Wayne County

Fairfield High School

Class of 1927 - 50th Class Reunion

Biographies

Bernice Nussbaum-French

Upon leaving high school, I worked for a while at Wayne County Examiner, a one time weekly in Fairfield, I met John French in July of '27 and married him in Jan. '28. Lived in Fairfield when our two children were born; Jack, now a dentist in California, with two sons and one daughter; and Judith, now living in a suburb of Louisville, Ky., and has two daughters and one son. Helped my husband in several different businesses, including a hotel and eating place in Clay City during the oil boom. After he spent several years in business with his brother in the old Summers and Dickey store; For a time he had the Studebaker Agency and the French Locker Plant.

Then we came to Springfield, where he was in business until his illness; He died of a brain tumor in 1955. I have continued in Springfield, working for a time in my Brother in Law's Pharmacy; Then since 1960 have been the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Illinois Bridge Ass'n. (The kind you play, not the kind that you drive over). I plan to retire from this at the end of the present term, 12-31-'78.

Have made many wonderful friends through my bridge associations, this being strictly duplicate bridge.  Have tried to keep contact with lots of 1927 graduates, and especially thank Genevieve Goodall-Keys for asking me to join her to organize our first reunion back in 1962.


Edith Medler-Ried

I was married to Ray Ried on April 7, 1929. We are located about 6 miles north of Albion, where we set up housekeeping when we were married. I taught school for 41 years. My husband was a grain and live-stock farmer. I am retired and he is semi-retired. We have a married daughter, Sharon Ann Curtis and three grandchildren.


Mary Cannon-Griswald

After graduating in 1927, I worked at a Garment factory here in Fairfield. In November 1927 I was married to Walter Griswald.  We continued working at the factory for sometime.  Later we built and operating a Tourist Court where Kinkaid's Hardware Store now is.  We retired from the tourist court business in 1964;  We continued to live west of Fairfield.  My husband passed away Feb. 21, 1975.  I still reside in the same place, west of Fairfield.  I attend First General Baptist Church just across the highway from my home.


Dorothy Smith-Walker

After graduation I attended what was then known as Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale, Ill.  In the fall of 1928 I started my teaching career which ended 1972.  During that time I taught 35 terms, 19 of which were in the one room rural schools.  I was married to Alva Walker, a farmer, on November 26, 1936.  We never lived out of Wayne County.  Since his death May 1975, I have moved into Fairfield.  I have three children; Alice Horton, Marie Brockett, and James Walker, and three grandchildren.  I keep busy doing Church work in the First Baptist Church.  I also travel and visit a lot.


Bernice Curry-Evans

After graduation I entered Nurses Training School and graduated in 1931.  I worked as a private duty nurse for a while, but it was during the depression and work was not very plentiful.  I took some schooling in Psychiatric Nursing and then I began working as a trainee in Public Health Service Nursing.  After this I went to Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. for Public Health Nursing.  I was married to Marshall Iddings in 1945, but was left a widow in two years time.  We were living in Albion in Edwards County and I was working as a County Nurse.  I was married to O.R. Evans late in 1948.  I only worked a short while and retired.  We traveled into many of these United States.  We had a home in Bonita Springs, Fla. and spent our winters there.  After 25 years O.R. passed away in 1974.


Genevieve Goodall-Keys

After graduation I attended Northern Illinois State University.  I met and married Frank Keys in 1929.  A son Jack was born in 1931.  My husband's work, United Gypsum Co. meant transfers to several different locations during our 43 years of married life.  We lived in Dekalb, Ottawa, Princeton, and Peoria Ill.  In St. Louis, one year, Denver, Colo. for 13 years.  Then Frank was sent to the Home Office in Chicago.  We did not want to live in the city, so we built a home in Wheaton, where we lived 13 years.  During this time I did volunteer work in Geneva, Ill.  In 1971, Frank developed a terminal illness and we retired to Sun City, California.  He passed away in 1972.  I am continuing to live in our home here.  Have made many friends and love Sun City.  Bridge is my hobby and I do much traveling.  My son, his wife and three children live in San Jose, California; so it is possible to see them often.


