<
An Internet
email newsletter
connecting
the alumni of
Volume 1, Number 1
------------------
Larry L. Oatman, Editor
<HOME ROOM LINK>
Welcome fellow
on the Internet. This
newsletter is for and about
graduated or attended
classmates, reunions, school
events, teachers and other items of alumni
interest.
<BATH LINK>
launches a new journey, with no previous path to follow. For
many alumni, most contact
with classmates has been limited to reunions
held at five-year intervals
and then only with individual graduating classes.
<BATH LINK>
enlarges this connection not only in frequency but in scope,
covering all of the schools'
classes since its birth in the fall 1956. After
graduation, alumni have become
scattered across the
chance for all alumni to
reconnect with friends in any of the 44 classes. A
number of you may even learn
of an old friend living nearby.
(Ed. Note: Since this is
an email newsletter, the connection is unfortunately
limited to Internet users. As a
<BATH LINK> policy individual email
addresses will remain private.
<BATH LINK> can serve as a third party,
however, providing email
addresses to alumni who wish to contact old
friends directly. While great
effort has been made for accuracy, it is
inevitable that misspellings or
incorrect information will surely occur, which
the editor sincerely
apologizes. Corrections will be listed in subsequent
editions. Officials from the
been contacted and at this
point have no involvement with this newsletter.)
<NAME LINK>
In researching a name
for this email newsletter, Mr. Siniff, business
teacher
and school newspaper
advisor, was contacted. He recalled that the monthly
paper was named the
"Bath Wildcat Press" at the suggestion of one of the
Baker twins, either
Marilyn or Carolyn. His suggestion was the "
Shower," which
students vetoed. (Ed. Note: The "Bath Room" was this
editor's initial half-hearted
suggestion for this newsletter, but better sense
prevailed instead.)
This name <BATH HIGH
SCHOOL ALUMNI LINK> was chosen to indicate
the connecting of
time hyperlinks, underlined
in blue, will be used to make it easy for readers
to click through to other
Web sites.
<NEWSLETTER
FORMAT>
Due to the diversity of
PC platforms and different levels of user
sophistication, a simple format was
developed -- no multi-color, far-out fonts
and no boldfaced or and
italicized type. For the same reason, attachments
will not be included, but
instead hyperlinks.
<SUCCESS LINK>
How worthwhile <BATH
LINK> becomes will depend on your involvement.
Comments, feedback,
suggestions are not only welcomed but needed in
order to continue this effort.
Simply click on mailto:bathlink@wcoil.com and
always include two things:
class year and name. Your class year is
especially important. Also,
please, do not send any attachments -- they
consume time in downloading and
potentially can contain a virus). In
addition, DO NOT TYPE WITH THE
CAPS LOCK KEY ON --on the Web
caps indicate anger, and
besides they're are extremely difficult to read.
<
-- Annual Get-together,
Class of '59,
-- 40th
-- 35th
-- 30th
-- 25th
-- 20th
-- 15th
-- 10th
-- 5th
Check individual
<CLASS LINK> for more details.
RING-G-G-G-G-G-G!
There's the school bell. Time to go to your class.
<1957 CLASS LINK>
Norita "Rita"
(Shepherd) Moss (BHS '57) emailed that she has been a
genealogy freak for about 17
years now. She retired from Sprint after 35
years and now lives in
killed in a car crash in 1996
in
she lived across
Five
Acre's Auto Wrecking.
NEW '57 SUBSCRIBERS:
Ronald Hanthorn of
<1958 CLASS LINK>
George E. Laibe (BHS '58) emailed that he is president of a company
in
on his web site: [ http://www.thecoasterworks.com ] (Ed. Note: Mr. Bixler
would have been proud!)
NEW '58 SUBSCRIBERS:
Nancy (Baber) Taylor of
Cooper of
Laibe of
Bowsher of
Ruhlen of
<1959 CLASS LINK>
Anyone who attended
"School-wide
stop-by-and-say-hi" rally. Really, please do!
When the '59ers had the
37th Class Reunion, yep their 37th (no math
scholars in this group), they
decided to meet annually every second
Saturday in July
"until there aren't any of us left!" (How's
that for
detention?) So, the "Annual
'59er Get-together" is set for
July 14, Teddy Bear Park
on
geezers" will remember it
as the Gloria Drive-In). It's a picnic potluck,
but if you're not a '59er
you don't have to eat, just stop by and
chat (who knows what other
Wildcats you might meet).
NEW '59 SUBSCRIBERS: Sharran Kay (
Best of
Reeder of
Stuart
Christman of
Derringer of
Lawrence of
(Kessen)
Staley of
Carolyn (Malott) Duff of
McKanna of
Lester L. Offenbacher of
Christman of
(Schaaf)
Coburn of
OH; and Richard G.
