DIANNE GORBELL PASSES AWAY

Thank you to Jim Day, by way of Beth Browning, for letting me know of the death of Dianne Gorbell Taylor.  Dianne began school with us at Robinson, but did not graduate with us.  She has been to a couple of reunion events over the years.  Below is her obituary, with thanks again to Jim and Linda.  In the deep recesses of my mind it seems like her mom Shirley and my mom were either friends or active together in some Kirkwood something.  Perhaps Theatre Guild or PTA?  Can't remember but I believe that is why I knew Dianne.  May she rest in peace.

Dianne “Dee Gee” Taylor (Gorbell), age 70, of Eureka, MO, died Friday, February 3, 2017 at Marymount Manor in Eureka. She was born July 2, 1946 in New Rochelle N.Y., the daughter of the late George Leighton “Rick” Gorbell and Shirley (Franke) Gorbell. Wife of Bobby Taylor. Loving mother of Jeanna Sample and Michelle Stevens. Dearest grandmother of Tobias and Jessica. Dear sister of Rick Gorbell. A memorial visitation will be held Thursday, February 9, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 5:00 p.m., at Faith Community Church, 4824 Scottsdale Rd. House Springs, MO 63051 Memorials may be given in Dee Gee's name to Conquer Cancer Foundation P.O. Box 896076 Charlotte, NC 28289-6076 or online at ConquerCancerFoundation.org

JEROME RAWLINGS would have been 70 today.

Many of us in KHS65 are turning 70 this year, and some of us didn't have the privilege of long and happy lives. One such is Jerome Rawlings who would be 70 today, if he had not been killed by ground fire in Nam, just days before his separation and return to the USA and his family. Let us hope he has found eternal peace and love. We continue to remember and miss him, along with his loving family. Next Sunday will be the 49th anniversary of his death, what a waste. Sending best wishes to his brother Keith Rawlings and their family.

SP4 Jerome Rawlings, Kirkwood, MO on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

virtualwall.org

Dr. Ross Wagner, Historian, Teacher, Friend, Community Treasure

Having just returned home from a ten day sojourn to Washington, DC, I'm still opening my mail and catching up with myself.  I was sad to read in the latest issue of the newsletter of the Sappington-Concord Historical Society that one of the most knowledgeable historians of our area passed away on December 30th.  I am sorry and surprised I didn't read or hear about it before now.  I have spent some time gathering information and hope you will all read about Mr. Wagner as we called him. I had the privilege of spending an evening with him in more recent years and was reminded of his strong force in the historical activities of our area, what a treasure! He was one of my teachers also at KHS.  I had never known he held a PhD and had never heard him referred to or called "Dr. Wagner".  What a shame, the honor was his due.  The obituary and comments are copied from www.legacy.com and the articles from the SCHS Newsletter, Spring, 2017.  SORRY, I have changed the photos of the articles 4 times and still don't have it large enough.  If you go to the first two pages and right click, then do it again, the text will enlarge a bit!  I can't figure out why it won't enlarge more!  It's worth the trouble to read it though...

Obituary from Legacy.com:  Wagner, Ross A. of Sappington, asleep in Jesus, December 30, 2016. Son of the late Christian R. and Lorina A.W. (nee Klingemann) Wagner. Mr. Wagner was a Charter Member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Sappington-Concord Historical Society, Affton Historical Society, Save Grant's White Haven, Member of the Carondelet Historical Society, Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis Genealogical Society and Concord Farmer's Club. No Services; Internment St. Lucas Cemetery.

jim perry February 02, 2017 | Maplewood, NJ

Mr. Wagner was fun. Had fun. Made fun. Personified droll.

katherine forsyth katte January 22, 2017 | Milwaukee, WI

“Mr. Wagner opened up the world to me. I have so many fond and amusing memories from being in his class in the 1970s! We went through Nixon opening China together. US History gained new dimensions in his class. He brought out our intelligence and demanded we think.
Though he likely never knew it, he inspired me to become a teacher, and I believe his influence and all that I gained in his presence has been spread still further through my own practice. May Mr. Wagner Rest In Peace.

