Sandra LeBert's Mother - Our Condolences

A Funeral Mass for Mrs. Eileen Caldwell LeBert was celebrated on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11am at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Pallbearers were members of the Knights of Columbus. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. LeBert, 86, of Aiken, died Friday, December 26, 2008 at her residence.

A daughter of the late Francis Wilson Watson Caldwell and Mary Ellen Mineham Caldwell, she was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England and before moving to Aiken in 1954, had lived in Orange, TX. Eileen chose to stay at home to raise her three children. She was a Communicant of Saint Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and had been a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, Msgr. George Lewis Smith Council #3684, Aiken. She also had volunteered at the Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Aiken Children's Rehabilitation Center.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Lt. Col. Sanroy Joseph "Jim" LeBert, USAF, ret. who died in 2004, and two sisters. She is survived by two sons; Robert Francis LeBert, New Ellenton, SC and Ronald Joseph LeBert, North Augusta, SC, a daughter; Sandra Eileen LeBert, Aiken and six grandchildren.

More Sad News - Kathryn Ray White

Kathryn Ray White

ATHENS, Tenn. -- Kathryn R. White, beloved wife of W. Larry White for 32 years, died on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, in an automobile accident on the Interstate near her home in Athens, Tenn. A service will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Athens at the Ziegler Funeral Home (visitation 5-7 p.m.), and a memorial service is planned for Friday at 3 p.m. at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in Aiken. The family will receive friends at the church after the service in Aiken. Mrs. White was born Kathryn Richmond Ray on May 19, 1950, in Clinton, Iowa, a daughter of Elizabeth K. Ray and the late Dennie E. Ray Jr. of Aiken. She taught in the Aiken County schools. She had lived in Athens for more than 20 years. A longtime employee of the Internal Revenue Service in Chattanooga, she received recognition for compassion as well as efficiency. She was a graduate of Aiken High School (1968) and the University of Wyoming (1972). Besides her husband and mother, her survivors include her sister, C. Claiborne Ray of Brooklyn, N.Y.; her brother, Stanford E. Ray (and Cynthia) of Sumter, and their children, Deanna R. Guyton of Raleigh, N.C., and Samantha Leigh Ray of Seymour, Tenn.; her aunts, Ruth R. Ray and Harriet H. Smith; her first cousins, Monta Jean Ramirez-Smith and Franklin S. Smith; and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. The family suggests contributions to Aiken SPCA or another charity.

Sad News - Cheryl Olsen's Mother

Crystal Andreasen Olsen

Crystal Andreasen Olsen of Aiken went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008. Born in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 30, 1918, to Norwegian immigrants Andreas Arthur Andreasen and Andrea Larsen Andreasen, Crystal was additionally welcomed by her one and only sibling and lifelong friend, Evelyn Grace. Her loving childhood family life revolved around the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church. She attended New York City public schools and graduated from Business College. For five years, Crystal commuted by subway to work on Wall Street in Manhattan where she was employed as a comptometer operator for the Waterworks Company of New York. In the summer of 1936, Crystal met Lloyd Thomas Olsen, a fellow Norwegian and member of a sister church, while attending a church camp meeting. When he heard her name, he exclaimed, "With those bright sparkling eyes, your name is very appropriate!" The couple courted for five years. Wedding bells rang out on Oct. 25, 1941.

Within the next decade, Crystal moved seven times. Her four beloved children were each born in a different state: eldest daughter Crystal Marie in Morgantown, W.V., son Lloyd Thomas Jr. in Richland, Wa., daughter Karen Andrea in Wilmington, Del., and youngest daughter Cheryl Lynn in Martinsville, Va.

Lloyd's assignment with DuPont as supervisor of construction of the "bomb plant" at SRP brought Crystal, kids, kitty cats and collie dog to Aiken on Jan. 2, 1952. This lovely Southern town turned out to be the perfect place to make a home and raise a family. Crystal was a faithful steward of her time, talents and money. As a woman of God, she joyfully gave to her family, church and community.

