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MESSAGE FORUM (TO ALL)

Welcome to the Alton High School Message Forum.

The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.


 
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02/14/24 10:12 AM #2036    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Our condolences to our classmate Olivia Pollard Parrish on the death of her mother. 


02/18/24 09:08 AM #2037    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Doug McCormick. 


02/19/24 11:53 AM #2038    

 

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Mother of our classmate Olivia Pollard Parrish:

Bessie Lee Rocha, 97, born January 28, 1927 in Cairo, Illinois to Paul R. Herren and Jeanie S. (Wood) Herren stepped over to her heavenly home on February 13, 2024, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

At a young age her family moved from Cairo, Illinois to Alton, Illinois. Bessie attended Alton Senior High School and enjoyed marching with the high school band as one of the baton twirlers and majorettes. After high school she began a long career with The Bell Telephone Company, in Alton. She was married to Orville Pollard from 1945-1963. The couple had three children, all girls!

Bessie relocated to Hayward, California in 1966 and retired from the Pacific Bell Telephone Company around 1982. She enjoyed her retirement and learned to play golf. She was active with the Telephone Pioneers, a non-profit charitable organization, and for many years contributing in community service activities. She was a local chapter president and a regional president. She worked on projects such as Beep Baseball for the Blind, making curtains for an orphanage and wiring giant St Bernard stuffed animals with 2-way radios to communicate with non-verbal children who had experienced trauma. This is where she shined, community projects and making friendships. She was a member of the Greater Modesto Lions Club (1st Vice President) where she chaired the Lions Club Speech contest. Eden Express (Board of Directors), Hayward, California.

Bessie participated as a “flower” in a roller skating performance of The Nutcracker along with her younger daughter, Mercedes, who played a lollipop in the performance. She was also very supportive of Mercedes’ Campfire Girls and Jobs Daughters activities.

While living in California, she loved trips to Disneyland. Bessie was a first generation American from her Scottish descendants on her mother’s side of the family (Clan of MacFarlane).

After a few years into retirement, Bessie, again relocated for one last time to Fort Wayne, Indiana to be near her eldest daughter, Olivia and family. She lived independently for many years. As the need for further living assistance became apparent, she moved in with Olivia and Dale. They graciously and lovely opened their home and cared for Bessie throughout her remaining years.

She attended Blackhawk Ministries Christian Church in Fort Wayne. At age 90 Bessie gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized. This 90 year old woman, (Miss Bess is what he called her) so impacted a young man watching her baptism, that he too gave his heart to Jesus and wanted to be baptized. She loved Fort Wayne, her family and developed many close friendships.

Bessie was predeceased in death by her parents, one brother and two sisters. Bessie is survived by her children, Olivia (Dale) Parrish; Deborah Martin; Mercedes Geraldo and 8 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

There are no services schedule at this time.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-wayne-in/bessie-rocha-11669780?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share_obit&utm_content=obituary&fbclid=IwAR3pGkSNwQhnDvio9Rz-5tDOPaDDjlmH2thXlO4OYojpbsWmxsFFsQPeYDs


02/21/24 10:19 PM #2039    

 

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Happy 106th birthday to Alton's giant, Robert Wadlow, still recognized as tallest man who ever lived.

For more pics, click on Robert Wadlow 100th at upper left menu.

 


02/22/24 09:48 AM #2040    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Irene Hickerson and Sandra LaMarsh.


02/25/24 08:17 AM #2041    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Bert Hyde has been at Mayo Clinic for a couple of weeks preparing for a stem cell transplant. He developed multiple myeloma a few months ago and will be harvesting new, healthy cells. You can click on Caring Bridge to see Johnnie's daily updates. They are optimistic for recovery and I know he would love to hear from his friends. For some reason, texts don't get delivered and Facebook is sketchy. But they do receive messages on Caring Bridge. Let's send lots of love and support!

Message from Barb Drake regarding our classmate Bert Hyde


02/25/24 08:20 AM #2042    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

If anyone would like to follow along on Bert's progress during his bone marrow transplant, he has a Caring Bridge site - https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/berthyde. Our address is 705 2nd Street SW, #33, Rochester, MN 55902. This is the Gift of Life House. Everything good so far. Tomorrow he starts the actual medication to grow his stem cells, and also has two teeth pulled. Smoothies for a while!

