SNIPPET FROM A DECEASED CLASSMATE

I believe I sent around a message in 2008 when our classmate Linda Barclay Doyle was killed by a wreckless driver in her hometown in Oklahoma. I did not know Linda well at KHS but I did know her. Many years later I knew her mom Marge who joined the St. Louis group of the National Society of New England Women. We in that group knew her from the Mayflower Society. Linda had been a Mayflower member, as was her sister Madelyn, but they were never in town for a meeting that I know of. Through Marge I kept up with Linda and Madelyn but never saw either of them after high school I don't believe. Marge was a great gal who was funny, adorable as she aged, as was her husband, and an accomplished crafty artist. They spent time in Florida and she loved making things with and collecting seashells and other natural materials. After Marge died, I wrote a letter to Madelyn which she shared with Linda.

Today as I was cleaning out an old file, I found an undated letter from Linda to me after she read the letter I sent to Madelyn. Some of us have been discussing our mothers' passing on Facebook lately, and my parents' birthdays would have been in the past couple of weeks, so parents are on my mind. I decided I would share the letter I received from Linda so that any of you who remember her might have a bit of insight into this very nice family who shared our Kirkwood upbringing. You'll probably recognize bits of their habits from your own childhood.

"Hello Leslie!
The letter you wrote to Madelyn was heart-warming for me to read and realize how much my mother's life touched you too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories.

Our holidays, like yours, are full of wonderful memories and all sorts of items made by Mother. [I still have little table favors Margie made for our Mayflower meetings for many years.] Everyone who enters my home during the holidays shares her many treasures. From the decorations we had throughout our childhood to decorate the many Christmas trees, to Easter placecards, to the massive Thanksgiving items to the seashells. I miss her so much but plan to divert all the attention to my father who is also coping with the loss of his wife. I purchased a home for him here in Oklahoma City, went and moved him and his beloved cat (the entire universe to my mother-quite a cat!), and have him unpacked and doing quite well. I have 24 hour care for him, just in case, but he is pretty active for 89! He of course has his own health issues but we plan to make the most of time we have together. All is well~ Sincerely, Linda"

Marge died 3 July 2005 and her husband, Linda's dad Leroy, died 13 Jul 2006 ; Linda died in November of 2008. So sad to lose our classmates so early.

I almost forgot, there is a funny story, really not so funny, a good "small world" story. When I was at UMSL & Washington University I worked at Barnes Hospital in the admitting department. My first assignment was admitting officer for Maternity and McMillan hospitals. In those days the famed Dr. Masters and Mrs. Johnson, the sex therapists, had their offices in Maternity Hospital so I was acquainted with them and their staff. One such person was a Mrs. Carole Lane. One night years later when my kids were little and everyone was hungry at 5:30 and mothers are always harried, my phone rang. It was a wall-mount phone, on which I could talk while standing at the sink peeling potatoes, & staving off crying kids hanging onto my legs. I answered and a lady said, "Mrs. Cavic, you don't know me but I want to join the Missouri Mayflower Society and I was told to call you, I am Carole Lane...." I nearly dropped the phone and began laughing. I said, "Well Carole, you DO know me, I am Leslie Vander Meulen and we've known one another for years!" Of course the conversation was lively; she joined the Mayflower Society and New England Women, and was a fun member for years, along with her SISTER, Marge Barclay! It was already a small world even before email, websites and Facebook! I have other such stories but this one is at least pertinent to this post, so I won't bore you with more!

FORMER KIRKWOOD MAYOR MARGE SCHRAMM DIES

Many of you who have't lived here for awhile may not know this name or Marge's reputation, but those of us hangers-on do. She did a great job for Kirkwood and was a good role model for females to boot. You can see her obituary here.

WHO HUNG OUT AT PARKMOOR? OR DIDN'T?

From the Kirkwood Area Facebook page comes this great photo....oh sooo many memories here. Not just of boyz, but galpals too! If you want to share, please do! Even the memories of the parking lot are great, remember cruising? Lookin' to see who was there, or showing off a new car? Or showing off a new boytoy? Or looking for a new boytoy? Did we really do that??? Whodda ever thunk of the term boytoy in our day? Do we even have to ask if the boyz trolled Parkmoor looking for girlz? Enjoy!

DEATHS IN OUR COMMUNITY

I have been out of town for a bit, not checking the obituaries but have received word of the death of the mother of classmate Larry Allin of Kirkwood, the father of Mike Trueblood of Springfield, MO and the husband of Diane Bofinger Pfaus also of Kirkwood. Our heartfelt condolences to these classmates in their time of sadness.