Walters of
<1960 CLASS LINK>
It is with deep sadness
the following is reported.
Ret. Brig. Gen. Jerry E. Ward, age 59, of
died at
He was born
In December 1997, he
married Carol Anderson, who survives.
He retired in October 1997 as a brigadier
general in the Marine Corps,
having served in the Vietnam
War, in which he was awarded the
Distinguished Flying
Cross with a gold star and the purple Heart.
He had also retired from Reynolds Metals Co.
after eight years as a
territory manager from the
extrusion division.
He received his bachelor's degree in
education and business
administration from
Academic All American
Football Team, Omcron Delta Kappa, Who's Who in
Service
Award. He enjoyed raising cutting horses.
Survivors also include a daughter, Kelly Jo
Ward of
stepson, Billy McElwee; three stepdaughters, Shelly Stephenson, Erin
Sullivan and Taylor McElwee; and four sisters, Mary Zuppardo
of
Betty
Hester, Norma Jones and Helen Buckner, all of
He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph
D. Ward (BHS '57).
Services were held June 3 in Rancho Murieta, CA, with interment in East
Lloyd Shoemaker (BHS
'60) emailed that he was saddened to read about
the passing of Jerry Ward.
"We were very close during our 12 years at
will cherish forever. After
college we kind of separated for several years...I
spoke with Jerry right after
his father died." Lloyd and his wife Fay
(Whetsel)
(BHS '59) live in
NEW '60 SUBSCRIBERS:
Sherrill (Albertson) Martin of
Thomas W. Bowerman of
(
Thurmont,
MD; and Lloyd Shoemaker of
<1961 CLASS LINK>
About 35 Wildcat
classmates have registered for their 40th reunion to be
held at
The class is quite
active -- holding a reunion every five years, making this
one their 8th gala. It will
be separate checks please, with everyone ordering
from the menu. A
"Remembrance Fund" from donations has been
established to pay for the mailing
and other costs.
NEW '61 SUBSCRIBERS:
Jerry Kiracofe of
Loescher of
Don
Whitmore of
<1962 CLASS LINK>
Karen (Faze) Reese (BHS
'62) reports that she is a realtor with Re/Max and
lives in Spring, TX, about 25
miles from
Ken, from Elida, have two daughters: Kelly and Kendra and three
grandchildren. Her
parents sold their place on Stewart Road and moved
nearby in 1988. Her
father, Gaylord, was Bath's first fire chief. In high
school, she was involved
in cheerleading, chorus, the school newspaper
and student council. She
graduated from Elkhart University of Medical
Technique and Champions
School of Real Estate. Visit her web site, where
her photo is posted: [ http://www.krensellshouston.com ].
NEW '62 SUBSCRIBERS:
Dale Binkley of Lima, OH; Janet (Brown)
Yeoman of Dublin, OH;
Larry Carroll of Cedar Falls, IA; Sandy (Cremean)
Stevenson of Eaton, OH;
Janet (Derringer) Yant of Lecanto, FL; Karen
(Faze) Reese of Spring,
TX; Dennis Gesler of Lima, OH; William Kassaw of
Lima, OH; Sandra (McCallister) Russ of Columbus, OH; Darrell Risser of
Thurmont, MD; David
Stevenson of Eaton, OH; and John Studer of
Loxahatchee, FL.
<1963 CLASS LINK>
Weldon Lester Jenkins
(BHS '63) emailed that he living in Graham, NC with
his second wife Debbie
and they have three children. He has three children
and four grandchildren
from his first marriage. Visit his personal site:
[ http://www.geocities.com/wlj_56/Weldon_Jenkins__Page_.html ].
NEW '63 SUBSCRIBERS:
Gary DeLong of Bowling Green, OH; Wanda
(Driver) Whitmore of
Lima, OH; Wayne Dunlap of Columbus Grove, OH;
Weldon Jenkins of Graham,
NC; Ruth Ann (McKanna) Smith of Lima;
Barbara (Kaser) Melching of Lima, OH; and
Clarence Roller of Lima, OH.
<1964 CLASS LINK>
Kay (Richard) Huber (BHS
'64) writes that she retired from teaching music
in the Wapakoneta City
Schools in 1998. She lives in Bluffton where her
husband Darrell is in
charge of maintenance at Bluffton College. They have
one child. In high
school she was in the band and chorus. Many will
remember her father, the
custodian at the Bath Elementary School whom
we affectionately called
"Shorty."