Message from Johnna Hyde regarding Bert Hyde.

 

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/berthyde


03/01/24 07:22 AM #2043    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Glenna Katchmar.


03/04/24 09:31 AM #2044    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Mary Kay Monahan.


03/05/24 08:36 AM #2045    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Brenda Todd.


03/06/24 09:50 AM #2046    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Stephen Darr.


03/10/24 04:28 PM #2047    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Sharon Kay Wilson (Wood).


03/14/24 09:49 PM #2048    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Bill Wooten.  


03/14/24 09:53 PM #2049    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Our condolences to our classmate Vivian Darlene Hefley on the death of her son Brian Stilwell.  RIP Brian.

Brian Lee Stillwell
Wood River - Brian Lee Stilwell, 40, left this world to join his father in heaven at 4:04 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at his residence. He was born November 15, 1983 in Alton the son of the late John Stilwell and Vivian "Darlene" (Hefley) Newman (Mick) of Grafton. He worked as a cashier for Taco Bell and The Pump House in Wood River. Brian enjoyed playing play station, cards and was a fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Redskins. He had a heart of gold, and he would do anything for anyone. He liked to kid around a lot and had many friends. He fought juvenal diabetes like a trooper. Brian was known for always wearing a beanie on his head. Besides his mother he is survived by one daughter, Heaven Marie Stilwell of Jerseyville, one brother, Doug Hefley of Alton, one sister, Cathy Sigman (Duncan) of NV, aunts and uncles, Beverly Rutherford (Charles) and Donna Oertel (Frank) and numerous cousins and friends. Besides his father he is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Walter and Kathleen Stilwell and his maternal grandparents, John and Anna Hefley and special cousin, Teresa Rutherford Curtner. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Bethel Church in East Alton, IL where funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. Pastor Royce Roy and Pastor Ken Rutherford will officiate. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com

Published by The Telegraph on Mar. 14, 2024.


03/16/24 12:33 PM #2050    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Jon E Brown, David W Johnson and Kenneth Kennedy. 


03/17/24 11:51 AM #2051    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Kathryn Novitskie.


03/19/24 07:34 AM #2052    

 

Kenneth Hise

Happy Birthday Kathy! We hope you have a wonderful birthday month.


03/20/24 10:15 AM #2053    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Randy Pace.


03/20/24 10:51 PM #2054    

 

Marion Foster (Dimond)

AHS Class of '64 is looking for the following classmates, to invite them to their upcoming 60th reunion this coming September.

