Class Notes

John R. Moore passed away on July 9, 2019.

passed into her Lord’s arms on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. Born to Ariel and Margaret Ames on April 15, 1925 in Berea, Ohio, she was the third of four sisters. She spent most of her youth in Kenton, Ohio where she graduated from Kenton High School in 1943 and where her father served two churches as pastor until his death. Patricia attended Maryville College (TN) with talents and training as a singer and then on to California in 1949 where she was married to Percy Robert (Jack) Jackson, who passed away shortly thereafter. Widowed with an infant daughter, she returned to Kenton, Ohio and taught music in the Ohio Public schools. She and her daughter, Pamela, returned to California in 1964; joined later by her mother, retired from the juvenile court system in Kenton, and her three sisters. In 1968 Patricia married James Fred Norwood, with whom she would make her home in Rio Vista, CA until his death in 2002. In 2005 Patricia moved to Porterville to live near her daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Richard Aucutt. A member of the First Congregational Church of Porterville, she enjoyed the many musical activities in the community and always enjoyed meeting people – she never met a stranger! Her strong faith in God, her love of family, and her joy in music were the cornerstones of her life. Patricia is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Pam and Richard Aucutt, her grandchildren Chad Aucutt, James Aucutt, Bruce Aucutt, and Shannon Malkowski and husband Konrad, her sister Kathleen Kauffraoth and thirteen nephews and nieces.

passed away on December 11, 2014, at her home on Pate Acres Dairy Farm, Maryville. She is survived by Scott Blair, whom she considered a second son; her sister, Nancy Wells Zern of Florida; as well as several nieces and nephews. Barbara was predeceased by husband, Mac Pate; a son, Mac Pate, Jr.; and her parents, Helen and Howell Wells. She graduated from Central High School in Fountain City, Tennessee, in 1943, and then graduated from Maryville College in 1947. Barbara taught at Bungalow Grammar School for three years and the Fairview Grammar School for twenty one years. She belonged to Fairview United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be graveside at Magnolia Cemetery on Sunday, December 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. where she will be interred next to her beloved husband, Mac. The service will be officiated by Rev. Jerry Russell.

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth “Lib” Perry, 83, Elizabethton died Saturday, May 2, 2009 in Ivy Hall Nursing Home following an extended illness. A native of Bogalusa, LA she was the daughter of the late William Thomas and Lucy Williams Hunt. She was a graduate of Swain County High School, Bryson, NC and a graduate of Maryville College in 1947. Mrs. Perry retired as a Ward Clerk at Carter County Memorial Hospital, was a news reporter for the Elizabethton Star and served as Administrator of Ivy Hall Nursing Home from 1959- 1975. She was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church as was a past president of the V.F.W. Auxiliary #2166 and a past district president of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Perry, Jr. and a son, Ralph Lee Perry. Survivors include two sons, Robert L. Perry, Elizabethton and John Michael Perry, Charlottesville, VA; four granddaughters, two grandsons and one greatgranddaughter; a brother, W. T. “Sonny” Hunt, Jr., Elizabethton and a sister, Jean Branch, Kingwood, TX. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

passed away on December 29, 2014 (waiting for obituary)

Asheville – Christine Wilson Renison, 92, went to be with the Lord Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Care Partners John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, Mrs. Renison retired in 1991 as a teacher at the Buncombe County Juvenile Detention Center following 14 years of service, and had formerly taught at West Buncombe Elementary School for five years, where she was in charge of the Kindergarten Pilot Program. She was also the oldest member of Victory Baptist Church. Mrs. Renison was the daughter of the late Dexter Earl Wilson and Evelyn Redmon Davis, and the wife of Louis Rayburn Renison, who passed away October 3, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Susie Brown and son-in-law, Harold Brown. Surviving are her daughter, Sandra Louise Renison Brown of Asheville; son, Michael Louis Rension of Asheville; grandchildren: Melissa Taylor (Brad), Chris Brown (Tamara), Amanda Maney (Seth), Ginny Presley, and Erin Renison (Andrew); and great-grandchildren: Nik, Noah, Cayden, Nathaniel, Carter, Sydnee, Ella, Olivia, and Anderson. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM noon Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Victory Baptist Church, with the Rev. Larry Sprinkle and Rev. Butch Stillwell officiating. Burial will follow in the Redmon Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 – 11:45 AM Thursday at the church. Memorial donations may be made to the Redmon Family Cemetery Fund, C/O Cindy Redmon, 7 Highlander Road, Asheville, NC 28804. Anders-Rice Funeral Home is assisting Mrs. Renison’s family.

