Between You and Me!                     January 2012

1928 “My mother is Grace Lehman Cain Morgan from the Class of 1928. Thank you for printing her letter in The Outlook after she turned 100 on March 2, 2010. She received six responses from the children of her classmates.

    “As I write this letter, Mother was still going strong. She celebrated her 101st birthday last March and had many parties and luncheons. A month before her birthday, a local newspaper wrote a long article with photographs about how Mother was volunteering to help students at an elementary school across the street from where she lives. She was surprised the newspaper would be so interested.”

Sally Morrison, 10090 Jonquil Drive, Rancho Cucamonga CA 91701-5153.

1931 “As of Dec. 1, 489 visitors had stopped by to see me during 2011! I must have done something right in my lifetime to be blessed with so many good people in my life.

“I have a nice room, and everything here is fine—except for the food. I’m now 98 years old, and I’m still kicking!

“Hello to my classmates and to all Pirates everywhere, and Happy New Year, one and all!”

  Polly Pleasant Pence, Sterling House, 6377 Cooper Road,           Apt. 509, Columbus OH 43331; 614-523-0772.

1939 “I’m happy to say this past autumn and early winter have been filled with many dandy adventures.

“In September, we had a surprise birthday party for my sister-in-law, Joan Thompson Reed, ‘47, at MCL Cafeteria Kingsdale. On Thanksgiving, 25 family members gathered at the Houstonia, the B&B my daughter and her husband—Sherry & Jim Wahl—own and operate in South Charleston.

“My other daughter, Kristie Clayman, was to come up from Miami FL for Christmas. On New Year’s Eve, I planned to return to Miami with Kristie and stay a while with Kristie and her husband, Landon Clayman.

“I’m having a lot of fun keeping up with Pirates from all classes from across the country on Central’s Facebook page.  

   “It was nice to connect with Dodie Wilke Melvin, ‘45, who also lives in Mt. Vernon. I’d love to hear from my classmates and to have a 73rd class reunion or luncheon this year!”

Frances Reed Kline, 60 Woodberry Ct., Mt. Vernon OH 43050; 740-392-5907; FJKline@gmail.com.

1940 “I would very much like to hear from any of my classmates from the Class of 1940.”

Avonell Upperman Smith, abb123KWS@aol.com.

1945 “I read about two Eastern Star sisters in The Outlook I’ve known for many years, but didn’t know went to Central. One is Donna Fritch Dunlap, ‘48. The other is Frances Reed Kline, ‘39, who lives in Mount Vernon. She celebrated her 90th birthday last year (and looks fabulous). We had a lot to talk about over dinner.

“I often hear from two of my oldest and best friends—Wanda Pano Bashum, ‘46, and Dona Pano Boyer, ‘45. Dona’s been fighting Parkinson’s Disease for many years and lives in Columbus. Wanda’s now living in Jacksonville FL.

“I’d love to hear from my classmates. Most of us should be around 84 years young now—hard to believe we graduated 67 years ago, when World War II ended. We’ve seen so many  changes since then. My grandchildren think my childhood must have been pretty dull without TV and computer games.”

Dodie Wilke Melvin, 65 Fairway Drive, Mount Vernon OH 43050; 740-392-0242; deerfarm@centurylink.net.

1946 “Our 65th class reunion went very well last Sept. 9. Circle Feb. 16—we’ll meet at The Florentine to start planning our 66th class reunion, set for Sept. 14 at the Dutch Kitchen. “Please send thinking-of-you cards to Charlotte Culbertson Shomber (1712 Thomas Ave, Columbus OH 43023) and Harold & Susie Garver (598 Crescent Drive, West Jefferson OH 43162). Fred & Betty (Fulks) Stalter are wintering in Florida (601 Starkey Road, #321, Largo FL 33771). And, thankfully, on the mend are Ramona Reibel Rempel and Elizabeth Downy Wood.”
Mary Thompkins Seipel, 1723 Arlingate Drive, Columbus OH 43220; 614-451-1387.

1947 “I fondly recall the Christmas parties of the Rev. & Mrs. Mills of Avondale Church. Their daughter (Mary Margaret ‘Peg’ Mills Thompson, ‘35) was my sister-in-law. I grew up at Avondale, playing piano for special events, as I did at Central. While at Starling and Central, I lived with Peg and my brother, Merrill Thompson, a Columbus police officer. I loved being with them and their two children.