Here is the obituary for Larry's mother, Catherine L. Allin, from the Webster Kirkwood Times:
Catherine L. Allin, 89, of Kirkwood, formerly of Henderson, Ky., died Thursday, March 3, 2011, at SSM St. Claire Health Center in Fenton.
Mrs. Allin was a member of Kirkwood Baptist Church. During World War II, she worked as a welder at the Evansville Shipyard in Evansville, Ind.
Mrs. Allin was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Allin, in 1998, and parents Mack and Molly Newman. Survivors include her children, Larry Keith Allin and Linda D. (Dennis) Clary, and two grandchildren, Sara E. Allin and Zachary M. Allin.
Graveside services and interment were held March 5 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Henderson. Memorials to St. Anthony's Hospice, 2410 S. Green Street, Henderson, Ky. 42420-4621.

Dick Pfaus was known to many of us since he accompanied Diane to some of our KHS65 functions over the past years. Also from Webster Kirkwood Times comes his obituary:

Richard Myles "Dick" Pfaus of Kirkwood died Saturday, March 5, 2011.

Mr. Pfaus was the husband of Diane Pfaus (nee Bofinger) for 25 years; father of Christopher (Jenn) Pfaus and Elizabeth (Georges) Habalian; grandfather of two; brother of Thomas Pfaus, Cathy (David) Blankenburg and Garry (Deena) Pfaus; son of Frances Pruner and stepson of Mary K. Pfaus. He was preceded in death by his father, Miles Pfaus. He was a stepbrother, uncle, brother-in-law and friend.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 11, 11 a.m., at Church of St. Michael and St. George, 6345 Wydown, 63105. Interment, Valhalla. Memorials to the Humane Society of Missouri or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel.

And from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the obituary just running now, even though Dr. Trueblood died last month:

Trueblood, Alva Cooper Jr., M.D.Ace, Bud 92, of Kirkwood died Thursday, February 17, 2011, at St. John's Hospital. He was born March 15, 1918, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Alva Cooper and Leona Wahlert Trueblood. Dr. Trueblood graduated from Washington University (B.A. 1940) and Washington University School of Medicine (M.D. 1943). He married Jean McLeod on September 1, 1942. Dr. Trueblood served with the U.S. Navy from November 1944 - November 1945, earning a Bronze Star for meritorious service as a medical officer in the Philippine Islands. Upon returning from World War II, he completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University and practiced obstetrics and gynecology in St. Louis County from 1949 until his retirement in 1983. He provided free care at the Grace Hill Settlement House and served on the Missouri State Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Outside of his professional life, he enjoyed gardening, woodworking, canoeing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends, including his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers. Dr. Trueblood was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Mary Catherine Evans (David); and his nephew, David Evans. He is survived by his wife; daughter Patricia Post (John) of Nashville, Tenn.; son Michael Trueblood, M.D. (Mary) of Cape Girardeau; nieces Suzanne Evans Morris of Faber, Va. and Catherine Evans Geiger of Reno, Nev. and grandchildren Gavin Post of Asheville, N.C.; Gaines Post (Fiona) of New South Wales, Australia; Andrew Trueblood, M.D. (Amy) of Cape Girardeau; and Emily Gardner (Erin) of Kirkwood; and greatgrandchildren Abigail, Catherine, and Margaret Gardner, and John Trueblood. The family is grateful to the staff at McKnight Place, where Dr. Trueblood spent the last year of his life, and to the Visiting Angels of Webster Groves, who provided in-home services before Dr. and Mrs. Trueblood moved to McKnight Place. Services: Memorial Service and interment were held Saturday, February 19, 2011, at Valhalla Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. A.C. Trueblood, Jr., at McKnight Place Extended Care, Two McKnight Place, St. Louis, MO 63124. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc., 2524 Hadley, St. Louis, MO 63106 (314) 898-1700 www.gracehill.org/donate/ or to the charity of your choice.

KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATION INVITATION

As promised, I wanted to share the information about the upcoming Benefit for the Kirkwood Students sponsored by the KSDF. Thursday April 7th at The Magic House in Kirkwood will be the date and place of the evening of Music, Art and Auctions. Sounds like a great evening, especially with the KHS Jazz Band providing music! $50 per person, call 314 213 6124 for sponsorship opportunities and further information. Reservations and payment may be made on-line at http://www.kirkwoodfoundation.org/ by Monday, March 28th.