This is a Nice Bug

Robert writes:

It has 84,000 actual miles. '67 was a unique year for VWs. Most notably it was the first year for a 12 volt electrical system. Everything works on this one, even the back up and interior lights. Also, this one has two extra cost options...the pop-out rear windows were a $25 extra and the leatherette seats were a $35 add on bringing the original sticker to $1,892. It was the only year for the 1500cc engine rated at 54hp...and some would contend that it was the VW Type 1's best engine.

Grandson in New York City

As mentioned in the November Cumtux, Cindy Carter

traveled to New York City to visit her grandson, Desmond.

She states that she also enjoyed

visiting her daughter and son-in-law,

Wendy and Blake Arnold.

His first Halloween Candy. Good ole M&Ms.

Cindy and Desmond, 2 real cuties!

Wendy, Desmond and Blake Arnold

Now you know what a New York City

Trick-or-Treater looks like

when it's done right.

This is a practice run for Trick or Treat

with grandma Cindy and grandson Desmond

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON PHOTOS

FOR THE FULL-SIZE IMAGE

Did you say Great Granddaughter!!!!

Helen Beeson Nichols may be older

than the rest of us!

Pictured here is her granddaughter Chantal,

mother of the newborn baby Aurora Skye Petty,

flanked by the father Jeremy and

Aurora's big sister Amara.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Pirates Aplenty

How many remember that for Homecoming our Senior Year

we played the Pirates?

Well, here's Janie Stuckey Charbonnet

and her husband Kenny

playing pirates!

Debby Horton

Debby is one of those classmates who moved away during junior high.

It's really special to find these classmates

and reconnect with them.

She lives in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Classmate condolences

Claudia "Peewee" Hathorn's

mother, "Monnie"

passed away on September 18.

Claudia's note:

Dear friends,

I returned last night from my mission trip to Kenya. I am forever and always full of gratitude to have been born in the United States. I will never take our simple gifts of lifestyle for granted again. It was absolutely amazing to discover how little it takes to survive - and minimal survival was all that I witnessed throughout Kenya.

The day I was to leave Kenya, Stuart called to tell me that Mom had just died. She died in her sleep at 11:00 PM Tuesday night. We will have a graveside service at Alexandria Memorial Gardens at 10 AM Saturday. I ask for your love and prayers for my family at his time. She lived a full and rich life and is now free of Alzheimer's and is dancing in Heaven with her mom, who she has not seen in 80 years, and my dad and other loved siblings, family members , and friends. I grieve for my loss only, not for her.

Life is precious, isn't it? I am glad that you all are in my life.

Peewee

Francine Vanderhoeven Butler's Grandson Kentaro

In Red's Words.

Here's some pics of my grandson, Kentaro.

He just turned 4 and is so energetic and imaginative.

I was fortunate enough to visit him

in Portland, OR, recently

and really enjoyed doing the

Grandma thing, although he calls me Red.

As you can see, he's in to all things

4 year olds are in to:

Chucky Cheese, pirates, Spiderman, Toy Story and pizza.

Jo Layton Sprinkle sent

this photo of her

younger son, Brent,

outside of Las Vegas.

Certainly looks like a Sprinkle,

but Jo relates that the older

son, Mark is a

spitting-image of Warren.

Both are Sherry' nephews.

A Classmate from Aiken

Mike Day had kept up with a classmate of 6 years at Aiken Elementary who moved away after a year at AJH, Larry Newcome. Mike relates that Larry passed away from cancer back in February with these words:

I wanted to advise you that Larry Newcome who is in the address group passed away in February and was buried in Arlington the first week of March of this year after a fierce battle with cancer. He left behind a wonderful, loving, and devoted wife, two sons, and daughter who miss him enormously.

Larry would have graduated with our class had he not moved to Jackson, MS, after the 7th grade. We went to grammar school together all six years at Aiken, and in the 7th grade at AJH - Mrs. C. Moore was our home room teacher. He graduated from LSU with a BS in aeronautical engineering in 1972 and was commissioned in the U. S. Air Force via ROTC. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel a couple of years before 9-11, but no one deserved to wear a colonel's eagles more than Larry.

We were good friends from the first grade at Aiken until his death. We were roommates in Johnson Hall at LSU in 1968-69. Over the years, we communicated often about many interests, concerns, and things. Larry was smart, completely loyal and reliable in all things, personally brave, and he valued his service to our republic, his family and his integrity over all other things. His obituary in the Washington Post was three sentences - he deserved more. While his obituary was consistent with his preference for discretion and privacy, it was unfair to him and his achievements. Larry was a stand-up man and very accomplished in his profession.

Larry was an early supporter and passionate champion of using unmanned aircraft in the U. S. Air Force. The Air Force was at the time a military service completely committed to manned flight and NOT unmanned flight. Larry's tireless promotion of the UAV in the pentagon could have been seen as heresy and very inconvenient. But, ultimately Larry's work and support to make the UAV an effective intelligence gathering tool in Bosnia would ultimately save many lives in Afghanistan. Larry was very involved in the development, deployment experimentation, and evolution of the Lockheed RQ3A Dark Star, RQ4Global Hawk, and RQ9 Predator. In the end, Larry was a civilian manager of a portion of the Predator's hunting territory until he became unable to continue full time work at the end of 2009.

