< BATH HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI LINK >

                                   An Internet email newsletter

                        connecting the alumni of Bath High School

                  Volume 1, Number 3 ------------------ October 15, 2001

                                      Larry L. Oatman, Editor

 

<HOME ROOM LINK>

Welcome. This is the third newsletter for and about Bath alumni -- anyone

on the Internet who graduated or attended Bath High School. The response

to the first two issues of <BATH LINK>, published July 1, 2001, and

September 16, 2001, has been tremendous.

 

This connecting issue contains classmate bios, new subscriber lists, reunion

updates, the 2001 graduating class, web site links, another pop quiz, some

humor and school history feature, which Mr. Early would certainly have

appreciated.

 

<ALLEN COUNTY FAIR LINK>

During the Allen County Fair, August 17-25, hundreds of Bath alumni met

the <Bath Link> editor in the Bath Wildcat Den. Over 180 became

newsletter subscribers during the nine days. Hats off to all of those hard-

working volunteers who made the Den not only the best place to eat at the

Fair, but the friendliest too! [ http://www.allencofair.org ]

 

<MARCHING BAND LINK>

The Bath High School Wildcat Marching Band along with 10 other area

bands took the field in September for the 27th Annual Bath Marching Band

Spectacular. According to The Lima News, the music the bands played was

as varied as their school mascots. Each had at least a couple things in

common -- hard-working members and family and friends there to applaud

their efforts.

 

<ESSAY STATE WINNER LINK>

Nadine Romick (BHS '03), a Bath junior, took second place and $200 in the

first Statewide Character Essay Contest in Columbus. The essays were

written early this year for local contests about what rules students live by.

Six essays were awarded prizes from 15 selected for the state contest from

2,600 entries in local contests. "It's just such a high competition and I was

just happy to be there," Romick said.

 

<FOOTBALL LINK>

The Wildcats are posting a 5-2 record so far in the football season. The

wins include Allen East 36-12, Elida 55-27, Ottawa-Glandorf 21-0 Celina

26-16 and Wapakoneta 27-0, while losing to Kenton 41-21 and Defiance

36-17. To stay in touch with the team's scores, each Saturday click on:

[ http://www.limanews.com ].

 

<BATH FOOTBALL "800" CLUB>

Barbara Lynn (Snyder) Cosart (BHS '82) emailed the following information:

"The Bath Football 800 Club is looking for any and all former Bath

Homecoming Kings and Queens to present the final 2001 winners and the

$1,000 winner at the Bath vs. Shawnee football game October 26, 2001.

Those participating will be needed during the half-time portion of the game.

Please contact Barb at (419) 222-2001 if anyone is interested. Thank you."

 

<NAME LINK>

Further research about the Bath High School newspaper revealed that the

name "Wildcat Press" was submitted by Marilyn Baker and Kaye Miller

(both BHS '58). Ronald Niebel (BHS '67) of Steubenville, OH emailed that

he remembers the Bath High School newspaper was titled the "Wildcat

Roar." He's right, it was renamed eight years later in 1965, and then five

years later, the 1970 edition was called "Student Free Press." The limited

research was gained from a supply of Recal yearbooks. Readers are urged

to help supply more information and [ mailto:bathlink@wcoil.com ].

 

<REUNION LINK>

-- Annual Get-together, Class of '59 (July 14 *see '59 CLASS LINK)

-- 40th Reunion, Class of '61, (July 28 *see '61 CLASS LINK)

-- 35th Reunion, Class of '66, (nothing reported)

-- 30th Reunion, Class of '71, (August 18 *see '71 CLASS LINK)

-- 25th Reunion, Class of '76, (July 14 *see '76 CLASS LINK)

-- 20th Reunion, Class of '81, (nothing reported)

-- 15th Reunion, Class of '86, 6 p.m., October 6, Argonne Crystal Room

-- 10th Reunion, Class of '91, (September 22 *see '91 CLASS LINK)

--  5th Reunion, Class of '96, (nothing reported)

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>

Dr. Paul D. Croissant (BHS '57) married high school sweetheart Mary Jane

(Joseph) (BHS '57) and they live in Rochester Hill, MI.