As a faithful member of Aiken First Baptist Church, Crystal taught Sunday school, sang in the Sanctuary Choir, lead Vacation Bible School, joined Missions Round Table/Circle Group, directed the Young Women's Auxiliary and supported Acteens Mission Group. Crystal's God-given gifts shone through her longtime participation with the Hostess Committee where she served others in times of sorrow and celebration. Crystal grew especially close to her dear friends and sisters in Christ in the Barbara Smith Sunday school class. Crystal's community involvement through the years included the Lioness Club, the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, the Mended Hearts Club, Country Gardeners, Town and Country Club, Sunday-Monday Club, A.C.T.S., Aiken County Republican Party, PTA and booster club. Throughout her lifetime, Crystal cultivated a beautiful garden of friendships and nurtured a strong love throughout her family. She delighted in entertaining guests and was a renowned hostess and cook. Her Norwegian pancakes, cookies and wedding cakes were her specialty.

She shared her numerous needlework creations with her friends and family. She was also a fitness example, avid walker, golfer, sports enthusiast and bridge player. Crystal and Lloyd, the love of her life and husband for nearly 50 years, traveled around the world. They ventured to destinations such as Greece, Italy, China, Israel, Germany, France, India and Hawaii. Among the many countries they visited, the most meaningful journey was to Norway, "The Land of the Midnight Sun" birthplace of their parents. Crystal is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Andrea; her sister, Evelyn and her husband, Lloyd. She is survived by her children, Crystal Marie Swann and spouse, John Swann, L. Thomas Olsen and wife, Sheryl Olsen, Karen Andrea Edwards and spouse, James Edwards, and Cheryl Lynn Rafter and Richard Rafter; and 20 grandchildren who called her "Grandma Crystal;" and 16 great-grandchildren who call her "Bestemor," the Norwegian name for Grandmother, commemorate her life. "Miss Olsen" is also honored by her loyal, hardworking friend and honorary family member, Lester Hollingsworth.

The memorial service to celebrate the life of Crystal A. Olsen will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Aiken. The members of the Barbara Smith Sunday school class will serve as honorary pallbearers at her memorial service. The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the ceremony.

Even in death she exemplified a life of servant hood. As requested, her body was donated to the Medical College of Georgia for organ and tissue transplants and for medical research.

Memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church for Missions, 120 Chesterfield St. N., Aiken, S.C. 29801, 648-5476; The Salvation Army, 322 Gayle Ave. N.W., Aiken, S.C. 29801, 648-0461; and Regency Hospice, 105 Summerwood Way, Suite D, Aiken, S.C., 20803, 648-2117.

Crystal Andreasen Olsen: joyfully hospitable - creatively industrious - faithfully virtuous - remarkably optimistic

Letter from Pamela Donovan Hawkins

Dear Friends and Family,
For those of you who I have not contacted personally, I wanted you to know we have sold the house and will be leaving on July 24 to go to Louisville, Ky. and then to Denver in hopes of finding a house. We will return on August 6, close the house on August 8 and leave Barnwell on August 11. We will probably head to Edisto for a week before the trek across country. Because we will not be around, we are disconnecting our home phone on July 24th.

We will be available via cell: Bo-803.671.0426. Pamela-803.671.2562. As soon as we have a permanent address, we will get that info out. In the meantime, nothing beats the e-mail and/or cell phone. For now, we will keep the SC Alltel, so we are free to our Alltel friends. Remember the 2 hour difference; if you wait to call me at 9:00 in SC, it will be 7:00 in Denver, so a great time to call.

Keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we look for a house and drive west. Pray for the POD to protect our valuables and memories. Hope to hear from you soon!

Love, Pamela

Pamela Donovan Hawkins

Permission to reproduce reunion photos

I hear that some businesses will not make copies of the reunion/lobster race photos unless you have permission. Please consider this post as your permission to copy or print any photos appearing in this blog and the google photo albums/slideshows.

Thanks - Carolyn Nichols

From Tamla Stewart Pridgen......