sally Bernard January 22, 2017 | Arden, NC

“One of the best teachers I ever had. It was a privilege to have been one of his students. Rest in peace.

barbara nabe January 22, 2017

“Although many years have flown by, I have often thought of this wonderful, bright man with respect and gratitude in my life. He was by far the best teacher I had in high school by motivating you to excel. Work and come to class fully prepared. I frequently quoted him to my own daughters as they went through school: "A word to the wise is sufficient therein." Thank you, Mr. Wagner, for enhancing so many lives.

captain william bonsack January 21, 2017 | O'Fallon, MO

“Mr Wagner was a man that taught each of us as individuals but taught the class. The class of 1976 was blessed to have been touched by him. He was truly an icon that has remained with me into adulthood. May God continue to hold you in the palm of his hand and may you walk with him along calm and still waters. Until we meet again. May God shed his light on your family and may they relish in the memories of all that was and is good.

stephen eson January 21, 2017 | Philadelphia, PA

“I was concerned when I did not receive a Christmas card from Ross this year and was saddened to learn of his passing. He was my history teacher at Kirkwood High School for two different classes in 1971 and 1972, and was without a doubt the most influential teacher I ever had. I had intended to visit him this coming March as I do every time I return to St. Louis. May he rest in peace, and may his remaining family take comfort in the knowledge of the enrichment he gave for so many.

john Hopkins January 21, 2017 | Chesapeake, VA

“Mr. Wagner could be exacting, and enthralling at the same time. He could get you to think about historical figures in a human, almost personal context...as if you could put yourself into their place. He would also relate stories about past students, and you could see the pride in his face while he would tell you about them. I don't know if he told any about me or not,...although I did use him as a reference when I was applying for my security clearance. Not related to AP History, but he also...

gwyneth Williams January 21, 2017 | St. Louis, MO

“Ross Wagner was the single most important teacher I ever had (including grad school). He introduced us to the work of various historians, taught us to think--and write--analytically, and refused to water down his academic expectations. Beyond that, he had a wicked sense of humor and the ability to engage students of all types. I was honored when he attended my father's funeral. Rest In Peace, Mr. Wagner: your life's work echoes beyond anything you could have imagined.

bronwyn Williams January 21, 2017 | Louisville, KY

“Ross Wagner was one the best teachers I've ever had, and part of the reason I went into teaching myself. And he continued to be good friend and mentor after I went off to college. I will miss talking world events with him. I will miss the Margaret Rutherford Society. I will miss his laughter. A good, good man.

January 21, 2017

“Ross was a wonderful teacher. I always enjoyed visiting him when I came to St. Louis. God bless you Ross.

jeanne Jarvis January 05, 2017 | Glencoe, MO

“Impossible to calculate the impact he had as an AP history teacher at Kirkwood High. We who were privileged to study under him are still informed by his unconventional insights and challenging teaching methods. And all that "Gonchagaschmiraria." He left an impressive legacy and I was honored to share a beer with him as an adult.

susan croce Kelly January 05, 2017 | Gravois Mills, MO

“Ross Wagner was probably the most important teacher I ever had. He was a wonderful educator who fussed at us in German, shared wise insights, had a sly sense of humor and taught us that learning history could be interesting and fun.

jim denigan January 04, 2017 | St. Louis, MO

“A long-time family friend and an outstanding human being. None finer.

sappington-concord historical society January 03, 2017 | South St. Louis County, MO

“The Sappington-Concord Historical Society offers its deepest sympathy to the family of our late founding member ROSS A. WAGNER on his recent passing.

His many contributions and foresight added a distinctive leaven to the development of the mission and effectiveness of our historical society--and we are both grateful and remembering of his involvement and accomplishments.

scott mcallister January 03, 2017 | Raleigh, NC

“Ross, Mr. Wagner, was a fabulous teacher and a friend. I am so glad that my son got to meet him last year. He had the boldness to teach history with the world view that applied to actors at that time. If that meant learning about the Russian Orthodox Church, then he taught us about it. He had treated his AP class students like college students; a humbling experience and such a good lesson. I loved hearing about the local history from him as well as in class. He will be missed.

wayne laurentius January 03, 2017 | Perryville, MO

“We will miss our dear friend and neighbor. Ross was a very kind and honest man and we always enjoyed conversation with him.