Bessie Shannon-Burkett

After leaving F.C.H.S., I became an Elementary School Teacher, teaching in the rural schools of Wayne and Edwards Counties.  I went to college at S.I.U. in Carbondale, Ill.  I married Walter Burkett.  (Now deceased)  We lived our entire 42 years together in our country home near Albion.  We have one son, Charles Robert (Bob), who is teaching with a Master's in Mt. Carmel High.  Our daughter-in-law Rose Mary teaches with a Master's in Jr. High in Albion, elementary.  They reside on our old home place in a new home which they have built.

Since Walter's death, I retired early because of a foot injury by a power mower and I have busied myself by writing six books.  The first four are a series about Relatives and Friends of my childhood.  Publishers say they are funny and nostalgic.  The fifth book is a tribute "Thank You" letter to our son Bob, for the way he conducted himself during his dad's illness and death.  The sixth is "THE SEARCH", not completed yet, is a strictly Religious book ... I am tired, but not RETIRED from life, I hope never to be.


Pauline Stefl-Barber

After graduation, I worked at Sexton's both in the office and the sewing department.  I was married to Eldon Barber in 1931.  For a few years we lived in Albion because he worked at the Albion Brick Co.  In 1942 he went to work for Warred Petroleum Co. in Crossville and worked with them for over 23 years.  As his advancements came, he was transferred.  We went from coast to coast, the Gulf of Mexico to Wisconsin and enjoyed all the interesting things we saw.  We were in Texas 10 years before he retired in 1966.

We then moved to Fairfield where we lived in Elm River bottoms.  This was Eldon's Paradise, but poor health caused us to leave and move back to Albion, where we started from.  We work some in our Church, watch T.V. and read.  We have one Daughter, Margaret, who is married and has two children.  Her husband's the minister of the Nazarene Church in Denver, Colorado.


Carl Brock

Soon after graduation from Fairfield Community High School in 1927, I started working for G. W. Blackburn Co. selling Purina Feeds throughout Wayne and Edwards Counties.  Later I worked on a farm near St. Charles, Mo.  Next I went to Anderson, Indiana where I worked at Delco-Remy, an automotive electrical factory.  In the fall of 1929 I enrolled at McKendrick College, Lebanon, Ill. Where I lettered in football for four years, was Biology Assistant for three years, and met Marybelle Hertenstein of New Baden.  We were married in 1936.

After college I taught for two years at Zenia High School, and two years at Pleasant Hill High School.  Then I went to the University of Illinois, where I got a degree in Vocational Agricultural Education.  My first Agriculture teaching was for two years at Cory, Indiana.  Then I taught at Flora for three years before moving to Greenville.  I taught Agriculture here for twenty-eight years, before retiring in 1972.  Since retiring I have been working part-time as a building appraiser for Bond County, and in January 1977 I was appointed as the Bond County Building Inspector.  Marybelle and I had two children.  We lost our daughter, Susan, in a car accident in 1965, when she was nineteen years old.  Our son, David, is a Pediatrician in Paris, Texas, is married and has three children.


Laura Shaw-Sinnett

As I have lived in Fairfield all these years since graduation, I am prone to think you all know all about me, and there is no use to write a sketch, but of course that isn't true as some went East and some West, some South and some North.  I wish to take this opportunity to wish the very best in life to all of you, those who will be coming to our 50th Anniversary and those who won't be able to come.  I take the privilege to say a great big "thank you" to Miss Marlin and Mr. Carson, for their high ideals that influenced my life.

After remaining an "old maid" for 47 years of my life I married Glen Sinnett May 1, 1954.  I have no children of my own to boast about, but have a lovely stepdaughter Glenna Thomason and 6 grandchildren.  For 27 years I worked for Airtex Products as an inspector most of the time.  I have been retired several years and enjoy it immensely.  For many years my Church has been the most outstanding part of my life.  I attend regularly, I spend part of my leisure time at the Senior Citizens Center.  I enjoy ceramics, I have also taken Art for about a year and enjoy every minute of it.


Ralph Needham

About a month after graduation I put some clothes into a bag, climbed into the Model T Roadster we had at that time, and took off for Starkville, Miss., which was about 500 miles due south to visit my brother who was there working and attending college.  The name is Miss. State.  I think it took me about 3 days, but I made it in good order.  I managed to get a job in the local print shop with my brother, getting $10.00 for a 50 hour week.