Dear Members of the Class of 68,

I can’t begin to describe how rewarding it was to be with you all on Saturday night. All of you that I met welcomed me with open arms and kind words about my mom, Jamie Bell Stewart. We shared many laughs and some tears…..one of my favorite lines from Steel Magnolias is this…..laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions! So true! I can’t imagine how wonderful high school must have been for my mom being surrounded by such wonderful friends. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making those years so wonderful for her. And I thank you for sharing stories and memories with me so freely on Saturday.

While my trip from MD was a long one, it was worth every single mile to spend the evening with you. Now I know with certainty from my own experience that is was….

Never So Great As 68!

With love and blessings,

Tamla Stewart Pridgen

Well, the reunion is over.....

Hey guys,
The reunion was a lot of fun. It was so nice seeing everyone. Just a couple of things..... If I had it to do over, I'd let you each have your own name tag to start with. The little mixer game didn't work out as well as I thought it would.
Thanks for your efforts though. The second thing.. I need to apologize to Debbie Berrie. I have no idea how I did it, but I put Paula Heath's picture on her name tag. Sorry Debbie.

Several people took pictures and videos and we will be posting them as soon as I get my hands on them.

Thanks to everyone who attended. Your presence helped make this a great reunion.
We've had a lot of people thank the committee for a great reunion, but I want to say that what made it so wonderful was that you were there. Thanks for that.

Dawn Bass Carr sent this picture....

Dawn says ..... Can anyone help identify these children?
Millbrook Elementary First Grade..1955-56
(Look at the bottom of this page for a larger view)

Letter from Danny Brinkley..... received 4/30/08

Dear Carolyn:

I am so disappointed to have to tell you that I will not be able to attend our 40th High School Reunion. I am really sad about this as I have never once missed a single reunion. However, this year something very important, concerning my foundation, The Twilight Brigade (www.thetwilightbrigade.com) has come up, and I must take care of it, instead. I want you to let everyone that attends to know that I love them very much! I am so glad we made it this far. Please know that I truly appreciate the hard work it took to put this reunion together.
See you all at the 45th!

With love and purpose,

Danny and Kathryn\

PS I have attached a picture of me and Kathryn for you to post on the site. Thank you so very much.

Lobster Trainers??

Chuck Booker invites any of you from the Class of 1968 who would like to be Assistant Lobster Trainers to come on out to the Lobster Race, May 2 and help. We'll meet on the sidewalk in front of Aiken Brewing Company at 6:30 p.m. We want Miss Aiken High 1968 to be a well-trained lobster.

Update.... Pamela Donovan Hawkins

I check once a week to catch the updates, and I am thrilled to read about everyone. I have been an English teacher for 29 years, and I retired last year to move to Denver where Celeste (my daughter) and her family (two boys) live. My husband, Bo, and I have another grandson in Greenville.However, my house in Barnwell has not sold, so I went back to work in Oct.Thanks to all of you who e-mailed to catch up! See you May 3!

Another update... Robert Kuntze

Bob Kuntze lives in Coto de Caza, California. He says: "Still working in the automotive industry for Kia Motors America as Director of Sales Operations. Retirement is not on the horizon."

Update... Ann Hodges Arnette

Ann and her son on the top of Cadillac Mountain, in Maine.


Ann with her first grandbaby, daughter-in-law Leslie, and Trey, her older son.

Ann's own words...... "I really am getting excited about seeing everyone. This website was a wonderful idea. It helps many of us who are out of the area to get reacquainted after so long."

Thanks to Ann for sharing her pictures. You can read Ann's update in the guestbook.

Attention.... Meeting Place for Lobster Race

If you are planning to go to the Lobster Race in downtown Aiken on Friday, May 2, and would like to meet up with your fellow classmates, here's the info.
We will meet at 6:30 p.m. in front of Aiken Brewing Company on Laurens Street then walk through the Alley to the Newberry Street area.
Everyone is invited... Even if you can't make it to the reunion, you can catch up with your old classmates there.

More Lobster Race Info....

