Memorial Obits
Information on our deceased classmates.
WALTER ALLEN DECOURSEY (1948-2005)Walter DeCoursey was born on Dec 23, 1948. He was the only child of Walter C and Clara DeCoursey of Hatboro. Affectionately called “Corky” by his childhood friends, he carried the nickname throughout high school.
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EDWARD DOBSON (1950-2015)Ed Dobson was born on Dec 30, 1949. He moved with his family to Pennsylvania from Northern Ireland in 1964. He joined our class in the fall of 1965.Ed studied under the Scientific course and joined the soccer and wrestling teams.After high school, he attended Bob Jones University and University of Virginia. At 23, he became dean of men at Liberty University. Several years later, he was named associate pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. When the Moral Majority was organized in 1979, Jerry Falwell named Ed to the board. In the years between then and 2000 he moved through a series of pastorates, editorships and Christian advisory positions. He was quite popular as a preacher.Ed was diagnosed with ALS in 2000, and began producing a series of books and videos about the trials of living with the disease. His original diagnoses suggested a life expectancy of 2-5 years. Ed surprised everyone when he lived on for 15 years.His story is easily accessed through the internet, including videos and tales of his religious life. He is most likely the most “Googled” of our 1966 classmates.Ed died in Kent, Michigan on Dec 26, 2015. He was survived by his wife Lorna, 2 sons, one daughter, six grandchildren; and his sister, May. |
KEVIN R HARRIS (1949-2014)Kevin Harris was born on Feb 3, 1949, and died on July 29, 2014.In high school, he was active in Student Council, Debate Club, Yearbook, Spirit and Prom Committees. He ran cross country and managed wrestling for 2 years. Listed among our Senior Superlatives as “Most Conscientious”.
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NANCY SIMKO LOUGHERY (1948-2011)Nancy Simko was born in Philadelphia on April 13, 1948 to Anna and Lester Simko.She attended Horsham Elementary School.In high school, she was our class treasurer for three years, a member of the spirit committee, and an important member of the field hockey team. Among our Senior Superlatives she was voted “Typical Senior”.After graduation, Nancy attended Peirce Junior College. In 1969, she married John J (Bud) Loughery Jr. They were married for 42 years and had 2 sons.At the time of our 1981 reunion, she reported her occupation as homemaker/ mother. Her activities included camping, bowling, biking, and Warrington AA youth sports. In 1986, she was selling cosmetics, and added Casino gambling and watching her sons play football. In 1991, she was a manicurist and she had added skiing and golf to her sports hobbies.On Sept 23, 2011, she died of breast cancer. She was 63.She was survived by her mother; her husband; 2 sons- Jack Loughery III (Marni) and Michael (Adrienne); and granddaughters Lorna and Megan.Services were held privately.In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations in Nancy’s name to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. |
LYNN ROSEMERY (1948-1998)Lynn Rosemery was born at Abington Hospital on May 12, 1948.She is remembered by our classmates as an artist and talented actress. In our Senior Superlatives, she was voted “Most Ingenious”. After high school, she attended Philadelphia College of Art and graduated with a degree in illustration.At the time of our 1981 reunion, she was married, and living in New Jersey. She made her living as a painter, calligrapher and printmaker. In 1991, she was divorced, relocated to Montana, working as a hostess/dining room manager and doing her beautiful art on the side. (t-shirts and note cards)Over the years, her hobbies included sailing, organic gardening and holistic health.In 1986, she added Middle Eastern Belly dancing to her hobbies and performed at our reunion. In Montana, she became interested in Native American spiritual journeys.She died of breast cancer on Jan 9, 1998 in Missoula, Montana.She was survived by her younger brother, Keith and a son. |
ROGER H DEMONTIER (1947-1986)Roger DeMontier was born June 10, 1947.During high school he taught swimming at the YMCA, loved scuba diving, and planned a career in Marine Biology.He attended the University of Miami at Coral Gables, majoring in history. Roger made the swim team in his freshman year and competed for 2 years. At the end of his sophomore year (June 1969), he married Paulette LaPointe. The newlyweds lived in a beachside apartment on Key Biscayne. They were both water people, and soon bought a small Sunfish sailboat. They would anchor on the mud flats off the tip of Cape Florida and go snorkeling, scuba diving and spearfishing. Next they bought an old, decrepit, Chris Craft power boat to rehab, which allowed them to sail further afield. Eventually, they purchased a 51’ Matthews twin diesel boat that they lived on in various marinas around the Miami area for about 4 years. More than once they took the boat over to the Bahamas and often went down to the Florida Keys to go diving.To support their boats, Roger worked as an engineering draftsman designing streetlamps, sewer grates, and such for the City of Miami and Dade County. Paulette was an industrial biochemist, and both of them were certified Scuba instructors.When they got tired of living on the boat, they moved to an apartment in Coconut Grove, where they eventually drifted apart. In March 1986, he and Paulette divorced.While visiting his sister in Hawaii in June of 1986, Roger apparently drowned while snorkeling about 200 yards off shore near Shark’s Cove on the north shore of Oahu. As he was an excellent swimmer, authorities explored the possibility of his having succumbed to a diabetic coma while diving.He was survived by his sister, Carol and a nephew. Paulette’s brother, who supplied much of this information, believes his ashes may have been scattered at sea, which would have been appropriate. |