NEW '57 SUBSCRIBERS: Roger Fessler of Lima, OH; and Roger George

of St. Clairsville, OH.

 

<1958 CLASS LINK>

Nancy (Baber) Taylor (BHS '58) who lives in Fort Myers, FL emailed that

she was in Lima for a two-week vacation in last July. (Now that's a switch!)

She was visiting her great grandson. Really! Really, great!

NEW '58 SUBSCRIBERS: Paula (Meade) Morgan of San Francisco, CA.

 

<1959 CLASS LINK>

A number of '59ers stopped by to say hi Saturday, July 14, for the annual

class picnic at Teddy Bear Park on North Dixie Highway. Plans are already

being made for next year's annual get together July 13. Having the

distinction of being Bath's smallest graduating class, the group decided to

meet annually every second Saturday in July and include all Bath alumni.

See you next year!

According to a reliable source, Irvin Lee Best (BHS '59) lives in Cairo and

continues to run the sweeper at Ford. He took two years at OSU Lima, is

active in church and enjoys ball games and traveling. His wife Janet is a

secretary at Bath Middle School. They have three sons, a daughter and 15

grandchildren, including a set of twins. All are residents of the Bath School

District, with 12 to be enrolled this fall.  Don't know if that's a school

record, but it's the Best record. Irv says, "They keep us very busy trying

to be present at all of their athletic events and other activities. But, we

love it!"

NEW '59 SUBSCRIBERS: Robert Jackson of Lima, OH.

 

<1960 CLASS LINK>

Virginia (Gross) Herman (BHS '60) emailed that she remarried in 1993 to

her husband Fred from New York. They live in San Benito, TX, in the far

southern tip of the state about 10 miles from the Mexican border. Her first

husband Delbert Dave Roush was killed in an auto accident in 1989.

NEW '60 SUBSCRIBERS: Virginia (Gross) Herman of San Benito, TX; Judy

(Homan) Miller of Lima, OH; Charles Meyer of Bellingham, WA; and Ronald

C. Ward of Lima, OH.

 

<1961 CLASS LINK>

About 25 classmates and their spouses attended the Class of '61 40th

reunion Saturday, July 28 at the Casa Lu Al, according to Jane (Coe)

Engle. She emailed that "We really did have fun." They get together every

five years.

Bonnie Jean (Lawton) (BHS '61) emailed that she married Charles Meyer

(BHS '60) and they live in Bellingham, WA.

NEW '61 SUBSCRIBERS: Deenie (Burkart) Morris of Waynesfield, OH;

Jane (Cole) Engle of Wapakoneta, OH; Michael Engle of Wapakoneta, OH;

Linda (Gratz) Holman of Elida, OH; Barbara (Keith) Longbrake of Elida, OH;

Jerry Kiracofe of Columbus Grove, OH; Bonnie (Lawton) Meyer of

Bellingham, WA; Merlene (Leedy) Metzger of Delphos, OH; Kay

(McDorman) McConnell of Lima, OH; Mon Jen (Meade) Elam of Las Vegas,

NV; Judy (Moffett) Williams of Marion, OH; Priscilla (Phipps) Jackson of

Lima, OH; Sondra (Shaw) Mann of Lima, OH; Bill Wellbaum of Englewood,

FL; Persetta Marguretta (Wires) Bowsher of Lima, OH; John Woolley of

Lima, OH; and Linda (Workman) Gerber of Hanover, PA.

 

<1962 CLASS LINK>

Sympathy is extended in the recent death of the mother of Charles Leroy

Egbert (BHS '62). He lives in Simi Valley, CA, and returned to Lima for her

funeral. He is a systems analyst for Farmers Insurance Group, based in Los

Angeles. He has a daughter and remarried about 11 years ago.

