells you what it is, he has to shoot you. He has a wife but won't give her name. 1 daughter and 2 grandchildren (a girl 5, and a boy 3). 2005: Deceased __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Shirley Barker Will--- Married George F. Will Valentines Day 1980. Between us we have 6 children and 8 grandchildren. I worked several years for the Navy Exchange System, finally as Secretary for the Navy Exchange Officer. We recently became full time RV travelers. Hobbies are traveling, sewing, and quilting. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Sue Beard Baker--- Divorced - Have one daughter. One beautiful granddaughter who is five and one handsome grandson who is three. Have been a Veterinary Technician for 30 years. Enjoy showing Great Danes, Traveling and Spectator Sports. I am an avid KU Basketball fan. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Marcia Bierlein Green--- Married 1959 to Jerry; widowed 1998. K.U. - B.A., B.S, and M.A. Taught school in Lawrence, KS. Volunteer/activist - community school in Seattle, WA. Politics - Virginia (basically grassroots although I managed a campaign). Taught sailing. Activities - photography, biking, hiking, sailing (did a half circumnavigation of the globe). Attend theatre, concerts, and art shows. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jerry Blaes--- Married Laura in 1964; 2 daughters and a son. Joined the US Army in 1960, retired in 1980. Returned to school, getting my associate degree in business from El Paso College (1982) and my Bachelors of Accountancy from New Mexico State (1984). Started a 2nd career in the finance and accounting office at Fort Bliss, retiring in 1998. Won Instructor of the Year (1998) in my 3rd career as accounting instructor. _________________________________________________________________________________ ---Janice Braden Kelley--- Married to Jack Kelley 19 years. 4 children, 5 grandchildren. Retired in 1993 from community college teaching in So. Calif. Hobbies: Bicycling, bicycle touring, travel, books, music, gardening and learning to play the cello. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Sharon Brady Klein--- Married classmate Bill Klein. Divorced and moved to the Calif. Have 2 sons, 2 grandsons and a step-granddaughter. Managed a shoe store, worked in Inventory Management/Production Control, and finally as an Inventory Analyst in the B2 bomber program. Retired early to Nevada in 1995. Enjoy Fantasy Football Leagues, surfing the Net, and creating T-shirts & greeting cards. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Kay Branaman Eakin--- Husband, Terry; 3 sons: Seattle, Suburban Washington, DC, San Francisco. International educational consultant; Live in Mesa, AZ and Washington, DC. Theater-concerts-swimming-stained glass (new interest). President, Foreign Service Youth Foundation. Also a published writer. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Ron Cowden--- Married Classmate Betty Jo Fliginger. Two sons. Graduate of Pittsburg State 1959. Joined the Army and had two tours of Vietnam as helicopter pilot. Retired from Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and became a civilian employee of the Army as a helicopter instructor. He was killed in a helicopter accident April 1984. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Helen Crafton Patterson--- Married Thomas F. Patterson 1959. B.S. PSU and M.S. at University of Kansas. Career: Kindergarten Teacher and Reading Specialist. 6 children and 8 grandchildren. Widowed in 1999. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jan Croker Charter--- Retired two years ago after teaching 27 years in the Haysville school district. Enjoying the home I recently bought. but due to hectic "retired person" schedule, haven't found time to finish unpacking. I am finally a proud grandmother, still play the organ for church, and learning more about my computer. My new toys are a red kayak and a travel trailer -- both of which I plan to use often __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Eugene Dawson--- Attended U of Redlands, CA; Theological School and School of Social Work, both in Boston; a PhD and teaching at Syracuse University; U. of N. Colorado to teach and head Gerontology Pgm. Directed Behavioral Health Programs in hospitals in Denver. Currently Dir. of Senior and Wellness Ministries at a city church in Denver. My wife is Mary and we have 2 sons, a daughter, and 4 grandaughters.(2005)Moved to Montrose, CO with a private counseling office and affiliation with our local hospital. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Melvin Fanska--- Retired from US Army(1975) as Master Sgt. Served various countries overseas. Spent next 5 years with Securicor in England. Currently Supv. of Bldg Services for 17 schools in Raytown, MO. First wife died in 1989. Married Noma 10 months later. We have a blended family of 5 children and 8 grandchildren. My interests are: sports, church (both Noma and I are ordained ministers in the RLDS Church). __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Nancy Fitch Nienhuser--- Married to classmate Carl Nienhuser 44 years. We have five children, 3 daughters & 1 son and 1 adopted son. We have six grandchildren. Served with Lutheran Bible Translators 10 years, 5 in Liberia West Africa. Medical transcriptionist in Tulsa since 1977. Will retire in 2002. Enjoy reading and cross stitch. Also looking forward to more of the family moving to OK this summer. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Bonnie Green Williams--- Have 3-children l-daughter and 2-sons. Ron (PHS grad) and I were married 37 years when he passed away. I work Old Navy part time...Enjoy my 5-grandchildren.4-girls and l-boy. Semi-retired....... __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Denise Gutteridge Inman--- Married to Bill for 43 years. Have two sons and also two grandsons (ages 10 & 8). I am at present working as coordinator for the Dodge City Community College Kinsley Outreach Center in Kinsley, Ks. I enjoy golf, crafts, my children and grandchildren and of course shopping. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Judy Heller Seifert--- Married Pittsburg native Gene Seifert. Two daughters and two grandchildren; all live in Kansas City. Retired from teaching high school English in 1997. Enjoy reading, traveling, hiking, dining out, and wine tasting. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jon Herron--- Married classmate Beverly Wesonig. 2 sons, 8 grandchildren (1 granddaughter). 35+ years at Delco Electronics Division of General Motors with assignments in Marketing and Human Resources in Indiana, Michigan, California, Singapore, Mexico, and South America. Interests include reading, golf, investments, sports (a Pacer fan), travel, and hiking. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Carder Hobson--- Married classmate Vaughn Lark; 3 children, 4 granddaughters, 1 great granddaughter, all live close; Retired from IBM marketing in 1992; Consulted to IBM for a year; then retired for good. Enjoy family, computers, reading, RV travel, Barbershop Quartet singing, Univ of North Carolina Basketball, and puttering. UPDATE 2010: Not much has changed, except one additional great-granddaughter. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Richard Horn--- Married to Diane 18 years. 2 sons, 1 stepson & 3 step grandchildren. Grad PSU 1960. Worked Lynn Ins Group 35+ years (14+ in Kansas City, 21 in Boca Raton, FL). Retired Sept 98. Moved back to Pittsburg Aug 98. Enjoy traveling & working on our 200 acre homesite. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---John Houck--- Married Mary Ann Kneebone in 1958, two sons one daughter, oldest with Wal-mart, younger attorney here in Topeka, daughter is editor of medical magazine. We owned two supermarkets in Missouri, retired age 46. Since have been mainly an investor; stock market and Real Estate. We have one grandson age 8. We enjoy traveling, recently returned from Vancouver.B.C. Now Deceased. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Marilyn James Parks--- Married classmate Felix Parks. 3 children living in CA and MT; 4 grandchildren. Assistant Activity Director, Pondera Medical Center. Hobbies: church work, grandkids, sewing, nutrition, violin, dancing, and skiing __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Carol Sue Jackson Granger--- Married to Derril Granger, three sons and three grandchildren. My number one interest is family. I'm a movie buff (remember Saturday afternoons at the Midland theatre?), enjoy pop concerts in the park on warm summer nights, "Nutcracker Ballet" at Christmas and have seen "Cats" two times. My favorite museum is the Art Institute in Chicago __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Phil Kubler---- Married 40 years to Marilyn Jacobson (Shawnee Mission). Have 3 kids, 4 grandkids, all nearby. Retired Army Civilian in '98 (34 yrs) as operations research analyst. We have 2 corporations related to environmental protection and providing services to the disabled. Enjoy movies, reading, travel, yardwork, jogging, and grandkids. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Vaughn Lark Hobson--- Married classmate Carder Hobson; 3 children, (2 girls, 1 boy); four grandchildren, 1 greatgrandchild; Retired from North Carolina Electric Co-ops as Facilities Manager in 1993; Enjoy sewing, reading, RV travel, and family. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Sherry McAdams Ball--- Married to Jack Ball (class of 1952); 2 children and 1 granddaughter; I work in my son's architecture office; Jack is retired; fishes, golfs, and does woodworking. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Becky McGehee Norrie--- I am living in Frontenac, Kansas for the past 2 years. Married to Bill Norrie (formerly of Florida) for 20 years. Have 3 boys and 2 girls between us, and 11 grandchildren. Now working for the Crawford Co. Health Dept. Husband employed at PP Inc. here in Frontenac. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU AT THE REUNION. (2005 Update) WE ARE NOW LIVING IN OCALA, FL. AS OF FEB, 2003. WE BROUGHT A HOME HERE IN DECEMBER 2OO2 TO BE NEAR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN (STILL HAVE 14 GRANDCHILDREN AND NO MORE TO COME ALONG). BILL IS WORKING AND I AM RETIRED, WOULD LIKE TO WORK PART TIME AS THE TIME WOULD PASS QUICKLY. WAS PLANNING ON BEING IN PITTSBURG FOR THE REUNION BUT BILL CHANGED EMPLOYERS AND WON'T HAVE TIME OFF UNTIL 2006. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY IN 2002, BUT STILL HAVE A SISTER IN PITTSBURG. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE REUNION. WILL BE THINKING OF YOU ALL. (2010 Update) Still in Ocala, Fl. Married 32 yrs, 1 son,4 stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, 1 great step granddaugther who will be 2yrs old Christmas Eve. Semi retired so is Bill at the present. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Herb McHenry--- Married to Mary Wood 37 years. Worked for Greyhound/Trailways for 27 years. No Children. Retired. Watch Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Hockey on TV. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Judith McMillan Anderson--- Married Ed Anderson from Virginia in 1957. 2 sons, 4 grandchildren. Lived in Alabama, Massachusetts, Florida, and Iowa. Management Analyst, retired 2/00. I love to travel, garden, visit with friends, listen to jazz while puttering, make baskets, read, ski, golf, bicycle as often as possible. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Marilyn Milligan Tindel--- Married classmate Dick Tindel 42 years-2 sons-2 grandsons. Worked many years in offices, last 15 as church secretary. Work part time for son in family business. Enjoy reading, gardening, travel and grandsons __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Clyde Mynatt--- Clyde and Bernice Mynatt are now semi-retired and living in Atlanta, Georgia. They have two children, Arienne (’72) and Jason (’74). Four years ago, Clyde sold his interest in Storehouse, a 43-store furniture chain. Prior to joining Storehouse, Clyde celebrated 25 years with Montgomery Ward, becoming Regional Vice President. Clyde still travels maintaining retail contacts, managing real estate investments. They escape whenever possible to the Florida sunshine and their beach house on Sanibel Island. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Carl Nienhuser--- Married to Nancy for 44 years. 5 children: 3 girls; 2 boys; 6 grandkids. Machinist 34 years. 10 years with Lutheran Bible Translators, 5 in Liberia West Africa trans- lating and teaching literacy classes in the Gola language. Taught Linguistics at the Univ. of Liberia 2 summers. Returned to Tulsa because of illness. Coached youth soccer for 15 years. Enjoy woodworking, reading, horseback riding with grandkids. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Merna Jo Offenbacker Miller--- Married to Don 7.5 years; 2 children, 2 stepchildren, 3 grandchildren. Retired May 1999 after 20 years as an abstractor in Rock Island, IL. recently started working part-time as hostess/cashier to support my antique habits. Love to read, do cross- word puzzles, go antiquing and to auctions. At home I am known as "The Pie Lady" for the number of pies I make. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Bill Ohlhausen--- Married to wife Eva for twenty years; have three children, two stepchildren, ten grandchildren, one great-grandchild and another on the way. Enjoy traveling and boating. _________________________________________________________________________________ ---Thelma Orender Miller--- Married to Elden Miller (26 yrs). We have seven children between us; eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I am retired and I like to travel and try to keep up with my children and grand and great grand children. I was awarded the Spirit Award in 1995. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Felix Parks--- Married classmate Marilyn James. 