NEW '64 SUBSCRIBERS: Carolsue Biddinger of Cridersville, OH; and Kay
(Richard) Huber of
Bluffton, OH.
<1965 CLASS LINK>
Jon Solomon (BHS '65)
writes that he lives in Lima and has two children. In
high school he played
football.
NEW '65 SUBSCRIBERS:
Paula (Cramer) Thompson of Lima, OH; Lynn A.
Driver of San Diego, CA;
Janet (Fett) DeLong of
Bowling Green, OH; Phyllis
(Goodwin) Bates of
Lehigh Acres, FL; Diane K. (Lackey) Walters of Lima,
OH; James Roger Lewis of
Clyde, OH; Lynne (Pilkenton) Dunlap of
Columbus Grove, OH;
Danny Roush of Lima, OH; Sharon (Sherer) Weaver
of Lima, OH; Jon Solomon
of Lima, OH; and Meredith (Weber) McCluer of
Lima, OH.
<1966 CLASS LINK>
Bruce Eberhart (BHS '66) posted that he hopes all of his
classmates are
faring well. He married
Anita Gilica in '75 and still lives in Bath Township.
His oldest daughter
lives in Florida and made him a Grandpa already. A
son and daughter still
live at home, but not for long. His is already feeling
the pangs of empty nest syndrome.
He would enjoy hearing from everyone,
especially from Darrell
who moved to Elida, to talk about old times or
anything else.
NEW '66 SUBSCRIBERS:
Bruce Eberhart of Lima, OH; Robert E. Mowery
of Lima, OH; Alice (Offenbacher) Dunlap of Cario, OH;
Donald Risser of St.
Charles, MO; Ronald Risser of Anna, OH; Mary (Roller) Newton of Lima,
OH; Ronald Schindler of
Lima, OH; Dr. Lynn Thompson of Lima, OH; and
Mary (Weber) Long of
Springfield, MO.
<1967 CLASS LINK>
Jeanne (Jenner) Stefanko (BHS '67) emailed
that she is the office manager
at her church and
previously managed the preschool for 10 years. She and
her husband Ron have
lived in Columbia City, IN, for the past 23 years.
They have three
children: Ron, a member of the Fort Wayne Police
Department; Jon, who
just returned from serving in the US Navy; and
Amanda, a psychology
major at IPFW and also a professional ice skater.
Her father, now
deceased, served many years as a dispatcher for the Bath
Fire Department.
NEW '67 SUBSCRIBERS: Taynya (Burtchin) Taylor of Cridersville, OH; Curt
Griffin of Cairo, OH;
Jeanne (Jenner) Stefanko of
Columbia City, IN;
Kathleen (Laman) Reinhart of Lima, OH; Sherri (Stemen)
Roller of Lima,
OH; and David Wheeler of
Corpus Christi, TX.
<1968 CLASS LINK>
Carol (Niese) Keefe (BHS '68) posted that after high school she
attended
college to become a
teacher and is currently teaching junior high with an
eighth grade home room.
She also teaches fourth grade CCD. She has
been happily married for
26 years and has three children. Her oldest
daughter was married
this past summer, while her son and other daughter
are currently in
college. They keep her quite busy.
NEW '68 SUBSCRIBERS:
Nancy (May) Oatman of Cario,
OH; and Sandi
(Sherer)
Shoemaker of Pembroke Pines, FL.
<1969 CLASS LINK>
Donna (Dunlap) Brondes (BHS '69) posted that she only went to Bath three
years and graduated from
Bluffton, but is "still a Wildcat at heart." She
married Bruce Brondes in 1983 and we have a daughter Emily, who is
entering the nursing
field. She worked at Triplett for 21 years and has
worked at Milcor since 1990. She hopes to retire by 2005.
NEW '69 SUBSCRIBERS:
Donna (Dunlap) Brondes of Lima, OH; Larraine
(Hadsell)
McGuire of Bluffton, OH; Beverly Kaser of Lima, OH; Charles
I.
Oatman of Cairo, OH; and
Stephen Yaney of Lima, OH.
<1970 CLASS LINK>
Sharon (Holland) Sims
emailed that she lives in Corona, CA and thinks the
<Bath Link>
newsletter is "a great idea! I hope you get a lot or response. I
guess being out here, I
just like to keep that link with home. I really do
miss Lima, but love
California."
NEW '70 SUBSCRIBERS:
Joyce (Crider) Goetz of Lima, OH; Sheila
(Croissant) Hull of
Pepper Pike, OH; Jim Goetz of Lima, OH; Randy Landes
of Degraff,
OH; Larry Mason of Findlay, OH; Roger McClintock of
Bradenton, FL; Timothy
I. Miller of Doylestown, OH; Tim Orchard of Lima,
OH; Deborah (Pierson) Badertscher of Findlay, OH; Candi
(Prowant) Miller
of Elida,
OH; Phil M. Rudolph of Lima, OH; Sondra (Shepard) West of Lima,
OH; Teressa
(Smith) Kitchen of Naples, FL; and Jerry Springer of Lima,
OH.
<1971 CLASS LINK>
Not just a dinner, but a golf outing too, is on the
agenda for the 30th
Reunion of the Class of '71. The big Wildcat day is
planned for Saturday,
August 18, at Golf At Sugar Creek, 6245 Sugar
Creek Rd. The social
hour is at 7 p.m. with the buffet at 8 and a DJ dance
to follow until
midnight. The class is still searching addresses for the
following members: Wes Anspach, Steve Bennington, Danny Burns, Judy
Bice, John Clark, Sandy
Clark, Bob Conrad, Dave Davis, Judy Eversole,
Bev Frueh,
Cindy Griffin, Billie Guerra, Jim Hanthorn, Tom Hawk,
Deb
Hensley, Cheryl Jackson,
John Jennings, Jean Lowe, Deb Lukiens, Mike
McNamara, Scott Miller,
Kathleen Moore, Laurie Beckford, Mark
Offenbacher, Candy Osborn, George
Rex, Jim Rittenour, Sharon Robey,
Mike Sanchez, Judy
Schafer, John Smith, Mike Sneary, Vernon Theis and
Ron Weiss. Anyone with
information is asked to call Jean Thomas at (419)
738-6994 or Mike White
at (419) 221-0411.
NEW '71 SUBSCRIBERS: Pat
(Shepard) Ford of Lima, OH; and Deb
(Struble)
Orchard of Lima, OH.
<1972 CLASS LINK>
Vanessa (Coats) Holmes
(BHS '72) reports that she is a teacher in San
Antonio, Texas. She
graduated from Ohio Northern University, Ada, in
1975. She married her
husband, William, in 1995, and they live in
Converse, TX. They have
three children: Erik, Jason and Mark.
NEW '72 SUBSCRIBERS:
Vanessa (Coats) Holmes of Converse, TX;
Richard Kannard of Columbus, OH; and Carol (Roller) Hefner of Lima,
OH.
<1973 CLASS LINK>
Ginger (Roberts) Hollar (BHS '73) emailed that she is an administrative
assistant in the
advertising department at The Lima News. For many years
she had worked in its
pre-press department.
NEW '73 SUBSCRIBERS:
Ginger (Roberts) Hollar of Lima, OH.
<1974 CLASS LINK>
NEW '74 SUBSCRIBERS: Bob
Bolyard of Burlington, VT.
<1975 CLASS LINK>
Teresa (Winget) Landry (BHS '75) posted that it seems like forever
since
June of '75. She married a man from Louisiana the next
year and they
have three children:
Joshua, 22; Brian, 17; and Jessica, 16.
<1976 CLASS LINK>
Plans have been
completed for their 25th reunion to be held 7 p.m. to 1
a.m. Saturday, July 14
at the Lost Creek Country Club. For information or
reservations for the
1976 Wildcat class of 1976 call (419) 222-2001. Tickets
are $30 for couples and
$20 for singles. There will be a dinner with a DJ
dance to follow.
Deadline for reservations is July 1. (Ed. Note: Singles could
pair up in the parking
lot to save $10 on the tickets, and possibly get lucky
too!)
<1977 CLASS LINK>
Brenda (Derringer) Buck
(BHS '77) emailed that she has lived in Huber
Heights, OH, (a suburb
of Dayton) for the past 10 years. (Ed. Note: Her
brother Don Derringer (BHS
'59) and I were in the same graduating class
and she lives within a
few blocks from where I lived for more than 20 years.
Yes, it's a small
world!)
NEW '77 SUBSCRIBERS:
Brenda (Derringer) Buck of Huber Heights, OH;
and Renee (Teeple) Carl of Duluth, GA.
<1978 CLASS LINK>
1978 (GF) Sally E.
(Fenton) Golden reports that she lives in Monroe,
Michigan, and is a fifth
grade teacher. She married her high school
sweetheart 18 years ago
and they have three children.
<1979 CLASS LINK>
Rana (Bowsher)
Toland (BHS '79) posted that she has a 10-year-old
daughter, Katelin and still lives in the Lima area. In school she
enjoyed
sports and music and
would love to hear from my BHS friends: Ward
Musser, Cheryl Myers and
Greg Dorsey.
NEW '79 SUBSCRIBERS: Patty (Graham)