Eleanor Jane McCulley Rogers passed away on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the age of 97 in her hometown of Maryville, Tennessee. Her burial is with her family at the historic Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Maryville.

Jane graduated from Maryville High School in 1943 and attended Maryville College. Born and raised on the McCulley family farm in the Mt. Tabor community, she thrived in her role as a farm wife and mother. She loved caring for the animals, horseback riding and doting on a variety of pets over the years.

An accomplished seamstress, Jane created clothing and home fashion designs throughout her life. She was a DIY expert before it was cool, wallpapering the walls of her historic farmhouse with newspapers and then painting over them.

She enjoyed her friends with an engaging smile and quick wit, participating in the Rook club and card parties. She loved to dance, frequenting square dances and other events with dear friends. An avid sports fan, Jane especially loved basketball and participated loudly at the games of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In her quiet time, Jane loved crosswords and sudoku.

Jane is preceded in death by her husband, James H. (Jay) Rogers, her father William Homer McCulley, Sr., her mother Nellie Brown McCulley, her brother William Homer McCulley, Jr., and sisters, Marjorie McCulley, Frances McCulley Bond, Ernestine McCulley Peery, and Patsy McCulley.

She is survived by her son, Randy Rogers, her daughter, Amy Rogers Ridge (Neil) Roach, grandsons Jay Rogers and Brent (Nikki) Ridge, great granddaughters Brenna and Macie Ridge, brother J. E. (June) McCulley, sister Barbara McCulley Wheeler, nieces, and nephews Mike, Butch, Sistie, Kerma, Debbie, Paul, Robin, Leslie, and Emily.

Phyllis was born September 12, 1925 in New Bedford, MA to the late Albert and Hilda Waring. She was a Child Development Consultant with the State of North Carolina. Phyllis was a member of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh often referred to as the “little ‘ol white haired lady in the choir”. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick Rollinson, Jr. Phyllis is survived by her daughter, Joan Rollinson; son, Rick Rollinson and his wife, Barbara and two grandchildren, Philip and Will, all residents of Raleigh. Phyllis enjoyed family, fun, life and learning. She married her high school sweetheart following his return from the Service (Army Air Force) after WWII. Their lives encompassed 46 years together living through and participating in the Big Band era, owning and driving “now classic” automobiles, traveling and residing throughout the United States, from the Cape Cod area to the Midwest (Illinois) and the South (Greensboro and Raleigh). They raised, nurtured, educated and created a genuine caring family life for Joan and Rick, complete with amusement, laughter and occasional discipline. When the family moved to NC in the early 1960’s, Phyllis enrolled in graduate school at UNC-Greensboro and accomplished a Masters Degree in Child Development as well as numerous credits toward her Ph.D. Some of Phyllis’ fondest memories include transporting her grandsons to school, from preschool through middle school. She was always ready to assist with delivering them to designated baseball fields, tennis courts, golf courses and guitar lessons. Widowhood was of course challenging since, as she often reflected, “I’ always had Fred.” However, timely circumstances provided availability of her daughter to establish roommate status and since then the two have enjoyed mutual friendship – shopping, dining, conversing and more shopping! A funeral service will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. Burial will follow the service at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens in Wake Forest. The family will receive friends 4:00-6:00 pm Monday, October 31, 2011 at the funeral home.

SANGER, E. Jane Died peacefully on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at her home in Duxbury, MA. She was 86. Her beloved, John P. Eustis II, was at her side. Her husband of fifty years, W.R. Sanger, died in 1999. The funeral service will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edgartown, MA, on Monday, February 7, at 11:30 a.m. Internment at Tower Hill Cemetery, Edgartown, will be private. Mrs. Sanger was born Mary Enid Jane Craig on December 17, 1924, in Philadelphia, PA, to Mary Enid Pritchard and Charles Winchester Craig. Raised in the Philadelphia area, she graduated from Pembroke College at Brown University in 1948. After Jane and Bert were married in that year, they made their home in a number of communities, including Shaker Heights, OH, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, Weston, MA, where they lived for over thirty years, and Edgartown, MA. Jane moved to the Village of Duxbury in 2005, where she shared a life with Jack Eustis for the past twenty-nine months. Blessed with pluck and a knack for sprees of every kind, Jane often found good use for her brilliant personality. A lifelong volunteer, Jane will be remembered by many for her company and service at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at WGBH, the Winsor School, Noble and Greenough School, and at the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, as well as at other Vineyard organizations. In attendance at Boston Symphony Hall on Friday afternoons for decades, Jane co-chaired the annual Musical Marathon in 1983. Ever awed by nature, she was also an avid gardener, weather enthusiast and bird watcher. Yet, Jane’s first and last love were her many friends and family. Jane will be missed by all who knew her warmth, enduring curiosity and beautiful smile. She is survived by her husband, Jack Eustis of Duxbury, MA; by her brother, Cassin Winchester Craig, and his wife Jeanne, of Gwynedd, PA; by her daughter Noel Gearhart and husband Peter, and by her son Craig Sanger, all of Wellesley, MA; by her grandchildren Abigail Giles, Matthew Giles, Kathryn Sanger and William Sanger. She also leaves behind two step granddaughters, Alice Gearhart and Julia Gearhart, as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her first husband, Mrs. Sanger was predeceased by her brother Donald Winchester Craig. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 34 North Summer Street, Edgartown, MA 02539. Arrangement by the MacDonald Funeral Home, Marshfield.