KENNETH JOHN HOOVER (1948-2015)Ken Hoover was born on Aug 25, 1948 to Jack and Jane Hoover.He is remembered for his easy smile and good looks.Always a snappy dresser, it is no wonder Ken worked as a salesman in the fashion industry. He was good at what he did, hard-working, and very professional. Ken traveled quite a bit. It was said of him that “he knew more about woman’s fashion than most women”. His beautiful wife, Wynn was his model.He and Wynne had two sons- Todd born in 1974 and Chad, born in 1980.At the time of our 1991 reunion, he reported his activities as enjoying the beach, traveling, and gardening. That was the last time we heard from him.He died on Sunday, Feb 22, 2015 in Lebanon, Virginia.He was predeceased by his parents. Survivors include his sons; two grandchildren; sister Betty Jane Born, and brother David Hoover.Services were held on March 7, 2015 at the Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church in Lebanon.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts were requested to the church in Ken’s memory. Each gift would help the recovery ministry that benefited Ken. |
BARRY M JANDA (1948-2015)Barry Janda was born on April 13, 1948.High School classmates remember him as a pleasant, quiet guy with a dry sense of humor.Retiring after 45 years as a scheduler-printer for Quad Graphics, he enjoyed his retirement by fishing, golfing, and watching sports.Barry was a member of the Bristol Elks Lodge #970 and the Bensalem Citizen’s Club.He died suddenly on Sunday Feb 22, 2015 at Aria Health - Torresdale Division surrounded by his loving family.He was 66 years old.Survivors include his wife of 33 years Helen Janda (nee Price); two step-children, Carol Moser and John Williams; 5 step-grandchildren, and 2 step great grandchildren. |
WILLIAM JAMES REID (1947-1979)Bill Reid was born in Philadelphia on October 30, 1947.Bill was an excellent cook, starting with his after-school restaurant job at the Carriage House restaurant in Hatboro. He worked there full time all through high school.A chubby guy with a great sense of humor, Bill liked nothing better than hanging out with his friends- at the Billiard Ball, at Burdick’s, or behind the Hatboro Pool. He was a loyal friend who was known as the guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.Card playing at his place, or Tom Dillon’s house; a quick game of touch football behind the Robert Bruce Apartments, or an impromptu party, Bill was always up for a good time.His crazy sense of humor was legendary. He arrived to Study Hall one time with a blow up doll.He died in Buckingham in February 1979. Many high school friends attended his funeral. |
ROBERT HABLETT (1948- 1966)Bob Hablett was born on May 15, 1948. His parents were Thomas H and Edith Hablett.In high school, he played baseball, football, and basketball. Bob was also a member of the spirit committee, and the art club. |
DARLENE STONE CALDWELL (1948-2006)Darlene Stone was born on April 8, 1948 at the U S Naval Base Coco Solo in Panama, near Panama City. Her parents were George and Velma Stone. In December of that year, at the age of 8 months, she arrived by ship in New York with her mother, sister Terry, and brother George.She attended Horsham Elementary School with our classmates, but started high school at Villa Joseph Marie High School. (a private Catholic HS in Southampton). However, she was back at HHHS for her junior and senior years.Darlene loved to dance and took tap and jazz lessons as a young teen. She also loved to sing, and would have loved to be able to sing or act professionally.Shortly after graduation, Darlene married Bob Caldwell, a Navy man. In 1967 their son, Robert Jr was born. A daughter, Rosalind and a son, Ronnie followed.At the time of her death, on July 14, 2006, she was divorced and living in Hatboro. She was survived by her three children. |
HARRY C SMITH JR (1946-2013)Harry Smith was born on September 27, 1946After high school, Harry worked as a roofer.Variously living in Hatboro, Warminster, and eventually Lansdale. Harry was often seen around town on his bicycle, as, early in his career, he lost his license to DUI.Despite his problems with alcohol, Harry remained a pleasant guy until his death. Folks liked him in high school, and they liked him at the end.He died on Dec 23, 2013 |
RUFUS J BLANDING JR (1948-2003)Rufus Blanding was born in Horsham on Feb, 27, 1948.He was the brother to Clara Bell (HH-’59) and Martha Blanding. He attended Horsham Elementary School.In high school, he played football and spent one year on the track team.He died on Aug 2, 2003 in Reading PA, where he had lived for over 25 years. |
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