3 children living in CA and MT; 4 grandchildren. Left U.S. West Construction foreman 1990. Church work, ranching, gun and bow hunting anything that moves, calf roping, mountain pack trips, skiing, trucking, dancing. _________________________________________________________________________________ ---Del E. Pike--- Married to Rosa Maria for 41 years; they have two daughters, one son, and four granddaughters. Del will retire from the Federal Government (Department ofDefense) the end of March 2000. _________________________________________________________________________________ ---Thomas E. Pingry--- Retired from the US Army(1982) as LTC. Since then I have taught Jr. ROTC, Managed a software retail store, assisted my wife Sheila in running her antique and crafts business, also use the internet Ebay buying and selling antiques and collectibles. I play golf when I can and we travel widely to visit 4 kids and 10 grandkids. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Duane Powers--- Married to Patti; 4 children/4 grandchildren (5 in August), all in Texas; Retired from R&D in Air Force as Lt Col(1982); Am now Program Manager at E-Systems (now Raytheon) for the past 17 years; season tickets to Dallas Super Pops, Dallas Summer Musicals, and Texas Rangers Baseball; round dance, square dance, and play softball (in the Dallas Seniors League - that's polite for "old guys" league). ---Updated 2005--- Retired from the Air Force as Lt Col in 1982; Currently a Program Manager at Raytheon (formerly E-Systems); Four children/five grandchildren (all moving back to Texas in July); Season tickets to Dallas Super Pops, Dallas Summer Musicals, and Texas Rangers Baseball; Round Dance, Square Dance, Clog, play softball in the Dallas Senior (“Old Guys”) League and try to keep up with five acres that I hope will be the site of a new house in the near future. ---Updated 2010--- Retired from Air Force in 1982; Divorced and remarried in 2005; Retired from Raytheon (formerly E-Systems) on 27 Aug 10; Four children/five grandchildren (plus six grandchildren on Marilyn’s side of the family); Season tickets to 1/3 of Texas Rangers Baseball; Round Dance, Square Dance, and Clog weekly, if possible; Play “42” (dominos) with Sunday School class along with “Prime Timer” church activities monthly; expect to travel more since I’ve retired (trip to Ukraine scheduled for 17-30 Oct); plan to resume playing softball in the Dallas Senior (“Old Guys”) League now that two major surgeries are behind me; and still hope to build a new house on our five acres in the near future. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Richard Purdy--- Married to wife Mary for 41 years...live in Baxter Springs, KS...recently retired from the Army reserves after 22 years of service during which I was able to travel to Egypt twice, Denmark and Austria...we have 4 children - 1 son, 3 daughters... 6 grandchildren...we share our 2 grandsons with Dick and Marilyn Tindel... enjoy puttering around workshop spending time with my family. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jacque Robertson O'Dell--- Married to Marty O'Dell and am exploring Asia. We live in the Philippines and in Mesa, Arizona. Have 6 children plus Marty's 2, 17 grandchildren and 7 great- grandchildren. Own an antique shop in Scottsdale. Marty plays golf; Jacque is trying to learn to draw and master the computer. 2009: Deceased __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jerry Sample--- In 1954, joined Army Reserve and became licensed preacher. Preached the Gospel in Walnut, KS First Baptist Church. Graduated KSC 1960; BS Ed & ROTC Army Lt. Taught Science in Lamar, MO 1960-62. Masters degree, KSC, 1965. Taught 30 yrs in Jasper HS, retiring in 1992. Married Doris Hoover in 1972; 2 sons(1 killed in 1981),five grandchildren, & 1 great-grandaughter. Drawing Army retirement. Live in Jasper, MO __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Geneva Sayre Schleicher--- Married to Paul 42 yrs, 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren. Retired 3 times in 2 years from Director of Assisted Living Facility. ( The young ones keep quitting). I like reading, yard work, sewing, old movies, antiques and good music. Volunteer at Mt. Carmel Hospital and The Clothes Rack. In charge of Angel Ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Treasurer for PHS Alumni Assoc. and Chicopee Community Center. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Becky Tims Kuhn--- Widowed in 1999. Have 3 children plus 1 adopted, 5 grandchildren plus 1 adopted, 3 step-children and 3 step-grandchildren, and preparing for Great-Grandmotherhood! Employed by SGS U.S. Testing for 22 years; retiring in 2002. My hobbies are few with working and caring for grandchildren after work. Have a cabin on Grand Lake. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Richard Tindel--- Married classmate Marilyn Milligan 42 years-2 sons-2 grandsons. Retired AT&T(32 years) in '88. Founded Tindel's Telephone Service, Inc in Pittsburg in '89. Enjoy bass fishing, Nat'l Shoot to Retrieve Field Trials, PSU football, and model trains. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Art Van Houten--- Resides in Bella Vista, AR since 1994 after retiring in 1990 as an Army Reserve LTC, and from the John Deere Insurance Co. in 1994. Married 39 years to Bridget Lyons. We have 2 boys in Ilinois and Ohio and 2 girls both in Missouri. Also 9 grandchildren, 6 boys and 3 girls all under 11. 2 more on the way. I enjoy golf, fishing, and having "EVERY DAY SEEM LIKE SATURDAY"! Looking forward to the reunion! __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Carleton Van Deman--- Graduated K-State 1961 (Architecture & Architectural Eng), Married a K-Stater(Mary). Raised 2 daughters who now live in Orlando & San Diego. Began Architectural career in Phoenix in 1962. Joined medium-sized design firm in 1965 and became totally absorbed in it for 35 years. Retired (sort of) as Pres. in 07/99 and now looking for other interesting stuff to do. Hobbies: skiing, hiking, tennis, river rafting. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Lou Ann Vaughn Larson--- Bob and I have been married for 44 years. We have one daughter, one son, and three grandchildren. We retired to Calvert City, KY in 1996 to be near them. I enjoy deer hunting, sewing, games on the computer, RV traveling, and, of course, shopping. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Beverly Wesonig Herron--- Married classmate Jon Herron. 2 sons, 8 grandchildren (1 granddaughter). Taught school 25 years in Indiana (parochial school and vocational college) until moving to CA in 1986. Enjoy being a docent at Indianapolis Museum of Art, hiking, Art (drawing and watercolor), reading, and golf. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Don Wilson--- Married to wife Sally for 42 years.three daughters, eight grandchildren. Hobbies are fishing, golf, and watching ice hockey. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---George Bernard Wingblade--- Married to Silvia for 39 years. 4 children, 4 grandsons (2 more due shortly). Long engineering tenure with Bechtel Corporation (mostly overseas). Now have full time college level teaching and division chair responsibilities. Having fun and do not have any plans to retire. Much travel, research and leisure activities. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Harriett Wintle Neer--- Married Harry Neer. 2 sons, 1 daughter. 3 step-daughters, 7 grandchildren. Work variety - Cert. Admin. Medical Assistant(Pittsburg), City Clerk (MO), Medical Office Mgr(FL), Bank VP, now retired(IN), and between time, a stay-at-home mom. Enjoy bridge, reading, sewing. Active in Episcopal Church Women at several levels. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Irene Wood Arnold--- After H.S. graduation, married older guy from Class of '53. Have 3 children and 5 wonderful great super grandkids. Lived and worked in Pittsburg forever. No world travels and no real accomplishments that would impress anyone or change the world. Yes, it's been as dull as it sounds, but I wouldn't change a thing, or at least not any major thing. _________________________________________________________________________________ ---Jo Ann Workman Skelton--- Widowed 10 years; 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 greatgrandchildren. Retired in 1998 after 25+ years with Tektronics, Inc. Was diagnosed as having Muscular Dystrophy limiting my activities. I still enjoy condo living, church and spending time with family and friends. Hobbies include word games and crossword puzzles, music, and reading. (Update 2010: I am now living with my daughter.) __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Carol Zacarello Hollis--- Married Jim 1960. Have one son, Bryan. Owned a quilt shop for 10 years - then owned a women's dress boutique until 1989. Semi-retired. Now director of Topeka Art Guild Gallery. Paint in watercolor medium - specifically landscapes. Travel to New Mexico every year. __________________________________________________________________________________ ---Inadell Zanichelli Mitchell Davenport--- Married Jim Mitchell in Pittsburg in 1957; he died 1978. One son, Tyler. Married Roy Davenport 1983; he died 1994. Masters degree from Long Beach St. in 1980(?). I've taught music and elementary school. I sold real estate, and Roy and I owned an office machines business. I play in a small chamber music group and am church organist. Lived in California since 1959, currently in Morro Bay. Love to travel. __________________________________________________________________________________