I worked a year and then decided to go to college there as I could work and go to school.  It worked out fine as I could put in as many hours as I could spare from school work and so doing, got 2 years of college education pretty much on my own efforts.  By 1930 the depression set in pretty good and after the 3rd year I had to move on, going back north to Olney where my folks had moved to.  I stayed only about a month and managed to get a job in Chicago, where I worked 4 years.

While there, I got a chance to work in the office as well as the rest of the departments in that printing plant.  The fact that I could type got me into the office, for this I can thank Miss Adams for being such a good teacher.  In 1934, I found myself out of work again, but only for a short time until I found employment up in Wisconsin.  I worked at several places around the state finally coming to LaCrosse as manager of a small plant.

The plant grew and because we were doing printing for the War Department during the war, I was deferred from Army Duty.  After the war the plant continues to grow and I became part-owner and retired in 1967, after 30 years of working 11 or 12 hours a day all that time.  My first wife passed away in 1965 after a 5 year bout with cancer.  We had 3 children, 2 girls and a boy, now have 2 grandchildren.  In 1967 I met my wife Ruby, and we were married in 1968.  She had lost her husband some years before.

After a year or two of doing nothing, we started making Rubber Stamps as a hobby in our home, which are presently doing.  This has been a rewarding experience, as I found there was not only a lot of stamps, more than I ever dreamed of.  There is quite a field in rubber printing plates for firms who have small table top machines, that use a rubber plate to print from.  Yes .. we had a busy and rewarding life in 50 years, but I am beginning to think about retiring again.  Who Knows?


John R. Vaughan

In the not to distant past, one of the qualifications of being a good politician was to be born in a log cabin.  I was born in a log cabin, November 1, 1906, but never became a politician.  After graduating from high school, I farmed, helped run a threshing machine in the summer and a saw mill in the winter.  I worked hard with little remuneration.  I did this until 1936 when I started working for the Post Office Department.  I started as a substitute clerk and kept that job until World War II.  I joined Uncle Sam's Army April 29, 1942.  I left the U.S. for North Africa, Dec. 12, 1942 and landed at Oran December 26, 1942.  I spent the next thirty months overseas in Africa, Sicily, Southern Italy, Corsica and Northern Italy.  I could write a book about the war, but if I did and you read it, most of you wouldn't believe it.  I was discharged in September 1945.

During my last two years in the army, I had been writing a girl in Michigan, so I decided that I should not write to a girl that long and not go to see her.  I headed for Michigan about October the First, to make a short story shorter, I married Ruth Herlein on June 18, 1946.  We have three children: Bill, born 1948, Marilyn 1956, Kathy 1961.  Bill graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Master's Degree and is farming 1300 acres; Marilyn is a teller at Wayne County Bank; Kathy is a Junior in High School.

After returning from World War II, I started carrying mail on the rural route.  I retired from this January 1972.  I had a heart attack April 29, 1972, thirty years to the date of joining the army.  I am in pretty good shape now.  I can do about anything I want to, but I don't do too much.  My philosophy in life is from the Apostle Paul, who said ... "I have learned that whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content."


Hazel Borah-Weaver

On April 27, 1929 I was married to Bennie Weaver.  The following day we left for Akron, Ohio where we both worked at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Plant.  Bennie got laid off so we returned to Fairfield Feb. 1930.  That was the beginning of the depression.  I worked for the Wayne Co. Examiner and Wayne County Record.  Later I went to Chefford Motor Mfg. Co., which is now Airtex Products.  I worked in the office for 29 years, retiring April 1971.

Bennie and I owned and operated the Midway Shell Service Station two different times.  We sold it when he was called to the armed forces.  He was gone 3 years.  In Japan 1 year.  When he returned we bought the station again.  Later we sold it and he worked at the Light plant until he retired, in 1968.  After 45 years of married life he passed away at home from a heart attack.  I am kept busy with my house and lawn.  I attend Church at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church where I help with different things when needed.  I have no children; I am glad to be a member of the Class of 1927.  Good Luck to all.