Well, the Class of 1968 is sponsoring a lobster in the Lobster Race (for charity) in downtown Aiken on Friday, May 2. You're all invited to come out and cheer our lobster on to victory. Our race is supposed to be between 7-8 p.m. Our lobster's name is Miss Aiken High 1968. This will be a wonderful way to kick off our reunion weekend.

Here are the official words from the Aiken Downtown Development website.....
Newberry St, Downtown. The race features live Maine thoroughbred racing lobsters. Local restaurants provide gourmet food in the streets. Enjoy rides, family activities, a community performance stage and more. 5:30-11:30 pm. $5 adults. Children under 6 admitted free.

Another update........ Helen Tewkesbury

Note from Carolyn .... I feel a little proud that Helen and Bob got married. I knew both of them before they met one another and was able to tell each one what a nice person the other was. I recently asked Helen to send me an update to post. Here it is.....

Helen Tewkesbury Hinds...
I thought my life watching the grand-babies was exciting, then I met and married Bob Hinds in 2005 (well, and again on April Fool's Day 2006, but that's a whole 'nother story). Between working backstage at the Aiken Community Playhouse, or helping at rehearsals at the Etherridge Center, riding cross-country to visit Bob's son Chris in San Diego on a motorcycle (through a hail storm and a tornado), or serving as his entire pit crew when he's racing motorcycles all over the southeast, I barely had time to send in this note. When we're not rehearsing or racing, we're watching old movies - and other people motorcycle racing. I'm now grandmother to 3 boys in Aiken and Raleigh, with a fourth on the way, and Bob's kids haven't even started having any of theirs yet. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of not-so-old friends at the reunion.

Bob and Helen as they depart for San Diego on a two-week trip by motorcycle (Bob's idea of a honeymoon...)


Helen visits the angels at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC this past Christmas.

Interesting Info.... Ronnie Patterson

I recently learned of Ronnie Patterson's current business and asked him for a little more information. I found it so interesting, I asked his permission to post a link and a few lines about it.

Ronnie says ...
........ Our LED-based therapy is the real deal. An amazing guy with a Harvard PhD/ BioMedical Engineering/ 4th Degree of Master of Traditional Chinese Medicineand a DC got our Lumen and has, at his own expense, completed a peer-reviewed study on patients with acute low-back pain and elevated cortisol and histamine levels. He documented a that with a 20-minute applicationof our small pad to the lumbar areas, the patients achieved a 94% reduction in pain, a 37% reduction in serum cortisol and a 28% reduction in histamine. The latter two results are 100 times better than the best pharma drug. He says he will document cholesterol also.
And it is safe to use on a canary.
We have a testimonial from a MD who absent-mindedly grabbed the pan handle that was 450 degrees resulting in a severe burn(skin-graft type) that healed completely in less than 4 hours! Collagen regenration at an extraordianry rate. Also used by aestheticians for facial applications.
And this is just the tip of what we see and hear.

Check out the product at www.lumenphoton.com (This is not a link..just paste it into your browser)

Are you on the fence??

If you're on the fence over whether to attend or not, just come on. Don't miss this good time. You can call Dale Prout at 803 649-9649 or Carolyn Nichols at 803 507-1543. You still have time to get your money in.

Carolyn

More updates from classmates.........

Eileen Bradham Hall...
Married 35 years.. two children, ages 24 and 28. I have been teaching Art at a private school in Aiken for the last 20 years. We built a house at the beach in 2005, so we spend our spare time enjoying the ocean, boating, and just relaxing.




Teresa Arbaugh Gunter....
I am no longer a professor at the college, but for the last six years have served as Choir and Productions Director at Wildwood Church in Tallahassee, Florida. I now have 5 grandchildren, 3 girls and 2 boys. All four children are happy and healthy -- respected in their areas of expertise-- and deeply loved by their mom.

Let's Welcome Tamla Stewart Pridgen

Tamla Stewart Pridgen is the daughter of Jamie Bell Stewart (Class of 68..deceased) and Mike Stewart (Class of 67). The exciting news is that she will be joining us for our reunion. I'm putting the update below in her own words... she says it beautifully.