NEW '62 SUBSCRIBERS: Philip Clark of Cairo, OH; Barbara (Earl) Clark of

Cairo, OH; Charles Egbert of Simi Valley, CA; Elaine (Kiracofe) Emerick of

New Haven, IN; Jim Miller of Bedford, TX; and Bonnie (Lawton) Meyer of

Bellingham, WA.

 

<1963 CLASS LINK>

Gary Roger DeLong (BHS '63) emailed that he married Janet Kay (Fett)

(BHS '65) and they live in Bowling Green, OH. He works for GRD

Enterprises, Inc. and is a sales consultant for Bull Worldwide Information

Systems.

NEW '63 SUBSCRIBERS: Dennis Cattell of Fort Jennings, OH; and Robert

Combs of Kill Devil Hills, NC.

 

<1964 CLASS LINK>

Elizabeth "Libby" (Rumer) Hostetler (BHS '64) of Bluffton has resigned as

Lima's Edison Elementary School principal, a position she held since 1999.

She previously was on the staff at Bluffton College for 25 years.

NEW '64 SUBSCRIBERS: Joseph C. Schirmer of Deerfield, FL; and Sandy

(Thomas) Downhower of Lima, OH.

 

<1965 CLASS LINK>

Arol Augsburger (BHS '65) emailed that he married Stephanie (DuGranrut)

(BHS '65) 35 years ago and they now live in Birmingham, AL, where he

served as the Provost of the University of Alabama [ http://www.uab.edu ].

NEW '65 SUBSCRIBERS: Arol Augsburger of Birmingham, AL; Keith R.

Bolyard Jr. of Columbus Grove, OH; Betty (Brown) Cook of Rockville, MD;

Stephanie DuGranrut of Birmingham, AL; Judy (Hollenbacher) Poling of

Lima, OH; Roger William Hornung of Lima, OH; Dennis Reed of Pacifica,

CA; and Kaye (Snyder) Combs of Kill Devil Hills, NC.

 

<1966 CLASS LINK>

Mary LaVinnia (Roller) Newton (BHS '66) emailed that she lives in Lima and

her two children are Bath graduates. Marcey (Newton) Godfrey was in the

class of 1992, while Robert James Newton II of Columbus graduated in

1989.

NEW '66 SUBSCRIBERS: Ronald Schindler of Naples, FL.

 

<1967 CLASS LINK>

Dr. Stan Kistler (BHS '67) posted that he is a US Navy veteran. On March

29, 1969, he married Karen Sprunger of Monroe, IN. They have three

children and three grandchildren. He has a BS degree in Pastoral Ministry,

an MA in Christian Counseling Psychology, and a Doctorate in Christian

Counseling. He has been in the ministry since 1971. He is currently a

pastor of First Baptist Church of Hudson, Florida, and in private practice

(psychotherapist), marriage and family counseling.

NEW '67 SUBSCRIBERS: Gary Bolyard of Bellefontaine, OH; Ronald Niebel

of Fort Wayne, IN; Melinda Newell of South Pasadena, CA; Marcia Rummel

of Columbus, OH; Cathy (Sumney) Dula of Merritt Island, FL; and Michael

Thaman of Lima, OH.

 

<1968 CLASS LINK>

Charles D. Hamaide III (BHS '68), who lives on the shores of Lake Erie at

Vermillion, OH, near Cedar Point, posted that he is married and has three

kids. Chuck is employed by Berish and Associates as a computer

programmer. He enjoys working on his house, spending time with my family

and boating. He served four years active duty in the US Coast Guard and

17 years in the US Coast Guard Reserve. Chuck emailed that following the

terrorist attack he has been placed on active duty for at lest one year. His

oldest son is on active duty in the US Coast Guard stationed in Hawaii.

NEW '68 SUBSCRIBERS: David Bassett of Lima, OH; Charles Hamaide of

Vermillion, OH; and Judy Lynn (Stemen) Lafferty of Maumee, OH.