Leonard Schieber passed away on June 1, 2018, in Cocoa, Florida.

Julia Schwanebeck passed away Thursday, May 13, 2015 in Tylertown, MS. She was born March 2, 1926 to the late Joseph Lee and Celia Louise Wilcox Turk. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death her husband Robert G. Schwanebeck and a sister. Survivors include son, Robert G. (Carol) Schwanebeck Jr.; daughters, Catherine (Jewell) Nettles and Celia (David) Stockamp; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.

89, of Conway, Ark., died Aug. 30, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dr. John Robert Shell; a son, John Robert Shell, Jr.; and her brother, Trevor William Rees-Jones of Dallas, Texas. She was born March 10, 1926 in Miami, Okla., to the Reverend David and Etna (King) Rees-Jones. She graduated from Forest Avenue High School in Dallas, Texas. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and she graduated in 1947 from Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn. She was a life and spiritual partner with her husband, who served as pastor at Dermott Presbyterian Church in Dermott, Ark., and First Presbyterian Church in Conway. Following his retirement from the Conway church, she and Dr. Shell also served interim pastor calls at many Presbyterian churches across Arkansas. These included Beebe, Benton, Dermott, Mena, Mountainburg, Stuttgart and Walnut Ridge. Mrs. Shell was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Conway, where she also served as an ordained elder and member of the church’s session. She was a lifelong member of the church choir, and also served as a Sunday school teacher and occasional organist and pianist. She and her husband also were leaders in the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment, now known as the Better Marriages organization. Mrs. Shell is survived by her four children, Elizabeth Jane Shell Hanschu (Dan) of Neosho, Mo.; Martin William Shell (Lee Ann) of Los Altos, Calif.; Paul Calvin Shell of North Little Rock, Ark. and Philip Andrew Shell (Leah) of Little Rock; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Throughout her life, Mrs. Shell was known as a sweet, warm and caring individual. She loved playing the piano and was an avid knitter. She also embraced the Will Rogers quote and never met a stranger. She had a wonderful ability to make personal connections and then build upon those relationships to connect people to each other. Together, her partnership with her husband throughout their ministry built communities, churches and lifelong friendships. Her family and friends will miss her loving smile, warm hug, sweet heart and gentle touch. But her spirit of grace, care and compassion will continue to live on in the many hundreds of lives she touched.

93, of Marietta died on December 1, 2014. Marguerite Fuess Sidner, 88, of Marietta died on December 10, 2014. William and Marguerite were married for 63 years. William was born and raised in Chester PA. William served 3 years in the Army during WWII on the island of Okinawa. After the war William earned his degree from Maryville College in TN. William then attended graduate school in Forth Worth TX where he met his wife, Marguerite. William worked as a director for the YMCA for 20 years in Texas and Louisiana. He then worked for 20 years for the State of New Jersey unemployment office. Marguerite was born and raised in Stuttgart, AK. She earned a degree at Hendrix College in AK. Marguerite had a 30 year career where she taught school in Texas and Louisiana and was a school social worker for the state of New Jersey. William is preceded in death by his 9 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his brother John Sidner of Chester PA. Marguerite is preceded in death by her sister Katherine “Kitty” Clement. William and Marguerite are survived by their son James Sidner of Houston TX, their son Walter Sidner of Marietta, their daughter-in-law, Janet Sidner, and 2 granddaughters, Hannah and Brianne Sidner. There will be a joint memorial service for William and Marguerite on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 5pm at St. Andrew United Methodist Church with Rev. Mack Riley and Rev. Terry Phillips officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Keheley Building at the church. Inurnment will be in Georgia National Cemetery on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.mariettafuneralhome.org

Mary Agnes Dellinger Smith, 95, of Crossnore, N.C., passed away on April 25, 2021.