I haven’t lived in Aiken in many years. After graduating from USC in 1990, I married Bert Pridgen, also an Aiken native, in March of 1991. I also married into the Marine Corps that day so have lived in NC, California, Virginia and now Maryland (for a second tour). We have three children….a daughter almost 15, a son almost 12 and another son who is 9. Both of our families live in and around Aiken, including my mother’s parents who raised me, so we visit as often as we can – my kids LOVE Aiken!

I sure hope to meet you in person in May. It is so neat for me to hear things about my mom from her friends – I was so young when her accident happened so my memories are almost nonexistent. It would be awesome for me to be in a room full of her former classmates and friends.

This is a picture of Tamla and her husband Bert that was taken last year at the Marine Corps Ball.

Your Reunion Committee

I've had several people ask about the reunion planning committee. Amazingly, we haven't aged a bit over the years. lol

Chairman, Dale Prout



George Hammack...






Helen Tewkesbury Hinds....



Dean Nunn.....



Carolyn Quinn Nichols....

You can still send your money in......

If you have been able to rearrange your schedules and can now attend the reunion, send your money to .... Class of 1968, 26 Troon Way, Aiken SC 29803.


Aiken High School
Class of 1968
40 Year Reunion

May 3, 2008
6-12 pm
Dinner at 6:30 pm
Woodside Plantation Country Club
1000 Woodside Plantation Drive
Aiken, SC 29803

$45 per person
Includes dinner and music
A cash bar will be available

More updates from classmates.........

Sheila Poe Carter...
Ran a business 31 years.... Married 38 years, husband died accidentally in 2005...Retired now and loving it!... Friends call me Roadrunner!!





Katie Widener Yonce....
I have two children, four grandchildren. Married to Jerry Yonce. Secretary at Johnson, Johnson, Whittle & Snelgrove, Attorneys.






Darlene Johnson Paradise...
Retired from Bell South in 2003. My husband and I traveled a lot after he retired but he died from lung cancer in Sept '07. I'm working on getting used to being by myself. My only child, Crystal, is getting married in November of this year so I am busy fine tuning the wedding plans. Retirement is wonderful. I try to keep the roads hot.







Jeanette Willing Bloss...
We have two girls age 30 and 27.. Holley and Leslie... and one grandchild, Lauren, age 2.








Betsy Warner Coles...
Rick & I have retired and are living in Cypress Landing, NC. Our neighborhood is an active golfing, boating and living community. I retired after 34 years of teaching Elementary primary grades. We have 2 beautiful granddaughters and my son Matthew is getting married in the fall. My dad passed away this past June '07. We are loving retirement!



Brenda Peterson Chaplinski...
We still reside in Raleigh, NC. Have been there for 16 years now. We both continue to work for DuPont Electronics located in Research Triangle Park, NC. However, looking forward to retirement in less than 3 years. When now working, we enjoy sailing a 19 ft. Lightning class sailboat and race with the Carolina Sailing Club typically at Jordan Lake or Kerr Lake. We also snow ski once a year and this past year we went to Colorado. Don't get back to Aiken too often, but check in weekly with my parents. Catch up with my brother as time permits.....Our four children are scattered around the US. We have a daughter and her husband in Portland, OR, the third daughter and her husband in Philadelphia, PA area, a son in Greensboro, NC and the second daughter is in the Raleigh area. No grandchildren for us at this time.




Martha Deitz Rice...
I'm still teaching French at Eastside High School in Taylors but I'll probably retire at the end of this year. We have 5 grandchildren now, all in the Greenville area. Number 6 is due in May. My mom still lives in Aiken.






Tom Rackley...
I am sorry that I will not be able to attend the reunion. I now live in Houston. I have been here 25 yrs minus 1 yr in Saudi Arabia. I am married and we have a beach house in the small town of Matagorda, which is south of Galveston, where we spend most weekends. I hope the reunion is a big success.