One could not ask for a better friend and confidant than Larry. I really miss him.

Best Regards, Mike.

Scott Murray Brame

Junior High School

Now Middle School

Turned 50 September 6, 2010.

Please read the story

from the Town Talk,

and view newreel

from KALB TV

Our roving reporter Marvin McDonald

attended the open house and relates

that very, very little has changed:

No lockers

Enter lunchroom from front-center only

Benches built-in to handrails

No shop class.

No Bamburg

Most all else is as it was.

Bobby Barron's grandson Seth Bynog on his

5th Birthday on August 17th.

Classmates Gathering

July 30, 2010

Verona's Italian Restaurant

Nancy and Bob on left

Mickey and Marlene and Dianne on right

Sherry, Cindy and Susan

Gary and Garrah
Francine and Gerry and their daughter,
Heather and hubby and kids
Danny and Linda, Maureen and Sam, Cindy
Bobby and Nancy and Bob and Dianne

The Butlers out West on their Harley

Francine Vanderhoeven Butler

and hubby Gerry

Motorcycling through

Valley of Fire State Park.

Remembering our Class President

Charles 'Charlie' Yeager

Officers of Senior Class 1968 are president, Charlie Yeager,

vice president, Dick Easterling, and secretary, Jo Carol Shelfo

These remembrances from our classmates:

Monica Dean Steckel
I was so sad to learn of Charlie Yeager's death - he was always one of my heroes at Bolton (and object of a long-held and very private "crush"). He was so sweet, so friendly and kind, so cute, so smart, and so civic-minded.

Ann Pierson Patten
Charlie Yeager was one of my favorites. His cute wit, twinkle in his eye and quick comments caught my attention. In the 8th grade we ran against each other for President of the Student Body at Alexandria Junior High School. I actually ran against 4 boys, Greg Walker and Brad Lowther included. Charlie was quite confident that he would win and he reminded me that it was only my first year in public schools! Oh well, I won! The loss hit him hard but I always admired his ability to congratulate me and ask me to the end-of-year dance. I did go with him and had lots of fun!

Steve Irving
I was sorry to hear about Charlie Yeager. He worked in the Attorney General's office for part of the time while I was counsel to the Inspector General and I ran into him a couple of times.

Edna Jo Layton Sprinkle
It is so sad to hear about Charlie Yeager's death. This certainly makes me stop and think about how precious each day is to us.

Elaine Carr
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this information. What an incredible life he led and I never knew it! Am moved that they used his BHS picture, too... again, thank you.

Charlie Yeager reports on events at Bolton for Alexandria's various radio stations.

Cindy Carter enjoyed a good visit from her grandson Desmond and her daughter Wendy.

They live in New York City, but do NOT make salsa.

Marvin McDonald Updates

Marvin in Spring Creek with granddaughters

Breezie on my knee and Lexi by my side

This is Lexi after helping us pick what you see

on June 8, 2010, including the

salad-style corn-on-the cob she's holding.

Aw Shucks!

Sadie Alexandra Bates, Marvin's granddaughter, just a few days after her 1st birthday.

The last posting showed us planting the garden;

it has grown rather nicely.

And, it's quite scriptural: Dianne and Marvin planted,

Dianne waters, and God gives us increase.

We are praying that God will help with the watering very soon.
It's VERY dry in Cenla.

Debbie Horton's 3 sons

Many will remember Debbie Horton.

She moved away before graduating from Brame,

and was a member of the morning block class of Miss Slocum's.

She is pictured here with her 3 sons,

Andy, Nick and Peyton.

One is a new groom...

perhaps his naive smile will give him away.

APRIL 2010 GET-TOGETHER

Classmates gathered at the home of Bobby and Dorris Barron.

Some arrived later and are not pictured.

The burgers were a franchise waiting to happen.

Cindy Carter shrugged off serious injury to assemble with the ranks.

Francine & Gerry in Death Valley

In Francine's words: I'm sending you some pics of a vacation to Death Valley....ooohh....we made it back, they didn't keep up. We went in January because that's supposed to be the optimum time for the best weather because, of course, the summer is way too hot. January was one of hte coldest on record in Death Valley and we thought we were going to freeze to death... guess that's why they call it Death Valley. It's a beautiful and awesome place though.

Old McDonald's Farm

Lexi and Bre Sharpe, 2 of Marvin and Dianne McDonald's granddaughters

The dates shown are wrong, should be 03/27/2010.

Also

We enjoy vegetable gardening, and it may

be helpful to have a hobby that could

become a necessity soon.

This is Marvin clearing some area for a garden.

The Kubota is a great help, but the Sears tiller

was needed to get the garden ready to plant.

The chickens are about to be fenced out.
Not easy to see, but the beans have sprouted, so has the corn
(maybe Johnny Cash should chime in right now)

31 tomato plants, cucumbers (after replanting), squash,

lots of okra and watermelon.

The fence is to keep our chickens and the deer out.
After the watermelons get ripe,
we'll find out if it keeps the coons out.

Snow on Classmate in Virigina

Barbara Sabel Holloway sends these photos of a portion of their 52" of snow this season

in Culpeper, Virginia.

Snow on Classmate in Virginia

Photos of Barbara Sabel Holloway's surrounds after a season with 54" of snow: