AHS class of '45 gathers, shares memories

The Arcadia High School class of l945 was unique in many ways, but especially because it was the World War II class.

In December of l941, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. In August of l945, two atomic bombs ended the war.

In those four years, the class endured gas rationing, sugar shortages, no tires for their parents' cars, deaths of older former students and other deprivations.

The graduating class consisted of 19 students, nine of whom are still living, and eight of the nine live in southeast Kansas.

Recently, six of these nine gathered for a luncheon and had a very special time sharing memories. Many stories were exchanged, most of which were undoubtedly true.

Those attending were: Patty (Potter) Daniels, Redfield; Betty (Thayer) Baima, Pittsburg; Marie (Kunstel) Rodich, Pittsburg; Jessie (Eggen) Dunn, Pittsburg; Marie (Hoover) Marshall, Fort Scott and Charles Corporon, Pittsburg.

Other guests included Richard Marshall and Hardy Dunn, along with a very special guest, former teacher and champion gin rummy player, Rose (Shular) Campbell, Pittsburg.

Recent guests of Mae Watt were cousins Jim and Maxine Variot and Phillip and Jennifer Variot from Paducah, Ky. These men are sons of Sam and Edith Variot, former Arcadia residents. Their mother was a sister to the late Ray Watt of Arcadia. The group enjoyed dinner at the Buffalo Grill in Fort Scott.

Other visitors were Doug and Sandy Nuzum who came from Wichita and enjoyed dinner with her sister Linda and Bob Roweth in Redfield.

Don Payne of Arcadia was shown as the Four-State Hero on KOAM-TV on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Congratulations!

Remember to visit the rummage sale being held in the Christian Church bungalow on Friday, Oct. 7, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 8, 8 a.m. until noon.

To quote the Liberal News, "The bathtub was invented in l850 and the telephone in 1875. In other words, if you had been living in l850, you could have sat in the bathrub for 25 years without having to answer the phone."

In September 2011, Matthew and Ashley Shead of Joplin made a six-day bicycle trip to see the length of the Katy Trail. It is a former railway converted for hikers and bicyclers from Clinton, Mo., to St. Charles, Mo.

The couple took camping equipment and spent nights at recommended campsites along the way, as well as some nights at a bed and breakfast. The warm showers were at welcome intervals.

People they met along the trip were mostly doing part of the trail, but one young man had started his bike trip in Rhode Island and was headed to the west coast. More than half the 237-mile trail is along the Missouri River with beautiful scenery. A highlight of the trek was when Ashley's mother drove to their camp site near Jefferson City with pizza and a giant cookie to celebrate Ashley's birthday.

Larry Shead, on Monday night after he had taken his mother Mary V. Shead home, drove west from Arcadia, and before reaching the mile corner he was rammed by a large deer. He was not harmed, but the passenger side of the car was marred and the mirror destroyed.

On the first Sunday in October, a dinner was held in the Vickie and Larry Shead home to honor Michael and Chrisi Shead and baby Hudson. They are missionaries on leave from Guatemala.

After dinner he spoke about their new adventure. Sunday morning, the Sheads, Jesse Hudson and Maria and Clayton Whitson attended the church in Pittsburg where Clayton was the youth minister during his college days at Pittsburg State University.

Others who enjoyed the dinner that afternoon were Chris and Sarah Kate Osbun and three children, Anna, Joshua and Matthew of Pittsburg and Nick and Chris Nickerson and Carol Liston of Joplin.

Charles and Willa Cable, Shirley Applegarth and Mary V. Shead attended Arcadia Christian Church and enjoyed the church dinner following with 35 present, then joined the Sheads at the farm to hear Michael tell of their future work in Guatemala.

The Mark Sheads attended their Community Christian Church in Fort Scott before joining others at the farm. Raymond Kalm, a neighbor, was also an afternoon guest.

A special treat for all was a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and nuts.