Beth Kenney...
I've been living in the Rockies for 20 years, and love it. I ski as much as I can get away with, and work as a technical writer/editor when I have to work. I'm looking forward to the reunion & seeing people from my high school days. Big fun!





Dawn Jones Hair...
-divorced March 5, 2007
-instructor and grant assistant, now full time at Nebraska Indian Community College
-email: dhair@thenicc.edu
-thrilled I finally have a chance to come to another reunion!
-have been an owner of a 5-speed diesel green VW Beetle since 2000, 175K miles and lovin' it!!






Nonie Hudnall...
After graduating from Aiken High, I went on to Clemson, where I earned bachelors' & masters' degrees. At Clemson I fenced on the fencing team. After moving to Spartanburg to work as a psychotherapist at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, I continued fencing and coaching at Wofford. At age 40 I started running and completed ten marathons, including Boston, Honolulu, Dublin (Ireland), Myrtle Beach, Disney World, Alaska, Charlotte & Kiawah Island. I now continue working PRN at the hospital and as the "nanny" for Karen Floyd's twin 11 year old boys! Hello to all my great AHS friends... Love, Nonie




Charlene Zelnak....
Nothing new with me - still living in Florida until the storms put me back in Aiken. Still retired and loving it!! ... Charlene






Carolyn Quinn Nichols....
My husband Curtis and I are both retired. We celebrate 40 years of marriage in August. Two grown children, two grandchildren ages 9 and 14.
My mother, Joyce Quinn, is 77 and still living in Aiken. We spend a lot of time together running the roads, looking for adventure.. especially concerts and casino gambling. She wins, I lose. lol My hobbies with Curtis are fishing and camping.

Check back soon. Lobster Race info coming!

The Lobster Race in downtown Aiken has really become one big reunion. It's been going on for 23 years and is enjoyed by all generations. Lobsters can be adopted with the proceeds going to charity. They then compete with the other adopted lobsters in races. Have you ever watched a lobster race? It's so funny.
There will also be food and entertainment.

This year's Lobster Race is May 2, which is the day before our reunion. Chuck Booker is working on specifics for suggesting a gathering place and we'll be posting more info soon. This will be a great way to have a little more time to see each other and catch up. I hope you'll include this in your plans.

Hey men....No Tie Required!

On your invitation we put the dress code for the reunion as "cocktail attire". The problem with this is that there are several definitions. Because this is a special occasion, I know we all want to look nice. Woodside doesn't enforce a "jackets for men" code, but they don't allow denim. Just wear what you want to wear. No tie required. But... no denim.

I hope this clarifies it for Dale, Roy, Michael, Barry ...... etc. :)

Can you help us locate these classmates?? Updated 3/8/08

Pat Timms - found
Kevin R. Gosline
Craig A. Borup
Danny Gambill
William L. Johnson
Donna Kay Boylston
Judy Lail
George Broughton
Harold Hubbs
Jane Siddall - she found us on the internet!
Betsy Manke
Nancy Willis Sargent
Greg Edeburn
Kay Garrick - Located 3/14/08... deepest sympathy on loss of her mother in Aiken cn
Mary Margaret Nuzum - I got this one .... 2/25/08 cn
Lynn Pillinger - found !..... 3/2/08
Charles A. Toole
Janis Brewer
Ann Pennington - found 3/24/08
Wayne Lowe
Perry Walvin Lewis - found !..... 3/2/08
Paula Davene White


Some of these names were discovered not to be in our database, and for some their invitations have been returned to Dale as not deliverable.

If you can get addresses or phone numbers for any of these, call me.
Carolyn Nichols 803 507-1543 or e-mail at Carolyn.nichols@gmail.com

Fighting Green Hornets

Recognize anyone?

If you have any pictures you'd like to share, you can send them to me at carolyn.nichols@gmail.com

Thanks

Sad News

Rosemary Cheatham's family has informed us of her death in 2005. Please view the guestbook to read the post by her niece.

Rosemary was a courageous, bright student. She was respected by her classmates who were proud to have her as a member of the Class of 1968.

To her family... we extend our deepest sympathy.