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Albert Lee Robinson

69ers: I have been looking through our classmate profiles and one thing seems to stand out. There is a lot of updating that needs to be done. When you get a chance (before 2024) look at your profile and make any corrections/updates so we can contact you with plans for the next reunion. 

Merry Christmas to everyone. May 2023 bring peace and joy to you and your families. Al

Albert Lee Robinson

It has been brought to my attention that we have lost another classmate. Gary Lynn Kessinger, died Tuesday, December 20, 2022. His service will be December 28th at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg. Please keep Gary's family in your prayers. Losing a loved one at Christmas time is very hard to deal with.

Albert Lee Robinson

MARK THE DATE: We have confirmed the dates for out 55th class reunion. June 21-22, 2024. 

It will once again be at the German Club Manor on South Gate Dr. That is over a year from now, so please try to work it into your schedule.There will be updates on the planning process as we go, but would like some input from you as to what you might like to have available. Just getting started so all ideas are welcome.

Diane Van Dresser (Dixon)

Tina Louise Smusz

Thank you Albert and committee, 

Your continuing vigilance to make this special event happen & to keep us apprised of classmates' life changes  is very much appreciated. 

Tina Smusz

Albert Lee Robinson

Once again we have lost a friend and classmate. Don Price passed the evening of March 6th. Don was an active member of the reunion committee and will be greatly missed. He has been struggling with nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver for several years. His bride Lois has been angelic in her care for Don and deserves our prayers and support in her time of need. Their son Jason has also been stellar in his support and care giving. 

A lot of us have Don stories from high school. Most of the stories I know are of fun and happy events. I will always remember Don as a friend, teammate, and classmate with upmost fondness. Rest easy in the kingdom of heaven my friend.

Obituary on the  "in memory" page under Classmate Profiles.

Deborah Ann Davis (McCoy)

Some of you know that 2 years ago, my husband, Gary McCoy (Class of '67) was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure.  Gary has been on dialysis since then.  During the past 2 years we have made numerous trips to UVA and Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for placement on their transplant lists.  So many things have taken place since then -- cataract surgery on both eyes, heart stent, dental work, placement of fistula for dialysis, etc.  We have learned that Gary is scheduled (as of now) for July 25 for his transplant at Wake Forest.  To say we are excited would be a huge understatement, but also very anxious.  Gary will be in the hospital for at least 7 days and after being discharged we will have to stay in Winston Salem for a couple of weeks so that he can go back for checkups every 2 days.  That being said, our son and I will be staying with him, which of course means lodging and food.  We would appreciate anything that you are able to give.  Gary and I are eternally grateful to those who have already donated, but we need just a little more.  Thanks to you all in advance.  Prayers are appreciated as well!

https://gofund.me/e566b8b5

Deborah Ann Davis (McCoy)

First of all, thanks to all of you who have donated to Gary's Go Fund Me -- your generosity is greatly appreciated.  Secondly, transplant has been pushed back to the first week of September, but will still take place.  That gives us more time for fund raising.  Gary decided to have a tiny garden on the patio to keep him occupied and to pass the time,  He's also reading banned books that he hasn't already read with a vengeance!!!  He naps frequently and enjoys our weekly ride to wherever it takes us.  We've already reserved our beach house for next summer with friends.  We need a vacation!!!  Again, thanks to everyone!

https://gofund.me/e566b8b5

Albert Lee Robinson

As our planning for the 55th progresses, I want to make sure that you know the dates were changed in my previous message. We have dropped Thursday the 20th from the agenda. We will have registration and social on the evening of Friday the 21st, a catered picnic at the German Club miday Saturday, and a dinner dance on Saturday night also at the German Club. I plan to send a save the date card requesting if you plan to attend to everyone I have an address for, so if you have not updated your address or any other info on the website, please do so asap. As I am sure you all are aware, prices have gone up dramatically with food in particular and we are attempting to hold your expenses as low as possible. A good estimate of attendence will help determine expenses.

We are hoping to get everyone involved in a project for this reunion even if you cannot attend. I would like you to do a 'selfie' video of yourself telling us about a favorite fond and/or funny memory from your high school experience. Now I know some of your minds will go to some wild and crazy places, which is OK. Just keep it civil and clean. If we get a good participation, I will put together a video of all the submissions to show at the reunion. Will also try to make it available for everyone that wants one to get a copy of it. We tried this out at our last meeting and Charles had everyone in tears from laughing.

More news later...remember to update your info on the website.    Al

Albert Lee Robinson

A piece of good news: 

Our classmate Kurt Dietrich has had a new book published. It is a biography of the great jazz/pop/R&B singer Al Jarreau. The book did very well at Amazon, topping the new jazz biography list for some time. You can get look at it with this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Givin-Up-Music-arreau/dp/1976600197/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1E6QDNW2DCKYT&keyword=

Never+Givin%27+Up&qid=1684617463&sprefix=never+givin%27+up%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-2

You can also go to the publishers site

 https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/never-givin-up  

Check it out. Congratulations to Kurt for adding to his many accomplishments.

Albert Lee Robinson

We have lost Carl Absher. He has been battling cancer for some time now and has finally succumed. Please be in prayer for his wife Becky and all the family. 

UPDATE:

I received a message from Fred Huff regarding a celebration of life in Carl’s honor. It will be on Saturday October 7^th at 2pm. Location is Carl and Becky’s home: 3825 Catawba Rd, Blacksburg, VA, 24060-533. (Google maps is pretty accurate.) You are encouraged to come and bring a covered dish (side or dessert) and your own chairs. Roasted pig, roasted chicken, and roasted corn on the cob will be provided. There will be beer, tea & lemonade to drink. Dress for cool weather as it may go on after dark. Plans are for a country band to perform.