 

<1969 CLASS LINK>

Stephanie (Pugsley) (BHS '69) married Michael Ralph Ebling (BHS '69) in

1970 and they live in Cairo, OH.

NEW '69 SUBSCRIBERS: Betty L. (Hamaide) Schaefer of Sandusky, OH;

Fred Hawkins of Elida, OH; and Steve White of Lima, OH.

 

<1970 CLASS LINK>

It is with deep sadness the following is reported.

Ricky D. "Rick" Burden, 49, (BHS' 70), died July 20, 2001, at his Lima

residence. He was born March 20, 1952 in Lima to Lewis E. and Dorothy

Riggle Burden. His father survives. On August 10, 1974, he married

Geneve Bowers, who survives. He was the owner and operator of R and G

Burden Trucking. He was a member of Eagles Lodge 370 in Lima, a 1970

graduate of Bath High School, a member of the Top Gun Division of

Shenandoah Motor Express and enjoyed auto racing. His CB handle was

"Rubber Duck." Survivors also include two daughters, Aimee and Amanda

Burden, both of Lima; a brother, Gregory A. Burden of Lima; and a sister,

Cindy D. (Burden) Pyles (BHS '76) of Wapakoneta. He was preceded in

death by a brother, Lewis E. Burden.

NEW '70 SUBSCRIBERS: Joyce (Byerly) Smith of Victor, NY; Dean Gordon

of Murdock, FL; Dale Johnson of Lima, OH; Robert Kennedy of Lima, OH;

Sue (Kissling) White of Lima, OH; Debra (Kohli) Bashman of Lima, OH;

Lucinda (Kohli) Rummel of Lima, OH; Karen (Koontz) Kraft of Elida, OH;

and Douglas Rummel of Lima, OH.

 

<1971 CLASS LINK>

While the turnout was small, those attending had a great time at the 30th

Reunion of the Class of '71. While about 135 of the 176 class members

were able to be contacted, sadly, it was only attended by about 30

classmates plus their spouses. Held August 18, at Golf At Sugar Creek,

6245 Sugar Creek Rd, there was a social hour at 7 p.m. with the buffet at 8

and a golf outing too. (Milley Burden emailed <Bath Links> a booklet from

the reunion. Thanks.)

Michelle L. (Teeple) Smith (BHS '71) now living in Bellefontaine, OH,

emailed that she is interested in genealogy. Her husband Neil has been

able to trace his ancestry to link Pres. George W. Bush as a sixth cousin

once removed. She also reports that they enjoy each day to the fullest and

garden, read and have eight cats.

NEW '71 SUBSCRIBERS: Peggy (Byerly) Harmon of Perrysburg, OH;

Thomas Joseph Hawk of Glen Carbon, IL; Virginia (Smith) Finch of Naples,

FL; Michelle L. (Teeple) Smith of Bellefontaine, OH; Shirley (Spence)

Hawkins of Elida, OH; and Jean Thomas of Wapakoneta, OH.

 

<1972 CLASS LINK>

Linda (Searfoss) (BHS '72) emailed that she married Richard Amey (BHS

'72) one week after graduating from high school. Living in Tavares, FL, they

have four children and two grandchildren. Both work for the county clerk's

office -- Linda in the traffic department processing traffic citations and

Richard in the property/records department keeping fixed asset records.

NEW '72 SUBSCRIBERS: Richard Amey of Tavares, FL; Sally (Czeto)

Boedicker of Ada, OH; Terri L. (Jett) Brewster of Lima, OH; Priscilla (Niebel)

Hawk of Glen Carborn, IL; Paula (Jennison) Garee of Lima, OH; and Linda

(Searfoss) Amey of Travares, FL.

 

<1973 CLASS LINK>

Steve Mowery (BHS '73) posted that he married Dian and they have two

daughters: Amber, 21 and Stephanie, 15,  He is living in Arkansas working

for Alltel with nine more years to go until retirement.

NEW '73 SUBSCRIBERS: Carol (Byerly) of Bowling Green, OH; and Dennis

Charles Cosart of Lima, OH.

 

<1974 CLASS LINK>

Harold "Hal" William Nungester (BHS '74) currently lives in Harrod, OH but

he and his wife will soon be relocating in Bombardopolis, Haiti, to work with

an orphanage.

NEW '74 SUBSCRIBERS: Jeff Caughman of Lima, OH.

 

<1975 CLASS LINK>

Daniel Loescher (BHS '75) emailed that he married Anita (Sherer) and they

live in Hamilton, OH.

NEW '75 SUBSCRIBERS: Sue (Bohn) Adkins of Sebring, FL; and Janet

(Lyle) Phalen of Lima, OH.

 

<1976 CLASS LINK>

A good time was had by all who attended the 25th reunion Saturday, July

14, at the Lost Creek Country Club. There was be a dinner followed by a

DJ dance.

Carol (Hauenstein) Henderson (BHS '76) posted she drives a school bus

and is an office aide for Celina City Schools. She has two sons and three

step children, and with her husband of the past 14 years, Dick, have six

step children.

 

<1977 CLASS LINK>

Kenneth Joseph Kunkleman (BHS '77) emailed that he moved to the

Columbus area in 1978 to continue at The Ohio State University, where he

did both undergrade and graduate work. He married his wife Elaine and has

three stepsons: David, Michael, and Bryan. He works as a human

resources consultant with international consulting firm KPMG Consulting.

He lives in Hillard, OH, and invites any Bath grads living in the Columbus

area to contact him to see if they can hook up for a round of golf.

NEW '77 SUBSCRIBERS: Stan Danser of Arkansas Pass, TX; Randy Jett

of Kuwait City, Kuwait; Ken Kunkleman of Hilliard, OH; and Scott Turner of

Greenville, SC.

 

<1978 CLASS LINK>

Jackie (McElroy) Sanders (BHS '78), who lives in Charlotte, NC, posted that

she is the administrator for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at

Carolinas Medical Center, in Charlotte. She attends the University of North

Carolina, Charlotte. She and her husband of 23 years have three children.

NEW '78 SUBSCRIBERS: Eileen (Walker) Jones of Burlington, CO.

 

<1979 CLASS LINK>

Patty (Graham) (BHS '79) emailed that she married Mark Hanthorn (BHS

'79) and they live in Lima.

NEW '79 SUBSCRIBERS: Ben Ryba of Oberlin, OH; and Janet (Fisher)

Packham of Indianapolis, IN.

 

<1980 CLASS LINK>

Becky (Althoff) Messick (BHS '80), living in Florida, reports that her son has

just turned 16 and taking drivers' training.

NEW '80 SUBSCRIBERS: Patricia L. (Koontz) Donahue of Burbank, CA.

 

<1981 CLASS LINK>

Glenn Fillhart (BHS '81) emailed that he lives in Lima and works at Randall

Bearing. He married Lisa (Kilgore) Fillhart (BHS '83) and they have an 11-

year-old son, Travis.

NEW '81 SUBSCRIBERS: Glenn Fillhart of Lima, OH.

 

<1982 CLASS LINK>

Audrey Yvonne (Joyner) Lawrence (BHS '82) reports that she and her

husband of seven years live in Tipp City, OH. She works as a customer

support manager for an injection mold company.

NEW '82 SUBSCRIBERS: Barbara Lynn (Snyder) Cosart of Lima, OH;

Donna Naumburg of New Haven, IN; and Wes Miller of Lexington, TN.

 

<1983 CLASS LINK>

Kimberly (Gerken) O'Donnell (BHS '83) posted that she now lives in

Phoenix, AZ, and is happily married with two little boys. She works as an

office manager for a wireless communication company. She still likes to

party once in a while but nothing like old high school times.