Homer L. Green

After graduation I worked at farming in Wayne County.  In 1929 I left Fairfield and went to Peoria Ill. And started working for the Caterpillar Tractor Co. and was there most part of 20 years.  I met and married Liddie E. Wooding in 1934.  In 1948 we moved to Knoxville, Ill., where I worked at the job of Milk delivery.  In 1956 we moved to Solon Springs, Wisc., where we have lived in the same house the past 20 years.  We have three daughters two of our own and one we raised as our own.  They are, Jane Roman, Carole Landsveck, and Sandy Kramer.  We have five grandchildren.  Besides this, we were a foster home for 13 years.  We gave up our license last year.  I have not retired yet, I still operate my metal polishing business; I am a commercial Polisher and do lots of polishing for Antique Customer Dealers.  This last year I retired from one of my most loved hobbies which covered over 42 years.  I have coached and managed Baseball, soft-ball, and Basket ball.  I coach both boys and girls in soft ball and basket ball.  I have made many friends and have lots of fun.  I want to say, Coach Ted Carson told me to always do your best and that's what I told my men.


Harold Summers

Shortly after graduation on June 25th I married Miley Melvin of West Frankfort.  We both worked at Sexton's until December 1927.  In early 1928 we moved to East Moline where we worked until 1933.  We moved to Tacoma Washington.  Our son and only child was born in 1940.

In 1945 we moved to LaHabre California, where we spent 20 years working for the State.  It was here that Steve got his schooling, married and still lives.  They have one daughter, Beth, who is nine and our pride and joy.  We retired in March 1965 and moved back to West Frankfort.  I spend my time with a large garden in summer and fishing in Florida in the winter.  We spend three weeks in California, with our family at Christmas and the rest of the winter in Florida.  This will make 13.  Miley and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary August 26th and had open house at the Church.  Our family and 100 relatives and guests helped us celebrate.


Maude Davis-Jones

After graduation I taught school in Wayne County for 2 years.  In 1930 I married Dr. G.E. Jones, Dentist, a Mt. Erie boy who was practicing in Pekin, Ill.  We lived there 22 years and while living there I went to Beauty School.  I spent my time as housewife, dental ass't, and beautician.

We moved to Mt. Erie and spent 15 years on a farm.  But spent the summers at our cottage at Tomahawk, Wisc.  Then we lived in Fairfield 2 years.  In 1968 we left Fairfield and now spend our summers at Tomahawk, Wisc and winters in our home at Clewiston, Florida.  We spend a little time at Mt. Erie as we change locations.  We have two daughters, Mary Ann Cagle and Janis Hendrick and two grandchildren.  I would say my hobbies are: traveling and taking part in Church Activities, and sewing.


Eleanor Dunn-Harrison

Shortly after Graduation, I married Fred Harrison, a native of Fairfield.  After he had been employed in various grocery store operations, we, with our two sons, owned and operated Harrison's Market, west of the Courthouse Square.  My husband passed away in 1965.  I have kept my home in Fairfield, but I do quite a bit of traveling and visiting.  I have three children, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  My son Dean is married to a girl from Barcalona, Spain; they live in Maryland Heights, Mo.  Gene lives in Dallwood, Mo. And is not married.  I spend much time with him.  My daughter Patricia Sue Dalton and family live in Houston, Texas.


Thomas Steirwalt

After graduation I went to work in Hart's Bakery for 6 months, then to Johnson City, Ill. With the Standard Oil Co., as a tank truck driver.  After 2 years I leased a service station in Harrisburg, Ill., which I kept only a short time.  I came back to Fairfield and worked in the Wood-Heel factory and Sexton's Service Station.  Then I went to Evansville for a short time with the Western Auto Co. and then back to Fairfield with Chefford, Bob Black's Service Station and Phillips Oil Co.  In 1941 I was ready to stay put, so I went to Indianapolis and began to work with Link-Belt Co., from which I retired in 1973 (January).  On December 2(?), 1944 I married Helen Miles of Washington, Indiana.  We have one daughter, Debbie, who is a dog trainer with Kelly-Gard Training Chutes in Indianapolis.  We are living in Washington since retirement.


Lucille Dye-Long

After graduation I attended Eastern Illinois University and started on a teaching career.  In 1933 I was married to Millard Long.  We retired in 1970 and are not doing much.  Spending our time trying to keep well and happy.  We live in Cisne in summer and go to Florida in winter and live in our trailer.  I did teach 16 years.  We have 2 sons and three grandchildren.  Phillip works in Mattoon, is married, no children.  We keep busy riding bicycles, playing cards, camping and whatever comes along.  Charles is married and works in Purdue, Indiana and has 3 children.


Bernard Simpson

After graduation I worked on the farm until 1929.  I even went to Kansas to work in the wheat harvest, but that didn't last long.  I worked in Detroit, Mich. about nine months.  On New Year's Eve 1931, I bought my first Model T Ford truck and started trucking.  I now own and operate Bee Cee Freight Lines.  I also operated Bernard's Cleaners for five years in the meantime.  On December 10th 1932 I married Ruth Corder.  She passed away June 13th this year.

I have 10 children, 6 girls and 4 boys; William "Bill", Eleanor Venable, Evelyn Byrge, Kenneth "K.D.", Ervin Ray, Mary Ruth Smith, Karen Owen, Trudy Simpson, Lester, and Diana Howlett.  Have 19 Grandchildren.  I am an Elder in the Lebanon Presbyterian Church and have taught Sunday School for about 40 years.


Ethel Miles-Hill

I was born north of Wayne City, Ill., and grew up on a farm with my parents, William Alonzo and Minnie Bell Miles.  I attended Pleasant Oak School through 8th grade and three years of High School at Wayne City.  Graduating from there in 1926.  I had four brothers, Russell, Lester, Kenneth and Maurice, the older three are deceased.

After graduation at Fairfield High School in 1927, I worked in the office of the Sexton Mfg. Co., until it ceased operation in 1936.  I worked at the County Treasurer's Office during the busy season for a few years, assisted my husband Taxi and Greyhound Bus business and worked for twelve years at the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service, retiring from there in 1973.  I was married to B. H. (Elzo) Hill January 26, 1933 and we spent our entire life in Fairfield and had four daughters.  Mrs. Donald (Lonna Faye) Musgrave of Conway, Ark., Mrs. Bob Owen (Kaye Ellen) of Fairfield, Ill., Karen Rae Hill of Fairfield, Ill., and Mrs. Adair (Brenda Gaye) Wimpee of Scottsville, Ky.  There are 8 grandchildren.  I have been a widow since February 1972.  I don't have any particular hobbies, but enjoy gardening, quilting, cooking, entertaining, Church activities and traveling.  The older I get the busier I seem to be.


Cecil Maricle

I got the first three years of my high school at Mill Shoals, and came to Fairfield for the fourth.  I was just a country boy in a strange place, practically no money, but determined to finish high school.

Mr. Hubbard Davis gave me a job at the Brown Hotel.  I was general flunky, but it meant board and room.  At the semester break I went to the Fogle House to work for Mr. and Mrs. Horace Johnson.  At the Snake Dance for the homecoming football game in 1926 I got with and walked home with Delores Talbert.  We were married on February 21, 1928.

We had 43 years together before God called her home.  We had 2 children, Paul R., and Norma Book.  I now have 4 grandchildren.  After many and sundry jobs and struggles I answered God's call to preach and finally in 1952, I surrendered to a full call in the Ministry.  We left Fairfield with a house trailer and a tent.  We organized the First General Baptist Church in East Peoria.  We organized one Church in Iowa, five in Northern Illinois and spent three years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where we built and Pastored a mission church.  We came to Joliet eight years ago this December.  Delores passed away the following May.  I later married Bertha Slagle and we live here at 209 Elm St.  I pastor the Joliet General Baptist Church.  I enjoy my work in spite of the struggles and hardships and feel I have been blessed in many ways.


Veryl Mauck

After graduation I stayed at home and helped Dad until the fall of 1931, when my family moved to a farm near Deland.  I had left sweetheart Ruby Pool back in Fairfield so I returned to Fairfield and got a job with Poorman's Seed Co.  We were married October 18, 1931 and have been married ever since to the same woman.  For the next nine years I had various jobs, but kept off relief or W.P.A.  I started working with my brother-in-law, Walter Pool, in the East End Phillip's 66 Station.  Then went to work for Harvey Simpson who was Phillips 66 agent.  I drove a truck and made the sum of $1 a day.  I later took the Bulk Plant Agency and stayed there until 1937.  (In the fall of 1932 I went to West End Phillips 66.)

I went back to Harvey Simpson and drove a freight truck this time at an increase in salary, getting $10.00 per week.  The week wasn't a forty hour week but almost straight time.  Later I started to work for Elliot and Liston Grocery Store and stayed there until May 30, 1940.  My father had died in January and my brother Frank and I took over his equipment and started farming.  We dissolved partnership when Frank married.  I am still carrying at Atwood, on a 320 Acre farm raising beef cattle and run a small grain farm.  We have four children, but they have all married and left home.  Eugenia Kroll, Bill, Donald and Bob, 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

I had open heart surgery in Oct. 1975.  I had two bypasses put in.  It was a struggle for a few days after surgery, but now I apparently seem to be back to normal for which I am thankful.


Mary Harrell-Flaherty

Congratulations to the class of '27.  Doesn't seem like it has been 50 years since we had our impressive graduation exercises -- everyone excited, but also a bit sad at leaving F.C.H.S.  Nothing to serious to worry about except passing grades and cheering on the football and basketball teams.  It was a wonderful time of life.  I wish I still had that dark brown hair and smooth unwrinkled skin that I had then.

Now, as to what happened after graduation.  I worked as Secretary to Judge Mills, and Judge Heidinger for about 7 years before getting married in 1934 to John J. Flaherty from St. Louis.  He went with the IBM Corp. that year and we were transferred around a bit.  Lived in St. Louis, Louisville, Ky., Topeka, Kansas, Kansas City, Mo., Wichita, Kansas and then in 1954 we were transferred out here.  John's office was in Los Angeles, but we live in Santa Monica, which is a nice little city about 90,000 population; right on the ocean.  John was with IBM for 38 years before taking early retirement.  We have 2 daughters and between them they presented us with 11 grandchildren.  They are all cute kids.  The oldest is 15 and the youngest is 4, I think.  I have a hard time keeping their birthdays straight.  Could that be senility?

We have enjoyed traveling, like good citizens we saw America first before visiting other countries.  The first time we went to Europe we were there for two months and I got so hungry for a hamburger I almost died.  "You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl."  That trip was quite a few years ago and when we went back in 1974 we found every place "Americanized". I made a point of having a hamburger in Hamburg, Germany.  Last year in London we came across a McDonald's and even had 31 flavors of Ice Cream Places.  I am still dabbling around with oil painting and enjoy it tremendously.  Our Art Class has men and women in it of all ages and we have a lot of fun.  For the past 17 years I have done Volunteer work in the Santa Monica Hospital, Clinic.  It is a fine facility that aids needy families.  Our 14 year old granddaughter Bridget started down there in June as a Candy Striper.  We play a lot of Bridge -- just party bridge, not duplicate.  We will never be in a class with Bernice French but we have some good games.


Margaret A. Flint

The following article written by Wayne C. Temple and published in the Lincoln Herald, will tell about my life since graduation.  Miss Margaret Alice Flint of Springfield Illinois, received the Lincoln of Diploma Honor during commencement exercises at Lincoln Memorial University on June 7, 1970.  A native of Tennessee, she was educated in the State of Illinois where her forebears had lived for many generations.  In 1931 she graduated cum laude, from U of Ill. with an A.B. degree and received the B.L.S. from the Library School of that same institution in 1932.

Since that time she has been an indispensable Reference Librarian, researcher in many fields of History and Library Administrator.  She is perhaps best known to those who delve into the life of Abraham Lincoln or study the Civil War.  Numerous honors have come to her for outstanding work.  She was a recipient of the Lincoln Medallion from the U.S. Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission and was named the honorary member of the Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission by Gov. Otto Kerner.  She holds membership in the American Association for State and Local History, Illinois Historical Society, Illinois Library Association, Vachel Lindsay Association, Friends of the Library (Springfield).  Special Libraries (Illinois Chapter), and Zenta International (Springfield Chapter.)

Since retirement I have had rheumatoid arthritis, which severely limits what I can do.  Best wishes to our classmates.


Irene Terrell-Griffith

After graduation I worked in Tabulating Dept. of the office of Sexton Mfg. Co.  I met William Griffith of Carmi during the year and on June 2, 1928 we were married at the home of my parents.  I worked for a short time after this, and then I quit and became a fulltime housewife.  In 1929 we started our family with a son Lorem, then Robert, Geneva (Parrent), James and Marilyn, at home.  We have ten grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  We are very proud to have all this family.  We have lived our entire life in Fairfield.  We are members of the First Christian Church and I am active in my Sunday School Class and Missionary Circle, I am a member of the Domestic Science Club, of which I am Treasurer.  We are Charter members of the Wayne County Association of Retarded Children, which was organized in 1955.  I have held every office in the organization and still am a Board Member.  My husband has been in several business and I have done most of the bookkeeping.  We had a Mobile Home Court for the past few years, but sold it and are planning on taking it a little easier, and I believe I will enjoy that.


Creighton Roberts

These fifty years have been very busy ones, with never a let up.  I'm still running, though I've tried to slow down a little.  I've had to work -- especially through college, but the education I got could have been had no other way.  I am retired from being a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois from 1946 to 1968.  I am still a consulting engineer (mostly in acoustics and noise control) about half time.  I am also visiting Professor of Architecture and Acoustics; and I am doing a good deal of writing, that I could never do before.  Between High School and 1946, I did a number of things; I was a research assistant at the University of Illinois until the depression caught me in 1932; then a hitch with the State geological survey, (still depression), but with moonlighting I was able to buy the groceries).

A short stint with the Marion Steam Shovel Co., a very short one with Shell Oil before going to a long one with General Geophysical Corp. of Houston and points west and south and north.  From 1940 to 1946, I was a member of the research staff of the Association of American Railroads, designing and using test equipment.  Several times during those years, I took on other things, and wrote a couple of books along with sixty some technical papers.  Somehow a dozen years back I was honored by being made "Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science".

And also a Fellow of the Instruction Society of America.  I was married in 1937, We have two daughters, one in Huntsville, Alabama, and one in Denver, Colorado.  We are moving to Denver in the near future.  I tried to arrange my schedule so I would be able to attend the Re-Union, but the situation seems hopeless.  One of the teachers I remember most, O.H. Ray, who taught physical science.


Charles Luther Carter

Attended Lockyear Business College, employed by National Furniture Co., 1928. Employed by Swift & Co. 1929..36 Years in Evansville, Indiana, 1 year in Rochelle, Ill., 3 years in Los Angeles, CA.  Retired in 1969 after 40 years service.  Have owned and operated Carter Temporary Employment Ag'y from 1972 to 1976.  Currently serving as an employment consultant for Courtesy Temporary Employment Agency.

In addition, I have served as Vice-President of the local La Puente Valley Chamber of Commerce.  I was also president of Kiwanis in 1976-1977.  My wife's name is Marie.  I have one daughter, Donna, and one son, Bob, both of whom were married this year.  No grandchildren.


Leona Warren-Richardson

After graduating from F.C.H.S., I taught school in Wayne County and northern Illinois.  For twelve and a half terms, taking time out for some college at Ill. State University, Normal, Ill.  I also worked during the summer months in the office of Sexton Manufacturing Co., and in the County Clerk's Office.  In 1935 I married Ellis A. Richardson, a Wayne County School Teacher.  In the summer of 1942, he went to St. Louis to work in World War "2" effort as a Military Police at Atlas Powder Co., Weldon Springs, Mo.  The government froze his job and he resigned his school.  I accepted a Civil Service job, resigned my school and moved to St. Louis.  After the war I accepted several different jobs.  In 1964, I became a Real Estate Broker and worked in Clayton Real Estate office until retiring.

After retirement we moved to Wayne City 1972.  My hobby was Garden Club and Civic Clubs.  In May 1976, my husband and I went to Miami Beach, Fla., where I participated in the First International Flower Show ever held in U.S. 42 countries were represented.  I keep busy with my Garden Club and other activities.


Murray D. Hill

I was born in 1908 in northern Wayne County.  I moved to Fairfield in 1924 after first semester of high school in Cisne.  Began teaching in 1928.  In 1939 I formed a partnership with Eldon Vaugn and entered the service station business.  I returned to the teaching profession as principal of New Hope School in 1954, retired in 1972.  I got part of my college education at S.I.U., Carbondale, Ill. and graduated from McKendree in 1961.  We have two daughters; Sharon, wife of Jeffrey Cook now living in Fairfax, VA. And Rita, living in Normal, Ill.  We have two granddaughters.  At present I am working 4 hours per day for Square Post Buildings, and keep two lawns and gardens.



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