I encourage you to read Carl’s obituary @ https://regionalobituaries.com/obituary/carl-price-absher/

Carl and Becky have been instrumental in the organizing of our last two class reunions. We will miss his broad smile and positive attitude that he always brought to our meetings. 

Albert Lee Robinson

I am sorry to bring some bad news to everyone. Bobby Sterrett passed away last night. Bob has been fighting cancer for some time.Visitation will be on Friday the  9th, memorial service will be Saturday the 10th.

Arrangements are with McCoy funeral home in Blacksburg. His obituary is on their website.

This is a big loss to our class. Bob was a great friend, and I, along with so many others will miss him.

Please keep Julie and the family in your prayers during these hard times          

Montreo Rollins (Pursifull)

 YA'll coming in June????????  Date set, same location, New info & entertainment, first time DJ with great oldies but goodies, more good times & food & reconnecting  , new video, Most of us retired,  all of us 5 years older, Family/guests invited to picnic with payment & reservation,  hopefully afew teachers,(they are getting older & fewer also)!!!  Notification card coming soon but in order to keep prices in check we need to know anticipated numbers.  Please go to your profile and mark Planning to Attend or contact Albert or myself. Remember the words in our fight song......"WE're ever True to you dear Blue &Gold......................Onward Indians!!!"  We will contiue to update & have our tables & pictures of Deceased Classmates with the calling of their names & would be happy to entertain any other reasonable ideas or suggestions,   it will be gathering time in three quick months..............see ya then, I pray !!!   

Mitzi Belknap

I'm looking forward to seeing a group photo! Thank you Albert,  Montreo and the rest of the committee for your hard work. Sounds like a fun weekend for all. Even though I've only been back once, I am so appreciative of my four years at BHS. 

Wish I could teleport to Blacksburg, but alas… I am with you all in spirit. Mitzi.

James Allison Kegley

Hi everyone !

I had originally planned on attending our wonderful 55th reunion...What a blast it will be after perusing all the events, not to mention the exceptional people I met at the previous two I attended. Indeed Blacksburg seems to never age, still some of the same places that i remember. .yes, some have changed.but the essence still remains...Go Indians!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this year ( a family, yeah grandkids conflict, lol).

Thanks to all the planning committee for all their efforts, and of course Albert and Montreo.I will be there in spirit...Can't wait to see the class photo !....

Richard Thomas Howerton III

Thanks to all on our Reunion Committee for their work to organize our 55th, especially Al. I look forward to being with our Class of '69ers in body or in spirit. Thanks also for setting up the session on Saturday morning at 10:00 to hear 20 minutes of stories from books they've written - Kurt Dietrich's Never Givin' Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau, Sheridan Brown's The Viola Factor, and Charles Lytton's Set Right Still ... Dawn Is Fixin' to Break. Honored to be in such illustrious company, I will share from Sparks From Lightning Bugs and Other Life Lessons. Please join us if you can.

Sheridan Lynn Brown

Looking forward to introducing Viola Ruffner to the group. Can't wait to hear everyone's process and experiences.😊😊

Sandra Reed/Elliott (Killgo)

Sorry I won't get to attend this year send me lots of pictures.

We are getting older and my health won't allow me to travel right now or be away from

home and my doctors.  So many of you I miss.  Please think of me and send those pictures.

Sandy Killgo

Jenni Anne Beyer (Oliphant)

to fellow BHS-ers:              Sorry to be counted absent this year. My admiration and appreciation goes to the reunion committee!! I am doing well in my recovery from the rigors of breast cancer treatment: right now I am considered "cancer free!"        I will be particularly sad to miss the authors session. Have fun everybody!

     " Live Long & Prosper" ,and be as happy as you can Today!                                                       Jenni Beyer Oliphant

Larry Wendell McCoy

Good evening Albert. Please excuse our absence this weekend. We had pre registered but my wife prefers not to travel at this time.   Wish we could be there to catch up. Have a great weekend with the Class of '69. 
Larry McCoy. 

Charles William Patterson

Great time and what a Blessing seeing all who were able to make our reunion.  The meet the BHS author session was fantastic.  Copious thanks to the Reunion Committee for all their efforts and execution.  Bravo! 

Kindly,

Charley

Albert Lee Robinson

Following up: I took several pictures at the reunion but was not able to take as many as I would have lliked. I noticed that many of you were taking pictures with your phones and I would like you to share as many as you would like with me so I can put them in the 'Class Gallery' to share with the class. If you can, please make each picture file size 1 megabyte or larger to allow for enlargement. Send to al.robin08@gmail.com. (I anxiously await.)

Unfortunately, not all attendees were available for the group picture, but John Kline took an execellent picture of those who were available. It will be included with the pictures I receive from you.

This reunion was different from our past reunions in that there were not so many places to go or things to do etc. Since we are all in our 70's now, we felt like we needed to slow the pace down a little and just enjoy each other. I hope that everyone was pleased with our effort and enjoyed themselves. 

A big thank you to all who generously donated above and beyond the "ticket price". Also, my personal thanks to the committee that managed to pull everything off with style.

It has been a hoot. Hope to see everyone next time.    Al 

Deborah Ann Davis (McCoy)

Charles William Patterson

Thanks Debbie,

Annette was on my paper rouite on Clay Cricle.  Knew her before she started teaching.  Wonderful lady and terrific teacher. 

Jane Carr lived down the street on Rose Avenue.  She, and her husband Scottie, were good friends with my parents, Bill and Lois.  Her son Ronnie, learned how to play basketball on the court behind our house.  He later became the head coach at Longwood University and recruited my eldgest son Bradly for the team.  

Dear ladies both.  

Thanks,

Charley Patterson

Deborah Ann Davis (McCoy)