Message Forum

Patricia "Patti" Mennen (Stinson)

Hi everyone

Nans birthday is April 29th. If you would like to send her a card or get well.Her address is 15048 W. Cameron Dr. Surprise, Az. 85379.

She would love to hear from you.

Love to all

Gayle Cashen Hoffman

04/06/17 04:46 PM

#16

Gayle, if you can, please tell Nanny I am thinking of her every day. I tried to email her and call her, but to no avail. Love to everyone from the old sod. sincerely, Patti Mennen Stinson

04/06/17 08:24 PM

#17

Hello everyone,

With great sadness, Nan passed away today April 6, She fell last night and hit her head, which caused a brain bleed. She went to be with the Lord peacefully with family and friends by her side.

With open arms her daughter Kim was there to greet her.

We will all miss her.

Love and miss you already sis💟💟

Gayle Cashen Hoffman

04/07/17 12:32 AM

#18

Sally Kahlich (Burch)

Debbie Welch ( SS & Jude classmate ) sent me a text tonite. She saw on FB that our dear friend, Nan passed away today. We've lost a true kind hearted soul but Heaven's gained another angel and Nan and her beloved Kim have been reunited.

When anyone finds out about the service, will you please post it.

04/07/17 09:39 PM

#19

Services for Nan Solferino Gwaltney

April 12 2017, Wednesday 5-8 pm visitation.

All is at Holly Cross Cemetary, 99 ave. Thomas.

April 13 2017, Thursday, Prayer and Burial Service, 10:00am.

Please pass the word.

04/27/17 06:16 PM

#20

Debbie Dorius

Dear Class of '68,

You will be receiving Memory messages for 3 of your classmates. Many of you knew about sweet Nan's passing, but Tim Holtzen also found out that Ellen VanArsdell (Crowley) and Andy Nutima have also passed. It is always sad when I have to relay these messages.

Ellen was such a delightful, sweet lady and was your co-valedictorian. We were so happy that she decided to attend the last reunion and Tim relayed to me that he had spoken to her and that she had really enjoyed herself!

Tim recently found out about Andy when his wife responded to a letter Tim wrote to Andy. We do not know the specifics, but Tim was going to speak further with his widow. I will post on the Memory page anything else I find out.

If any of you have information that you would like me to post - obituaries, pictures or announcements, please do not hesitate to let me know or as always - any messages can be shared here!

I hope all of the Class of 1968 has a wonderful, fun summer!

Debbie

04/28/17 06:34 PM

#21

Thank you Debbie for letting us know about these 3 fellow classmates.

Maureen (Moe) Sweeney Norton

04/28/17 09:48 PM

#22

Thomas "Tom" Freeman

Very sorry to hear the news. Unfortunately we will experience this more frequently the older we all get. It should gives us all pause to consider how we want to spend the remaining time we have. Are you giving to or taking from those who love you? Hope you don't object to my philosophical response. Had a great couple glasses of wine tonight

04/28/17 10:42 PM

#23

It's the reality of it all. Very well said Tom, I appreciate what you said.

But I still miss my best friend, Nanny Goat.

Gayle Casjhen Hoffman

04/29/17 03:53 PM

#24

Well said Tom & always looking for a good wine, what were you drinking. Stay well my friend.

05/16/17 08:48 AM

#25

I'm so sad to read of the deaths of so many classmates. It really makes me appreciate not being on that list myself, especially since in the late 90's I fully expected to be dead within 5 - 10 years. (A long story involving HIV and the complete unavailability of health care until I was nearly destitute and much closer to death.)

I also have a totally unrelated question, but I see no way to start a new thread. Does anyone have pictures from earlier reunions? I think that would be interesting, if for no other reason than to see the gradual effect of time and gravity on others. ;-) The only thing that stops me from becoming a recluse is knowing that (it helps, but) you don't have to be good looking to be attractive.

Andy Anderson

05/16/17 12:44 PM

#26

Janis "Jan" Bickle (Gardner)

Hello Andy, hope your doing well now.

It is sad to know some of our classmates have gone to be with the Lord, way before their time.

It's so nice to hear from our friends from High School.

Stay well, hope to see you at the next class reunion.

Gayle Cashen Hoffman

11/22/17 01:34 AM

#27

Debbie Dorius

SUZANNE JORDAN (WHITLOCK)

10/18/41-11/13/17

I am sad to announce that another one of our teachers has passed. I had Mrs Whitlock for English and I always enjoyed her class - she was tough, but I learned a great deal from her. She started teaching at WHS in 1965 when she was only 24 years old! Although there is not a formal obituary, there is a wonderful slide show of her life on the Phoenix Memorial

11/22/17 01:58 PM

#28

Wishing everyone a healthy, happy Thanksgiving!

11/23/17 12:13 PM

#29

Thank you Janice & to the class of '68 have a great Thanksgiving with family, friends new & old.