Daughter of Theron and Lena Sloop Dellinger of Crossnore, she moved to Orlando after attending Maryville College and Duke University to work as a medical technician. There, she met Raymond (Bocky) Smith. They married and raised three sons.

She taught science for 29 years and retired from Robert E. Lee Middle School, while there, she was named Orange County 1988 Teacher of the Year. She served as an Elder and Deacon at Calvary Presbyterian Church, now College Park Presbyterian. She loved her hometown of Crossnore and returned for six months every year after retirement to visit friends and relatives and raise a garden where her parents gardened before her. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Bocky; brother, W.C.; and sisters, Annie Laura Stewart, Cordelia Kidder, and Ruth Loper.

She is survived by her sons, Terry (Jean) Smith of Crossnore, NC, Larry (Patty) Smith of Casselberry, Fla., and Gilbert (Tammas) Smith of Winter Park, Fla. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Michele Starr and Melissa Elvers, eight great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, many nieces and nephews, and a sister, Rachel Deal of Crossnore, NC.

Jean M. Van Der Kamp (nee Magill), 92, of Washington, passed away at her home on May 10, 2017. She was born on March 10, 1925, to the late William and Hazel (nee Cleveland) Magill in Princeton, New Jersey, and was united in marriage to the late Ralph P. Van Der Kamp in the Presbyterian Church of Farmington, Missouri, on August 4, 1949. Jean enjoyed staying active and giving back; she was a member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association, volunteered at Loving Hearts, was involved with Church Women United, sang with the Warblers at Cedarcrest Manor, and loved helping at the Presbyterian Church in a number of roles. A Funeral Service was held at 10 am on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the Presbyterian Church of Washington. Interment followed at the Church cemetery. Memorial donations are appreciated to the Presbyterian Church of Washington and Loving Hearts Outreach. Jean is survived by five children, William and wife Joyce Van Der Kamp of Ellisville, Kathy Van Der Kamp of Manassas, Virginia, Larry Van Der Kamp of Kirkwood, David and wife Anna Van Der Kamp of Auburn, Nebraska, and Robert Van Der Kamp of Mt. Holly, New Jersey; one sister-in-law, Margaret Magill of Denver, Colorado; seven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, Robert, and one granddaughter, Sarah Van Der Kamp.

Celeste Martino Weller passed away August 16, 2008.

Carleen S. Whitehead, age 99 of Maryville, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Blount Transitional Care. She was an active member of East Maryville Baptist Church. Carleen was a graduate of Everett High School. She went on to graduate from Maryville College with a degree in education. She taught school at Grandview Elementary and in her younger years, she enjoyed mission work in the Appalachia area. Carleen married Rev. Clyde F. Whitehead in 1953. They pastored churches in East Tennessee and throughout North Carolina. She was a dedicated volunteer and loved her work at Chilhowee Baptist Center from age 75 to 97. Carleen was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be deeply missed by family and friends. Preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Clyde F. Whitehead; parents, Thomas R. and Lucille T. Stephens; son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Susan Whitehead; daughter, Rebecca Lynn Harmon; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and David Parsons; 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Christine Newberry of Snellville, GA.

