VCHS class of ’73 has 40-year reunion
The Vandalia Community High School class of 1973 held its 40-year class reunion on July 26-27.
Twenty-four classmates and 17 guests met at The Copper Penny on Friday evening for an informal gathering and enjoyed getting reacquainted.
On Saturday, 11 classmates and six guests met for lunch at Willy’s, (formerly called Reaban’s).
Special guest Marie Davis joined the group. She had worked at Reaban’s for many years, and had cooked and served thousands of meals to VCHS students.
After lunch, 13 classmates and eight guests took a tour of the high school, led by Greta Krueger, current dean of students. It was the first time many of the classmates saw the addition of the Administration Center, new library and extra classrooms.
The Los Amigos Fiesta banquet room was the gathering place on Saturday evening.
A buffet dinner was served after Jack Arndt gave the blessing.
Thirty-four classmates and 25 guests enjoyed visiting, looking through junior high and high school yearbooks, and seeing pictures from past reunions.
Those attending received an address booklet prepared by classmate Jill Depew Jenkins.
Mick Casey Freeland arranged pictures of the 14 deceased classmates on a special table, and Jack Arndt remembered them with a prayer and memorial service.
Appropriate cards were signed for two classmates. Pat Piazza Kuhn and Debbie Hoffman Bryan, who are having health problems at this time.
Some in the group plan to attend the VCHS Alumni Banquet on Sept. 21. Steve Stombaugh encouraged all classmates to register as members of the class of 1973 on the Vandalia Alumni and Friends website.
Classmates who traveled from other states were: Marsha Calvert Glazier and Mick Casey Freeland from Arizona; Dallas “Gene” Devore and Nancy Donnals Haney from Texas; Jack Arndt from Mississippi; John Collier from Ohio; and Bob Grogan and Jeff Janes from Missouri.
The Vandalia Community High School class of 1973 held its 40-year reunion July 26-27. Seated in front, from left to right, are Trudy Wright, Susie Kringer Engle, Marsha Calvert Glazier, Mick Casey Freeland, Joyce Eyman Davis, Cheryl Graumenz Pollard and Nancy Donnals Haney. In the second row are Bruce Miller, Rhonda Cearlock, Jill Depew Jenkins, Pat Adermann, Paula Filer Edgar, Ron Lawler, Jack Arndt, Mary Meseke Daniels and Cindy Brown Woolsey. In back are Sharon Rush Elmore, Bob Grogan, Randell Duff, Brad Taylor (partially hidden), Mark Augenstein, Steve Stombaugh (partially hidden), Dale Reeves, Doug Greer, John Collier, Jerry Lineberry, Jeff Janes, Ken McDonough, David Henry, Dallas “Gene” Devore, Jim Robinson, Robin Dothager and Artie Langston. Those who attended part of the reunion, but are not pictured, were Jeanne Blankenship Leigh, Rick DePew, Nancy Francis McDowell, Jeff Kidd, Kent Kistler, Rob Schukar, Dana Taylor Smith and Rick Woolsey.
