Barbara Harris

The years have held both happiness and sadness.

I married Oran Wilson (class of ‘58) in 1959 and together we had six children; three daughters, Markay, Patricia and Jennifer, and three sons, Oran Jr., Dwayne and Russell. All three sons and Oran are deceased. I have seventeen grandchildren, (includes blood, step, surrogate, and deceased) and four great (and they are truly great) grandchildren.

Over the years I have worked many jobs, (I never really decided on a direction anyway, today I probably would have been put on Ritalin). I have been a store clerk, pharmacists’ assistant, licensed small animal technician, wired computer core planes, done tax preparation, delivered for the post office during Christmas and several other jobs. I drove city bus for the City of Detroit, Michigan (a whole book, believe me) for eight years. I resigned and worked for a charter company, I have driven charter buses, limos, vans, etc. (Over the years I chauffeured many names, including Al Gore, Red Skeleton, Richard Simmons, Sherman Helmsly, many congressmen and women, Nelson Mandella’s entourage, and I may have driven Eminem when I drove for the city.)

I am married for the second time, to Lester Richardson Jr. I owned a bar and he owned a furniture store, both bought out by Chrysler Corp.’s expansion. We have no children together, he’s been a good stepfather and a great “grandpa”. He’s Marketing Manager for a local civic group.

After the sales, I drove for the local branch of a national para-transit corporation contracted to the city for the elderly and handicapped transportation under the ADA. I was promoted to Money Handler, then to Office Manager. I retired as Safety, Risk and Training Manager.

Now, I spend my time with my daughters and grandchildren as much as possible, I also maintain a very small tax business and am a Notary Public. I breed parakeets, and stay busy working on my family tree. I found my brothers and sisters after over forty years of lost contact after my parents died, and have been visiting them as often as possible, having family back is great.

Life has been good and bad, but every minute has been precious. I have learned so much since graduation, things that only life can teach. Those that have come and gone in my life have made my life full, full of friends, family and love, and it all started in my hometown. I look forward to coming back, I haven't been in years.

St. Pat's

Ok, All you St Paddy people, let's hear your stories.

Thw Post Office has been moved to Franklin Street.

Who were our Eighth Grade Advisors?

The last easy question from Tom Quesenberry's Eighth Grade Yearbook.

In Memoriam: Doris Hendryx

Hannah Gilcrest

I married in 1961 moved to Wooster, OH and raised our 4 daughters there. David and I moved closer to home, Stow,OH in 1973. I was divorced in 1982. I relocated, briefly, to Rochester, NY and then in 1985 I moved to Orlando, FL. In 1993. I graduated from Valencia Community College with an Associate of Science Degree and certification as a Radiation Therapist. Ironically, many years later my husband died of cancer and part of the palliative treatment was radiation therapy.

I met my late husband, Jerry, in the Spring of 1993. Our romance blossomed and we were married Christmas week that year.

I was widowed in July of 2005. I've stayed in my cute little 2-bedroom house and find that living alone is really OK. I've learned how to do some minor maintenance and repairs around the house and I can even change out defective lawn irrigation sprinkler heads now! I enjoy gardening and spend a lot of time cruising the aisles at Lowe's Home Imporvement just buying flowers and munch for the yard!

I have a Sheltie, "Munchkin" who is such a comfort. When I come home from work each day, she greets me as if I have been gone for months!!! I bet most pets do that..................

Last summer I took a 2-week Holland American Line cruise to Estonia, Russia, all the Scandinavian countries, Lapland, Germany and then the Netherlands...............I had a fabulous time and met so many interesting people onboard the ship, Rotterdam. In several years, I'd like to take another 2-week cruise to the orient and see the Great Wall of China.

After several "temporary" jobs, I have just recently begun working as a corporate receptionist for a company in Orlando. It's not easy re-entering the job market at 65 years old. I can't manage on my small social security check so I'll probably be working for as many years as I can manage. Now, I sit at a reception desk in a beautiful lobby that features oriental carpets, a waterfall, and a lovely decor and answer the phones. I love it..........

I am looking forward to our class reunion in Ohio this October. It will be so nice to renew old friendship.

Regards,

Hannah Gilcrest Thorley Covington