Linda Jean Akers

Shirley Allsman

Jeannette Lorraine Ballinger

Laurie Margaret Bank

Jimmie Barbee

Charles Edward Barnes

Connie Beckman

Jerry Boyd

Mary Jane Bridgeman

Susanne Bunt

Juanita Cain

Michael Ernest Castillo

Ronald Chamness

Richard Connel

Earl F. Corley

Gwendolyn Ann Crouch

Michael Joseph Curdie

Dorothy Curry

Karl Zamar Davis

Susan Rae Denson

David Russell Dickerson

Becky Douglas

Roger English

Ernest Andrew

Ervin Marlene Gaither

William Gentry

Randy Godwin

Marcelene Ann Goring

Sharon Gross

Gary George Harms

Stella Marie Hartley

Randolph Lee Hempel

Donald Herrman

John Hill

Jeanne Marie Hinderhan

Vickie Holtwisch

Phyllis Kay Hopkins

Rebecca Jean Houston

Rosemary Hunter

Jessica Marie Jemison

Benjamin Thomas Jennings

Mary Ellen Jimpson

Sandra Johnsen

Sheryl Johnson

Martha Gail Judy

Rosalie Keys

Joyce Ann Kirsch

Tom Kortkamp

Joan Kuhl

Jackie Lynn

Linda Lou Maxeiner

Becky McCann

Maria Emilia Moenne

Barbara Moss

Paula Antoinette Northern

Bob Overmeyer

Carole Preis

Victoria Ethel Preis

Jean Marie Price

Gregory Radcliff

Joseph Deen Ravenstein

Thomas John Renken

Freddie Lee Richard

Harold Riddlespriger

William Joseph Romo

Janet Ruckman

Jim Sanders

John

Sanders

Ronald N. Schaumberg

Cozette Yvonne Scott

Richard Lee Searles

Sharon Shade

Nancy Lynne Shaw

Diane Adele Simpson

Patricia Ann Soto

Ralph Spears

James Summers

Frank Edward Taylor

Kenneth Theodore Theison

Wayne Ray Timmons

Virginia Kay Tinsley

Joseph R. Varel

Daniel Vondracek

Barbara Elaine Wagner

John Louis Weslick

Sandra Kaye Westbrook

Judy White

John R. Wickenhauser

Linda Williams

Lee Edward Witcher

Olivia Dee Wolf

Guy Wood

If you know the whereabouts of any of the above, please message me with their contact info.

We want to invite them to our 60th Anniversary Reunion, "The Last Dance".

https://www.facebook.com/groups/113720461145

Message them on Facebook, or here and we can pass along your info.


03/23/24 07:26 PM #2055    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Linda Lowe.  


03/24/24 09:12 AM #2056    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Patricia Hughey and James Earnest McCormick.


03/26/24 07:29 PM #2057    

 

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Our website received this email today. We've had other children of our classmates contact us, and we know many find us when googling for info on their parents. This letter sadly reminds us of the terrible toll the Vietnam War took on so many of our classmates. Hope friends of Tim will reach out and email him, and others will share messages here about not only Tim, but about the toll the war took on their lives and lives of other boys we grew up with. 

 

From: 

Zachary Heil

Email: 

uncleyak@gmail.com

Hi, My names is Zachary Heil, my father Tim graduated with your class at Alton High in 1965. As you probably know, dad passed away in Dec 2000 from colon cancer when he was far too young. Lately, I've taken an interest in my family's genealogy (how I found this website), I've also taken an interest in trying to learn more about my dad's personal life before my brother and I were born. The first desire to look into dad's past was from me seeing his picture in the '65 tatler where he was nominated with Diane Malone as most humorous. I loved that!

I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 43 in Dec 2022--I strongly suspect if dad were alive he would have fallen under that diagnosis… The thing is, Dad seemed to be thriving when he was in high school. I know he was high honor roll most of his junior and high school years if not all, and he was awarded a scholarship. But dad later also went to Vietnam when he was only 19.5. He was stationed at Da Nang for 4 years, and Da Nang was a primary storage location and was the port and runway for transportation for spraying Agent Orange (as well as the other rainbow defoliant agents). The base was also frequently attacked with rockets, mortar and other weapons, including during the Tet offensive, and there was also a massive munitions explosion on base in 69. I'm currently under the impression that dad's toxic, stressful and destructive environment of almost 4 years over in Vietnam is what lead to his cancer as well as his severe ADHD symptoms.

But the ADHD is the main reason I'm reaching out here. I was wondering if you could send out a message to other alumni or in any way help me to gather as much information/anecdotes about dad as possible (and pictures, too). Current consensus on ADHD is that it primarily has a genetic link--even if dad had ADHD before Vietnam, it was at least not debilitating for him

I want to know if anyone can share what he was like, at any age, since I know plenty of his classmates knew him from early childhood. I wonder if any of them spoke with dad about his experience in Vietnam after he came home? I'd like to reach out to Ken "Allan" Northcutt, since mom said they were close friends when they were younger. Did he or others think dad changed? …it's making me curious about how much just comes from dad's genes versus some other hereditary DNA/genetic damage…. like working memory and short-term memory, attention, intention, planning and multi-tasking among a host of other things we utilize for minute by minute tasks. Those were all things dad had severe issues with in his 30s and 40s, but I don't know if those debilitating symptoms were present in him when he was younger...

Thanks, Zachary Heil

uncleyak@gmail.com
 

 

03/27/24 09:05 AM #2058    

 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to  Norman Crews and Janice Fleming.


03/27/24 09:29 AM #2059    

 

Stanley Feldman

Happy birthday Janice Fleming.


03/27/24 08:54 PM #2060    

 

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Happy Easter! Remember how as kids we dressed up--new clothes, shoes, and maybe a hat.

Clockwise from top: Barbara Drake & Buddy Rain, Susan Fields, and Jane Cooke. 

Share YOUR old Easter/spring photos here.

        


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