VCHS class of 1952 holds 60-year reunion June 22-24
The Vandalia High School graduating class of 1952 celebrated its 60th anniversary the weekend of June 22-24.
The weekend began with dinner on Friday evening at The Copper Penny, with 16 classmates and six guests attending.
Several classmates met on Saturday at the Liberty Cafe for lunch and visiting.
A banquet was held on Saturday evening at the Vandalia Country and Golf Club, beginning with a social hour.
Herb Tessman, class president, gave the welcome, honoring veterans and the one teacher attending, Russell Hewitt. Following the pledge of allegiance to the flag and invocation by Bill Sachan, dinner was served to 30 classmates, 14 guests and the honored teacher.
Classmates from California, Arizona, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Illinois attended. Sue (Bailey) Olsen joined the group later in the evening.
A display of previous reunions, pictures, activities and scrapbooks was provided by Suzette (Brooks) Evans.
Decorations and flowers were in keeping with the red and white school colors.
Booklets made by Berniece (Wright) Etcheson and Doris (Mueller) Rubin commemorated activities of the class during their years of school at VHS.
A memorial service remembering the 42 deceased classmates was done by Doris (Mueller) Rubin, with songs sung by Leighton Wasem and Allen Smith.
Delila (Nobbe) Beckman, class secretary/treasurer, read letters of those unable to attend and gave class reports.
Sunday morning, the group enjoyed brunch at Ponderosa.
Following the brunch, a few of the group went to the lake home of Suzette and Ken Evans to relax for the afternoon.
The Vandalia Community High School class of 1952 held its reunion the weekend of June 22-24. Class members are pictured above. In front, from left to right, are Suzette (Brooks) Evans, Susan (Greer) Hudnut, Doris (Mueller) Rubin, Herb Tessman, Russell Hewitt (teacher), Bea (Brauer) Cearlock, Lila (McFarland) Whitford, Nelda (Anderson) Cearlock and Berniece (Wright) Etcheson. In the second row are Allen Smith, Sue (Bailey) Olsen, Delila (Nobbe) Beckman, Joyce (Morton) Kidd, Evelyn (Drenckpohl) Calvert, Virgil Wortman, Bonnie Branum, Billy Merriman, Bob Cearlock, Ted Forbis and Cherie (Joyce) Placke. In back are Orland Autenrieth, Beryle Leininger, Bob Sperry, George Davison, W.H. Stringer, Robert Knebel, Leighton Wasem, Darrell Sharp, Bill Sachan, Dallas Munter, Charles Philpot and Keith Betts.
