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Tom Bates
Hi Charlene.
It was Linda Wyles. I know what happened to her up until about ten years ago. I was in her class at Fairwood in fourth and fifth grades but she moved after fifth grade. In seventh grade she saw me on television (on the Gene something show--I was in the Berea Barbershop chorus performing (Saturdays--sort of a predecessor to America's Got Talent except we were not competing with the others, just an addition) and wrote to me. And then in high school she saw my name on the National Merit finalist list (I guess she was one also).
In 2010, this is the last I heard from her I think. I know I wrote back but don't remember what happened to the train of conversation. She mentioned that both of her parents died at the age of 62--I hope she lived much longer. She was extremely bright and if she had stayed in Berea I'm sure she would have given Eric Grulke a run for valedictorian and would have gone to a top college probably becoming a doctor. Back then, and particularly growing up in a tiny farm town in Ohio I don't thing many girls ever thought of becoming a doctor--only boys.
The last I heard from her was in 2010 and she expresssed sadness that Fairwood was being razed and dislike for the name Grindstone of the new elementary school
Here is her summary update of her life she sent in 2010--I sent her an emeail several days ago trying to find out where she was and how she was doing but haven't heard back. If I hear from her I'll send her email address to you.
Tom
February 27, 2010 message from Linda Wyles:
"
...Summer 1960: Moved to Marlboro Twp in Stark County, outside of Alliance. This was the same twp where my mother grew up, and her father lived on a farm about 4 miles from us. We farmed 40 acres plus both my parents taught school (I had my mother for English in 7th & 8th grades). It was very different from Berea (very rural and provincial, few opportunities except those that you made for yourself) but I liked the relative isolation and the self-sufficiency it fostered. When you are quiet and bookish a few good friends are all you need, and I was lucky in that regard. I was your basic nerd: I spent high school studying a lot and playing my saxophone in the band.
College, Sep 1967: Off to Ohio Northern to become a pharmacist. By the end of October I knew I didn't belong there. It was worse than high school. I resented the 8pm fall term curfew for women and I knew something was wrong when I had the highest grades not just in chemistry, but in biology, math and econ as well. I thought about a friend of mine at Vassar and you at Swarthmore. Then, instead of transfering (should have), I decided to change my major to chemistry and get out in 3 years. Which I did. Maybe the small liberal arts schools in Ohio are good for some, but it was a bad choice for me. I really didn't go to college until I started graduate school at Univ of Michigan in Jan 1971.
Ann Arbor: Fond memories. Met future husband there in Chem Dept. He went on to finish PhD in chemistry; I took a master's and then went back to pharmacy school there and got my license. I was probably best trained for research in the pharmaceutical industry, but jobs were tight and I went into hospital work instead. Retail did not appeal to me at all, so I didn't pursue it.
1976: Got married in St Louis where my husband was employed. I worked as a staff pharmacist in a hospital there. Summer of '76 my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died in Jan 1977. I had pretty much burned out with the hospital politics and work by 1979, so I quit and took a job as a research assistant in the Biochem Dept at St Louis Univ Med School. Lab work seems to suit me. In 1980 my mother had a massive heart attack and passed away. Both she and my dad were only 63 when they died. That's always lurking in the back of my mind, especially since I've rolled over the big 6-0, but hopefully I will set a family record for longevity. Won't take much.
1982: We stayed in St Louis until my husband found a new job in Oregon; we moved in 1982. Back to the lab, this time at Oregon State Univ in the College of Pharmacy. I worked there until 1984.
1984: Birth of son, Aaron. He graduated from Cornell with honors in 2006 in linguistics and economics; is married and lives outside Washington DC. Currently working parttime on master's at Georgetown in computer science.
1987: Birth of son, David. He graduated from Univ of Oregon in music ed in 2009 and is currently doing his student teaching and completing a master's in music ed. He wants to teach middle or high school instrumental music. He's quite the saxophone player, if I do say so myself.
1992: Returned to the workforce as a consultant pharmacist in geriatrics (a growth industry if there ever was one). I did clinical work in nursing homes and a little dispensing on the side. Much more autonomy than hospital or retail work. I liked it.
