For the past 25 years I have worked for Safeway Stores Inc. I retired in January of 1999.  Jerome and I, just recently, finished constructing our new home.  All we have left to install, is the floor molding. Yeah!

I love gardening and have found a wonderful website where I trade plants and seeds from across the U.S.  This has given me a chance to expand the garden beds with plants and flowers that the local nurseries don't sell.  It's great fun!  Jerome thinks it's an addiction. I've even had him stop the car, at weird times, for seed gathering. 

 

    Joined the Air Force after graduation and returned in late '63; started trade in plastering in 1963 and contracting in 1967; married Christine in 1968, lucky enough to have 3 children and 9 grandchildren that all live in the Eugene/Springfield area...how fortunate can a guy get.  We recently moved from Eugene back to Springfield near the McKenzie river.  As I enjoy fishing the Diamond Lake trip is looked forward to each year.  Thanks to Dave Sears and Jim Baumgartner for their work on making the Diamond Lake fishing trip so successful each year.  It's a great bunch of guys, hope more of you will attend in the future. 

     I'm enjoying life with Chris, my children and grandchildren.  I'm working at something I enjoy with no intentions of retiring -- maybe backing off a bit in years to come though to make more time to catch "the big one". 

    God has truly watched over us through those difficult times as well as the great times.  Thanks to those working so hard on this and past reunions, looking forward to seeing you there!

 

 

"Haven't quite adapted to "senior" status yet, but I sort of grew up with my kids, (they are both over 40.) Have been in auto body trade for 40 yrs. also. Does anyone truly retire?  Hobbies have been following drag racing, and for past 12 yrs. been a member of a metal detecting club, where I found my wife of past 10 years: truly a real treasure.

 

July 2006
Hello friends,  I marvel at all the twists and turns our lives have taken us.  It has been an amazing thing to read your stories and see your pictures.  I was overwhelmed at the fondness I felt for those "kids" (our album pictures).  We were, for the most part, really sweet kids I think.  I did not recall any bad memories unless you count sweating through the soles of my shoes in Algebra because I was so nervous (I left footprints).  It was at Springfield High and I forget the teacher's name but she was old and scary.  Here is my life in a nutshell:   I have been to 4 colleges and still don't have a degree although I have a teaching certificate as a Waldorf Teacher, for those that are familiar with that philosophy of education.  I have been in employed by the Washington State Dept. of Corrections for the last 20 years and I am desperately ready to retire but don't think I can for another 2 years.  I live in Yakima, Wa and I am married to Paul Dever from Spokane. My religious affiliation is Christian Orthodox and I am a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Yakima.   I have a daughter in Bend, Or.,  a son in Walla Walla, Wa. and a daughter in O'Fallon, IL.  They have produced 4 grandchildren with another is due in December.  I bounced between Portland and Albuquerque several times for the first 10 years after leaving Springfield;  Hilo, Hi (4 years), Sacramento, Ca (2 years);  Pahoa, Hi (3 years);  Walla Walla, Wa (9 years);  Snohomish, Wa (7 years); Yakima, Wa (5 years).  I hope to retire in beautiful ???? (not a clue as yet). 

October 30, 2009
I retired August 2008.  We are still looking for a place to move but decided to wait until the economy settled a bit.  Still waiting.........  but while we wait, our family grows:  Between Paul and I we now have 7 children 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  Since all but two of the families live in different towns, we spend a lot of time on the road just trying to see everyone at least once a year.  This past summer, we visited Paul's daughter in Ohio and went on to take in Gettysburg, Antietam, Harper's Ferry and Niagara Falls.  It was a great trip and I did not want to stop.  Born and raised in the Northwest, I was surprised at how soft and green the Midwest and East look with their deciduous trees and their robin's egg blue skies.  We returned by way of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  It was beautiful but suffering from the downturn and everything was for sale.  Most recent trip was to Monterey, CA by train to attend Grandparent's Day for granddaughter's 5th grade.