NEW '83 SUBSCRIBERS: Lisa (Kilgore) Fillhart of Lima, OH; Karmen

(Knotts) McCaslin of Gahanna, OH; Susan (Piller) Billingham of

Bloomington, IN; and Jeff Ridenour of Stryker, OH.

 

<1984 CLASS LINK>

Karmen (Knotts) McCaslin (BHS '84) of Gahanna, OH, emailed that she is a

teacher with the Columbus Public Schools. She and her husband Eric, who

graduated from Shawnee High School and works for Nationwide Insurance,

are raising twin five-year-old girls from Russia they adopted three years

ago.

NEW '84 SUBSCRIBERS: Missy (Bishop) Mowery of Lima, OH; and Kim

(Harsh) Shafer of Louisville, KY.

 

<1985 CLASS LINK>

Erica (Whitaker) Merrill (BHS '85) posted that she married her husband

Steve in 1991 and they lived in Phoenix, AZ for eight years. They are now

living in Austin, Texas, where Steve is a Senior Manager of Network

Engineering with Dell Computers. She is enjoying her time at home with

their daughters: Nicole, 5; and Madison.

NEW '85 SUBSCRIBERS: John Berens of Lima, OH; Jill (Jett) Nienberg of

Cairo, OH.

 

<1986 CLASS LINK>

Plans have been completed for their 15th class reunion. They have tied it

into the BHS homecoming game. What a great idea! On Friday, October 5,

the class will meet in the high school cafeteria between 5 and 6 p.m. They

will then travel to the stadium to sit as a group for the annual Homecoming

game with their families. Then the next night, Saturday, October 6, ad

dinner and dance will be held at 6 p.m. at the Argonne Hotel in Lima.

Reservations for Saturday night are $25 per person. For more information,

contact Micky (Spragg) and [ mailto:mlhineg@hotmail.com ].

Gregory P. Fasig (BHS '86) emailed that he married Jodi Wright (BHS '90)

and they live in Defiance, OH. He is a Senior Vice President with Reliance

Financial Services the trust department of State Bank & Trust of Defiance,

OH. Jodi stays home with their two children: Garrett, 3; and Rachel, 1. Greg

is still officiating high school football and has been officiating at the

college level for three years.

NEW '86 SUBSCRIBERS: Gregory P. Fasig of Defiance, OH.

 

<1987 CLASS LINK>

Scott McConnell (BHS '87) of Lima posted that he has an AS Degree in

Business from Management Lima Tech., a BA Degree in Organizational

Management from Bluffton College and MS Degree in Management from

Indiana Wesleyan University. He is married with three kids and a firefighter-

/paramedic on the Bath Township Volunteer Fire Department.

 

<1988 CLASS LINK>

Steven P. Mitchell (BHS '88) was a featured instructor on the Golf Academy

Live TV program on Warner Cable channel 58 in August. A 1991 Lima

Men's City Golf Champion, Steve graduated from the Professional Golf

Management program at Methodist College, located in Fayetteville, NC.

While attending Methodist, he was a member of two NCAA Division III

National Championship golf teams. Steve has been the Director of Golf

Instruction at Kiawah Island Resorts since 1997, which includes five

championship courses. His parents, Jim and Carol, reside in Lima, and his

mother was the runner-up in the recent Lima City Women's golf

tournament.

NEW '88 SUBSCRIBERS: Ronald L. Fisher of Lima, OH; and Jodi Harsh of

Columbus, OH.

 

<1989 CLASS LINK>

Angie (Markward) Sarna (BHS '89) emailed that she graduated with a

degree in Medical Technology. She and her husband, Tim, own a computer

consulting business. They live in Delaware, OH, and have two children,

Alexandria, 4; and Andrew, 18 months.

NEW '89 SUBSCRIBERS: Angie (Markward) Sara of Delaware, OH.

 

<1990 CLASS LINK>

Dean E. Altstaetter (BHS '90) of Lima emailed that he is the minister of

music at the First Church of God at the Crossroads on South Thayer Road.