TVHS Class of 1964 Fifty-Eighth Class Reunion
Front, Seated left to right:
Mary (Shiflett) Wamsley, Patricia (McCauley) Ware, Judy (Ware) See
Back, Standing left to right:
Denny Ware, Dick Judy, Linda (Scott) Magyar, David Matthew, Peggy (Simmons) Church, Chris Ritter, Glen Rader, Reuben Currence, Tom Zirkle, Gary Channell, George Coussoule, Fred Ware, Jr., Larry See, Danny McCloud, John Sutton
After a long absence, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the Tygarts Valley High School Class of 1964 was together again, August 20, at CJ Maggies. Greeted with tables arranged in an easy conversational style and adorned with bouquets and napkins in the familiar red and white school colors, class members, with their friends and guests, celebrated fifty-eight years of “getting together”.
Before dining, the class was led in prayer by Pastor Glen Rader. Pastor Rader also held the memorial service for class members who have passed away. Two class members who have passed since the last reunion were added to the memorial list. The class sends condolences and their wish for many comforting memories to each family.
Classmate Dairel Arbogast passed away in Ohio, April 7, 2021. Having already lost his wife, Betty, whom he had married in 1982, he left behind a son and two daughters, as well as a grandson and a granddaughter.
With his family at his side, Classmate Denny Gibson passed away at the Good Samaritan of Barbour County, July 12, 2021. He had resided in Mill Creek.
After the meal, a 50/50 drawing was won by Mrs. Reuben (Marvella Cutright) Currence. Mrs. Larry (Judy Ware) See and Mrs. Gary (Carolyn Corley) Channell, then, conducted a lively drawing for several splendid fruit baskets prepared by Crazy Harry’s. Winners were: Larry See, Danny McCloud, and John Sutton.
At the end of the rambunctious games, Fred L. Ware, Jr. began a brief business meeting by requesting a report from the treasurer. Gary Channell, always fastidious with his record keeping, informed the class of their financial standing. Ware continued by reminding the class of their approaching sixtieth graduation anniversary. He asked the class to come to the fifty-ninth get-together with ideas for how to celebrate. George Coussoule and David Matthew offered some early suggestions for the class to ponder.
After the class meeting, drawings were made for door prizes. The big winner, having his name drawn three times, was George Coussoule. Coussoule won a gift bag full of fall items, a bottle of homemade vanilla and three loaves of homemade quick breads. Other winners of the quick breads were Charles Church, Janet (Kittle) McCloud and Linda (Scott) Magyar. (Magyar and her son, Steve, will be bringing a special guest with them to the next reunion.)
As the afternoon was ending, Fred L. Ware, Jr., representing the class, gave a special grandparents survival bag to George and Sue Coussoule for being the class’s most recent grandparents. The Coussoule family has welcomed a beautiful new granddaughter.
Ware presented to Mr. and Mrs. Larry (Judy Ware) See a newlywed survival bag as the newest class members to marry. Included in the bag was a “Larry’s To Do List” dry erase board. To the amusement of the class, Mr. See attempted to tuck Mrs. See’s “To Do” list markers into his pocket. Mr. and Mrs. See were voted “most dependable” in their senior year of high school.
With nostalgic lingering, anxious to share more time together, for many there was a reluctance to depart. Several class members reminisced with Sharon (Cutright) Channell, guest of Pastor Glen Rader, about her mother, now deceased for many years. On many hot, summer days, several barefoot, neighborhood kids followed close behind her as she led them to cool off, and just splash around, in the local swimming hole. Prancing, not so carefully, down the tar patched road, bursting tar bubbles with their toes, they scurried to keep her pace. Nearing the swimming hole, she stepped quickly ahead as the youngsters made memories of dodging cow patties, some long dried and some very fresh, on the grassy path they trod to the cooling water of the pool. Finding a place to sit on the little beach, she probably watched, horrified, as two goofy girls, having the fear of drowning in their silly heads, tipped back and forth, in an old innertube, struggling to stay upright. Maybe, deep in her own thoughts of things left undone at home, she didn’t notice the lone wader slipping away on solitary ventures to find rock fossils in the shallow stream that fed the pool. Good days. Good memories. Good lady.
Regulars at the get togethers were happy to welcome Denny Ware, John Sutton and Sharon (Fincham) Bonnet to the afternoon event. “Good Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise”, the hope is to see them, again, next year. As always, the Class of ’64 welcomes all friends and former classmates to their annual reunions. If, all those years ago, circumstances took you away before that final graduation night walk across the stage, plan to come, next year, and share your memories of those long-ago days spent with your friends “up the valley”.
Planned and organized by Mrs. Gary (Carolyn Corley) Channel, the afternoon get-together was a wonderful time of catching up and reminiscence. Grateful thanks and appreciation from the class to Channel and her hardworking crew for the pleasant and welcoming atmosphere that was created for those who attended.
As written on the 2022 class bookmark passed out at the event, “One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that your presence and absence both mean something to somebody”. If you were there, we were so very glad you came. Thank you for coming. If you could not be there, we wish you could have been and hope to see you next year. Add a note to your calendar for August, 2023.