 “My grandsons, Max & George Reed, are always busy. Senior Max is on Grove City High School’s In the Know team and is publishing and presenting his poems. Sixth-grader George is playing trumpet in the school band. He also played Schroeder in A Charlie Brown Christmas at school.” Joan Thompson Reed, 2053 Dry Creek Place, Grove City OH 43123-9386; 614-875-5757; jreedmg@gmail.com.

1950 “Any news from my Central High classmates?”

Shirley Mann Jennings, grannyj_39@yahoo.com.

1955 “Our 2012 quarterly breakfasts will be at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 11, May 12, Aug. 11 and Nov. 10 at Hilliard’s Hometown Buffet, Mill Run. We leave when we want. We really hope to see a good number of you there.”

Roberta Raines Driscoll, 614-274-0495; ising4u4@aol.com.

1956 “On Dec. 10, we held our annual Christmas party at the Indian Village Center, near Griggs Dam. Fifty classmates, family and friends attended the party, enjoying lots of good times, good food and Christmas carols.

“Plans are in the works for our annual summer party in June, which will be back at the Indian Village Center.”

   Jim Lane, ‘56, 614-921-0630; jamesl@rrohio.com.

1957 “Our 2012 class luncheons will take place at 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of April, September and December. Each month is at a different restaurant. We’d love to see you.”

Ida Allis Duff, 614-279-3791; 5dizd7@earthlink.net.

1958 “My friend, Brenda Little Mertz, ‘58, who lives in Costa Rica, called right before my 50th wedding anniversary party. She doesn’t get home often because to catch a plane she must drive to a ferry (45 min.), ferry across a bay (90 min.), wait on a  bus (30 min.), then ride to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital (2 hrs.). I don’t think I would tackle all of that either! Brenda said the country is beautiful, but stuck in the ‘50s. The grocery stores aren’t well stocked—she’d give anything for a decent donut!”

Pat Hatfield Peacock, ppeacock@columbus.rr.com.

1965 “Little did I know that I would be working across the street from Central/COSI at the Veterans Commission at Veteran’s Memorial. I'm also state commander for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)—and I've worked for the DAV for 11 years.

“I would like to see a marker over at COSI on Broad Street that would say Home of the Central Pirates.”

  Will Davis, 614-309-0171; bdog302@aol.com.

All classes “Hi to my Central friends. I enjoy receiving and reading The Outlook. I taught at Central from 1939 to 1943. I  then came back to Central as principal from 1956 to 1960. I recognize many names, and I congratulate the officers of the alumni association for keeping things going and for providing the news.

    “I am now 99 years old and have been in quite good health. I spent 41 years in education in Columbus. I still remember Central High School as my favorite experience.”

    Lester W. Huber, 1001 Parkview Blvd., Apt. 118, Columbus OH 43219-2274.

All classes “Join us for our monthly Pirate euchre parties—we welcome all classes and their guests for good food and fun.”

   Jim Lane, ‘56, 614-921-0630; jamesl@rrohio.com.

All classes Congratulations to two Central couples who observed their 70th wedding anniversary in 2011: Ralph & Ruth (Haignere) Rose, both from the Class of 1935, and Ralph & Gloria (Klemm) Dunbar, both from the Class of 1941.

All classes “On Sept. 10, the 16-year tradition of Polly Pleasant Pence, ‘31, was revived—an all-classes luncheon at Phillips Coney Island. Some 60 Pirates and guests attended, mainly from the ‘60s and ‘70s and Facebook. On Nov. 12, 25 of us met for an all-classes Lady Pirates Night at the Spaghetti Warehouse.

“Four Pirates from the ‘70s and I attended the Dec. 5 alumni board meeting. It was so nice to meet the officers and learn  what’s being planned. We want to get more alumni involved.”

Tammy Sexton, ‘75, tls1185@yahoo.com.

 All Central High guys “Please join us for lunch the first TUESDAY of every month at the Hometown Buffet near the corner of West Broad Street and Wilson Road. We have no dues, no speakers, no programs—all we do is have a good time reminiscing about our days at dear ole Central High.”

Dr. Michael Chakeres, ‘40, 740-852-0578.