2006: Retirement! I miss the folks I worked with, but not the work itself. It had become an insurance nightmare. In 2002, after a 35-year hiatus, I started playing my saxophone again (didn't you play the clarinet?). I'm in a community band, a sax quartet, and on the sub list for the local swing band. Keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. Plus I volunteer at one of the middle schools in the beginning band program. Great fun!
Well, that was not exactly short and sweet but it should fill in part of the blanks. Talk to you again soon about some Berea-related topics. And our fifth-grade teacher's name was Southham. I'll scan the class photo and send it to you.
LindaSummer 1960: Moved to Marlboro Twp in Stark County, outside of Alliance. This was the same twp where my mother grew up, and her father lived on a farm about 4 miles from us. We farmed 40 acres plus both my parents taught school (I had my mother for English in 7th & 8th grades). It was very different from Berea (very rural and provincial, few opportunities except those that you made for yourself) but I liked the relative isolation and the self-sufficiency it fostered. When you are quiet and bookish a few good friends are all you need, and I was lucky in that regard. I was your basic nerd: I spent high school studying a lot and playing my saxophone in the band.
College, Sep 1967: Off to Ohio Northern to become a pharmacist. By the end of October I knew I didn't belong there. It was worse than high school. I resented the 8pm fall term curfew for women and I knew something was wrong when I had the highest grades not just in chemistry, but in biology, math and econ as well. I thought about a friend of mine at Vassar and you at Swarthmore. Then, instead of transfering (should have), I decided to change my major to chemistry and get out in 3 years. Which I did. Maybe the small liberal arts schools in Ohio are good for some, but it was a bad choice for me. I really didn't go to college until I started graduate school at Univ of Michigan in Jan 1971.
Ann Arbor: Fond memories. Met future husband there in Chem Dept. He went on to finish PhD in chemistry; I took a master's and then went back to pharmacy school there and got my license. I was probably best trained for research in the pharmaceutical industry, but jobs were tight and I went into hospital work instead. Retail did not appeal to me at all, so I didn't pursue it.
1976: Got married in St Louis where my husband was employed. I worked as a staff pharmacist in a hospital there. Summer of '76 my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died in Jan 1977. I had pretty much burned out with the hospital politics and work by 1979, so I quit and took a job as a research assistant in the Biochem Dept at St Louis Univ Med School. Lab work seems to suit me. In 1980 my mother had a massive heart attack and passed away. Both she and my dad were only 63 when they died. That's always lurking in the back of my mind, especially since I've rolled over the big 6-0, but hopefully I will set a family record for longevity. Won't take much.
1982: We stayed in St Louis until my husband found a new job in Oregon; we moved in 1982. Back to the lab, this time at Oregon State Univ in the College of Pharmacy. I worked there until 1984.
1984: Birth of son, Aaron. He graduated from Cornell with honors in 2006 in linguistics and economics; is married and lives outside Washington DC. Currently working parttime on master's at Georgetown in computer science.
1987: Birth of son, David. He graduated from Univ of Oregon in music ed in 2009 and is currently doing his student teaching and completing a master's in music ed. He wants to teach middle or high school instrumental music. He's quite the saxophone player, if I do say so myself.
1992: Returned to the workforce as a consultant pharmacist in geriatrics (a growth industry if there ever was one). I did clinical work in nursing homes and a little dispensing on the side. Much more autonomy than hospital or retail work. I liked it.
2006: Retirement! I miss the folks I worked with, but not the work itself. It had become an insurance nightmare. In 2002, after a 35-year hiatus, I started playing my saxophone again (didn't you play the clarinet?). I'm in a community band, a sax quartet, and on the sub list for the local swing band. Keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. Plus I volunteer at one of the middle schools in the beginning band program. Great fun!
Well, that was not exactly short and sweet but it should fill in part of the blanks. Talk to you again soon about some Berea-related topics. And our fifth-grade teacher's name was Southham. I'll scan the class photo and send it to you.
Linda
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