DOROTHY HUNTER 109 1/2 AND GOING STRONG SEE AND HEAR HER

Dorothy Hunter is 109.5 years old, the oldest person in our area. She did teach in Normandy for awhile before going to Kirkwood, which is mentioned in the interview.  We on Facebook had wondered if she ever taught elsewhere. She married in 1930 and raised a daughter. Her voice is strong, you'd never think she is that old from listening to her!!! She said that in growing up she heard one word repeatedly, that being MODERATION, and she still follows that pattern. The radio commentator said her life "reads like a history book." We who had her as a teacher were blessed indeed.  Here is the link to this past week's radio interview with her; I think you'll enjoy it!  If you're on Facebook, check out my personal FB page, Leslie Vander Meulen Richards, for some fun talk about Mrs. Hunter and Miss Backus, or principal who lived as a boarder with Mr. and Mrs. Hunter on Geyer Road, just north of Essex.  
Thanks to Durrie Bouscaren of KWMU, St. Louis Public Radio for ferreting out this story and reporting on our beloved Robinson School third grade teacher.  On the link you'll also see quite a few very well-known Robinson School faces!  ENJOY!  I have just tried the link, the story is there, but the audio for the actual interview is not.  HERE is another link which works for me much better!  The written article is great, hearing her voice, priceless.

THE DART passes away at 91

Mr. Smith, aka The Dart to us KHS folks, passed away 2/19 at age 91.  Thanks to Pat Corpening Hoag for the heads up about the obituary in today's Kirkwood Webster Times.  You can see the Obituary here.  Several of us were privileged to spend an evening with Mr. Smith not too many years ago, courtesy of Ken and Darleen McBride who had him and some of us to their beautiful Chesterfield home.  We had a great time chatting with him and reminiscing.  I love to tell the story of my manning (or is that personing?) the KHS Alumni Assn check-in table at Greentree one year, with our large poster of one of our Yearbook pix of him blown up and mounted, hanging from a nearby tree limb.  Boy was I ever surprised when he walked up to the table and asked if the poster belonged to me; I said well no, not really, it belongs to the class of 1965...he thought it was great and a bit surprised that we'd remember him all those years later and even bring along his photo.  

The visitation is Weds 3/1 4 to 7pm at Bopp, with Memorial Service on 3/2 at 11:00am at Webster Groves Christian Church.  I'm thinking his family would love to see many of us who grew up, behave ourselves, and didn't forget him.

WHO KNEW HE HAD A BAND???

When we KHS65ers think of Kirkwood bands my guess is Jack Toman and Alan Yount come to mind.  Who knew Al Hoemann had a band from the mid 1930s to mid 1960s?  I sure don't remember knowing it.  As a member of the Kirkwood Historical Society I often find great tidbits in their quarterly bulletins, and today while trying to find an elusive something else, I stumbled on this section of an article in the Kirkwood Historical Review, Summer 2015.  I couldn't resist...

"Alfred R. Hoemann closed the doors to his jewelry business, after 47 years, in the early 1990s.  Most Kirkwood residents could tell you how to get to his shop on 123 W. Jefferson Avenue.  He was Kirkwood Citizen of the year in 1980, and continued with watch and clock repair until his death in November 1997."  Thanks to Kirkwood Historical Society (my OTHER KHS) for this great article.