On September 5th, 2022, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Wildman, age 96, of Fountain City was joyously welcomed into heaven by her family, friends, and her Savior in whom she found strength and peace throughout her whole life. She passed away surrounded by loved ones. While her family grieves her passing and will miss her smile and laugh more than anything, they find peace in the fact that she is free of sickness and has been reunited with all of those who loved her in life. Betty was born on December 29th, 1925 in Maryville, TN to Mr. and Mrs. AC Montgomery. She graduated from Lenoir City High School in 1944 and attended both Maryville College and the University of Tennessee at Memphis. She graduated with a B.S. RN and, during her senior year of college, enlisted as a US Cadet Nurse with the intention of serving in WWII. The war ended prior to her graduation, but, as she loved to remind everyone, she would have jumped at the chance to reenlist if her country ever needed her again. She was the first woman in her family to earn a college degree and was immensely proud of this fact. In 1949, she married Charlie Wildman and together they raised three children: Cynthia, Fred, and Susan. The most important aspects of Betty’s life were her family, her faith, and her community. Betty worked for most of her life as a nurse which was the perfect profession for her caring heart. She served as a RN at Fort Sanders Medical Center, St. Mary’s hospital, and for the City of Knoxville as a school nurse. She was a member of Fountain City United Methodist Church for over 70 years and faithfully served in the choir, church kitchen, United Methodist Women, and as a member of the Christian Fellowship Sunday School Class. To go to FCUMC any time in the past 7 decades was to know Betty Wildman, and she was known to let others know just how their gifts could be utilized for the service of the church. Betty loved the outdoors and was a member of the Fountain City Sportsman’s Club at Norris Lake, her home away from home and the place where her chosen family spent time. She traveled every chance she could, venturing as far as the seas of Alaska and the volcanos of Hawaii. Betty found joy in her flower gardens, any type of UT Vols sporting event, baking for others, maintaining her home, and spending time with her family and friends. She sent thank you cards to every person who had ever done her a favor and always wanted others to know just how valued they were. Her favorite title was “Mee Maw” and she loved being a grandmother more than anything else. Betty exuded positivity, grace, and joy. Even amid her hardest days and most difficult trials, she never complained, never spoke an ill word, and never stop praising the Lord. Betty is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Charlie Wildman, as well as her sisters, Virginia Breazeale and Lucy Cusick, and her brother, Andrew Montgomery. She is survived by her sister Vivian Clark, her children Cynthia Schultz, Fred Wildman (Annette), and Susan Shipman (Doug); grandchildren Chuck Wildman (Stacie), Ben Wildman (Laura), Matthew Wildman (Katie), Katie Anzalone (Ryan), Beth Maldonado (Joe), Suzy Schultz, Sarah Shipman, Molly Searcy (Carlton), and Rachel Shipman, as well as 8 great grandchildren and many close friends, including her dear friend Polly Kelly.

Frederick “Fred” Russell Wilson, Sr., completed his journey Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at about 5 p.m., lovingly surrounded by much of his immediate family. Born Aug. 17, 1927, in Tehran, Iran, the son of Presbyterian missionaries, Margaret Bussdicker Wilson and Ivan Otis Wilson. Fred was a graduate of Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn., and of Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J. Fred married Elizabeth Jane Saint (Betty) Aug. 31, 1949, of Erie, Pa., and together they embarked on a lifetime of love and service to the Church. In 1950 Fred and Betty were called to Tabriz, Iran, as “fraternal workers” by the Presbyterian Church where daughter Margaret Amelia was born in 1951 and son Frederick Russell Wilson, Jr., was born in 1952. 1955 to 1956 Fred moved his family to Princeton, N.J., for a year’s furlough to finish his Th.M. at Princeton Theological Seminary. Daughter Rebecca Elizabeth was born in Princeton in 1956. Fred and Betty moved their family back to Iran in 1956 and continued their service as fraternal workers until 1960. In 1960, Fred accepted a position with the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations (C.O.E.M.A.R.) of the Presbyterian Church in Mass Communications Overseas. The family settled in Glen Rock, N.J., and Fred began the 26 years of commuting to 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y., fondly called the “Godbox”. In connection with his overseas responsibilities, Fred traveled widely visiting centers of Presbyterian ecumenical work in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Fred served the Presbyterian Church as director for planning and research under C.O.E.M.A.R. from 1967 to 1970; as the South Asia Liaison from 1970 to 1980; and as associate general director of the Program Agency from 1980 to 1986; and finally as director of the Program Agency until 1988. At the same time, from 1961 to 1974, Fred served the World Association for Christian Communication, first as treasurer and then as president. Fred and Betty left New Jersey in 1988 to live in Geneva, Switzerland, for two years while Fred was administrator for the World Council of Churches’ World Conference on Mission and Evangelism held in San Antonio, Texas. Dec. 2, 1989, Fred and Betty Wilson found their way home to 105 North Leverett Rd., Leverett, MA, where they have lived ever since. In November 1994, Fred was called by the First Congregational Church of Leverett to be their settled pastor and served the congregation until October 2004. Fred is survived by his devoted wife Betty; their three children and their spouses, Marg and Jack Kruse of Leverett, Rus and Pat Wilson and Becky and Art Torres of Shutesbury; six grandchildren and spouses, Anastasia Kruse-Kanyuck and Jeff Kanyuck, Selilah and Joshua Kalev, Henry Wilson, Tani Anaya, Sam and Ben Torres; and seven great-grandchildren, John Kruse-Kanyuck, Taiya and Tim Anaya, Taikoda Wilson, Tsukiko Bhowmik and Noa and Jacob Kalev. –