05/10/18 02:58 PM

#30

Debbie Dorius

Hi Class of '68,

In sorting through WHS reunion information, I ran across a wonderful letter from Grayce Newton Lees letting me know she wouldn't be able to attend the last reunion, but giving me updated information on herself and Lynn Null Lancaster. It spurred me to work on this site and try to find more missing classmates. I just want to remind all of you that if you have anything to share or updates, please feel free to leave messages here or email me and I will make sure that the updates are completed.

Also, I can see that no one answered Andy's comments below so ........ Andy - I hope you will stay in contact! We are all aging and changing and I know that at the last reunion we all realized it was just great fun to see old classmates and get caught up - no judgments - just fun and thankfulness! If you go to to the left hand side of this site and click on "WHS 45th Reunion Pics" - you will be able to see some of the classmates who attended the reunion!

I hope everyone has a healthy, happy summer!

Debbie Dorius (Class of 1969)

05/12/18 02:19 PM

#31

Thank you Debbie for keeping us all informed. I just wanted to let the class of 68 know that our 50th reunion is this year & if anyone is interested on planning the event give your classmates a call & start a committee. The class of 69 will have their own 50th reunion next year. Do we have any one from the last reunion that wants to plan a 50th? Have a great, happy & healthy summer. Maureen (Moe) Sweeney Norton

05/14/18 09:08 AM

#32

Debbie,

Thanks for pointing me to the 45th year reunion pics. Exactly what I was looking for. Funny, even tho everyone has aged gently, all ya all look a lot older than me. (Yes, I have a mirror.) As an honest observation, that has to be true. TO ME, everyone looks older, but perhaps "he sees what he wants to see".

I also looked at the list of missing classmates, which really surprises me. A quick guesstimate of the total was around 350. I'm thinking our entire class total was around 450, which means about 80% are missing. I doubt that many are looking but can't find this site, but I also doubt that apathy could be that extensive. IDK, did they forget where they went to school? Are they being held hostage at classmates? I haven't tried to find anyone for many years, but with facebook knowing more about us than we do, and adobe tracking our every move for the last 20 years, a little hacking should reveal volumes. looking - no hacking - looking.

Seems like it's getting pretty late for anyone to start planning a 50 year reunion. (Calling it a 50th reunion implies that we either have one every year or that we're REALLY old.) I'm certainly not up for that task, it's just not the sort of thing I do well. I missed the 45 year, so did we do something to alienate the class of '69 so that they'll have nothing of us this go around? Heck, we could just crash their reunion. Who's going to stop us? Or better yet, look at their list of missing classmates, and well, you know, find someone. (Just kidding, Debbie. Much appreciate all that you're doing.)

Sorry, when I started this message I fully intended to maintain a dignified tone, but apparently, I've lost all dignity and I'm too damn old to care. Anyone else notice this? When I was young, I couldn't grasp the concept of "no fear", but I've reached an age where fear requires too much effort so now I've fully embraced it.

05/16/18 02:19 PM

#33

Terry Martin

Betsy,

Thanks so much for clarifying the reasons behind separate 50th reunions, perfectly understable. In reading Andy's thread and from conversations with other '68 classmates, we weren't sure. When the combo reunions were first announced I always thought it was a great idea as I found I remembered many classmates from both years. It's been a pleasure to see them all and it would be a nice if '68 grads were welcome to drop by just to say "hey". Hope we can restart the combined events soon.

I also wanted to give a shout out to you and Debbie Dorius for all you do for both classes. I know there are many others involved, but you two are the ones I communicate with most. I'm sure it's been a lot of thankless work, but we want you all to know it has been worth it, as you have brought many people together for a good time. Thank you!

Take Care,

Terry Martin '68

05/16/18 08:39 PM

#34

Janis "Jan" Bickle (Gardner)

Betsy,

Sure, I get that. And I agree with all that Terry added.

Thanks!

Andy Anderson '68

05/17/18 12:35 AM

#35

I totally get the "50th" is special and appropriate for each class to consider having 'their own' reunion.

I haven't lived in the Valley for over 25 years (now in SW Colorado), but if anyone that still lives in the Valley wanted to start working on a 50th for the class of '68, I would be glad to help as part of the committee. There probably is quite a bit I could do via phone, internet and occasional trips down to the Valley that I would be willing & able to do.

As it was with the 45th, it could be held late in the year--if we jumped on it, it is not unreasonable that we could pull something together for a November celebration--6 months from now. Contact me if I can be of help. My contact information is current on this site.

Janis 'Jan' Bickle Gardner

05/19/18 09:13 PM

#36

Thomas "Tom" Freeman

I am disappointed to learn the next reunion will not be combined as done for the past several years I really don’t get the 50 year thing and we need a special reunion that divides us into two different groups. Good luck class of 68 to pull together an event in 4-5 months, particulary for those of us who live a good distance from Arizona. I think many of us were pretty much one group in HS. I wish you all the best for the event I will never be a party crasher.

Tom Freeman

06/09/21 05:54 PM

#37