Today P J's Tavern is located in the jewelry store space, where so many of us spent our time, money, and probably money of our loving parents.  Hoemann provided our class rings, the "lavalier" charms that many of us wore on necklaces, the KHS gold pins with the chain attached to a 65, and maybe our Gold Ks.  My class ring, lavalier and a gold disk to which I had the KHS 65 pin (after removing the backs) attached reside today on my gold charm bracelet.  I still have the scarab watch I bought there too, but it wasn't like the one EVERYONE else had.  I didn't want mine to be just like everyone else's, so I bought, from Hoemann's, another scarab bracelet, and another watch, had one scarab link removed and the watch, sans its band which I pitched, inserted to custom craft MY scarab watch.  It still runs, I wear it with a smaller scarab bracelet given to me in the 1970s I think, and a pair of funky small scarab earrings I found much more recently.  (I also still wear a watch given to me by my dad the Christmas of 8th grade.)

Then there's PJs, a favorite restaurant and pub in Kirkwood, frequented by many of us here in town.  We've hosted several reunion activities there, and just last month Peggy Entenman Kramer and Pat Corpening Hoag and I had a gossip-fest over drinks and great food, and lo and behold we chatted with Steve Woodard as he was exiting.  (Our table is always one near the front door, even in the cold winter!)  We frequently run into someone we all three, or at least one of us, knows while dining at PJs.  Funny to think of standing at the bar ordering a drink in about the same spot we stood at Al's counter ordering our jewels!

I'd LOVE to hear any stories some of you might know about the musical history of our favorite hometown jeweler!!! Jack??  Alan??  Other class musicians??

Bill Illing passes away, gone too soon.

Yet another of our classmates has passed away recently.  I learned today of his 12/22/16 death.  Please go
here to read his very complete obituary.  Bill has kept in touch with us over the years, and was a pleasure to
hear from.  Such an active and full life he had with his careers and his beautiful family. We were lucky to have had him with us.

KHS65 CHRISTMAS PARTY 2016 JOIN US!

KHS friends, heads up! It's another in our great history of Christmas get-togethers...Thursday evening, 12/29, 6:30pm til closing at J Greene's Irish Pub on Manchester at Sappington Road. 10017 Manchester Road...our classmate Phil Greene is the father of the proprietor of this fine establishment, so come on out! Sort of an after-Christmas, last fling before yet another New Year is upon us! Hope to see many of you there....and by the way, crashers of the nicest kind are welcome...

“At Seventy: Some Kind, of a Sonnet” — a poem by Alan Yount the Count

A busy guy ~ a new poem by Alan Yount, another of our talented classmates, both as a musician and a poet!  Check out the website link for his latest, a sonnet about, well really about aging!   I have been privileged and honored to read several of his poetic works, they are really great!  Be sure to read below the poem for the blurb & photo of Alan.  Having watched the St. Louis Symphony last night, the photo makes him look more the frontiersman than concert musician, puts me in mind of some other renaissance men I know!!!  Way to go Alan, continuing in the tradition of making KHS65 look SO good!  Thank you for sharing!


http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/2016/11/seventy-kind-sonnet-poem-alan-yount/

JAZZ AND POETRY FROM KHS65 MUSICIAN ALAN YOUNT

I'm sure most all of us remember classmate Alan Yount, one of our two class musicians who were not only spectacularly talented but had their own dance bands, both of which played for various social events at KHS.  Alan has been a great correspondent for years and has recently shared something I didn't already know about him - he's a poet besides being one super trumpet player.  He's been writing poetry for 50 years and has published over 100 poems, nationally as well as in our state.  This is particularly interesting to me because I not only can't write a poem, yes I can make words rhyme but that's just not what it's all about, but I normally don't "get" much of poetry, way too nebulous for my more straight-line brain!  If you go here:
http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/2016/10/brotherhood-man-poem-alan-yount/
you'll not only find a great, and timely, poem by Alan, but a photo of him as well as a short bio which I think will interest everyone.  Also you can click on the Gene Harris, Brotherhood of Man song and hear the song. Alan was Librarian at Mizzou for many years and in retirement still lives in the Columbia area.  He and I also share an interest in the history of our fathers' careers at McDonnell Aircraft and MDC.   And watch this space, Alan has another poem in the works that will have a Kirkwood angle.  Stay tuned.  Much appreciation to Alan for keeping us updated on his "careers"...he was in the Army Band too, along with other Kirkwoodians we all know!  ENJOY and happy FALL to everyone.