Class Notes

John Roland Showalter, 81, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away on December 30, 2023. He was born on April 3, 1942, in Mansfield, Ohio, to the late Rev. Roland Leroy Showalter and Edna Mae Burkhart Showalter. John was deeply loyal to his family and was a respected professor at Warren Wilson College for 40 years.

John’s educational journey began at Bellaire High School and McKinley High School in Ohio. He furthered his studies at Maryville College in Tennessee and the University of Illinois in Champlain.

Outside of his career, John had a variety of hobbies and interests. He enjoyed organ music, gothic architecture, history, railroads, tractors, and genealogy. His passion for these subjects brought him joy throughout his life.

Survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Showalter (Brutsch), John leaves behind a legacy of love and dedication to his family. He is also survived by his children, Wendy Meyer (Greg Capps), Mark Showalter (Kim), and Philip Showalter (Eddana), as well as his grandchildren, Vincent, Jonathan, Blakely, Eiley, Victoria, and Vanessa. He is also survived by his siblings, Tom Showalter (Sandy), Jim Showalter, Jane Sawyer (Harlan), and Joe Showalter (Linda McPhail).

Born in Knoxville, TN on February 23, 1942, Jim Skeen departed on May 30, 2017. For a number of years, Jim Skeen managed life with two chronic diseases, carcinoid syndrome and Parkinson’s, with courage and aplomb. Despite some physical limitations, he refused to retire to his recliner chair and instead continued his worldwide travels and eclectic interests. Finally, the carcinoid syndrome was no longer controllable with medical intervention, resulting in his crossing the finish line on May 30, 2017, not long after his 75th birthday. Special thanks to Emory Healthcare workers and Atlanta Hospice for their help during this journey. He had resided in Decatur, GA. His liberal arts education at Maryville College in TN provided him with the foundation for his interests in the many cultural traditions of the world and led to his numerous travels of discovery (48 countries) during retirement. His postgraduate education at the University of Georgia with a PhD in their renowned Ecology program was the foundation for his professional career. He spent many years at Fernbank Science Center teaching students of all ages and expanding the horizons of DeKalb county teachers through enrichment courses. He managed the unique Fernbank Forest area in the 1970’s and 80’s and did ecological research there. He helped guide graduate student research projects in the ecology program at Emory University. When plans for the Fernbank Museum of Natural History solidified, he transitioned to the management team there as Associate Director and helped to make that museum a reality, doing everything from working with architects and construction supervisors to raising funds for the project. After celebrating the museum’s opening, he transitioned once again to consulting on museum development projects, then gradually to full retirement and traveling. A lifetime of eclectic interests led also to a variety of philanthropic interests to which he devoted considerable energies. Categories of his “causes” included environmental organizations, liberal arts educational institutions, science education for youth in Appalachian areas, the Appalachian Trail, refugee programs, education programs in Asian and Africa, historical museums in the USA, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. He enjoyed serving as host for the past eight years to public health professionals from developing countries who were spending a year at Emory University as Humphrey Fellows. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marianne, whom he met at Maryville College, his sister Deborah Skeen of Knoxville, and a number of nieces and nephews. Marianne plans to celebrate his life in many circumstances with friends and family in informal gatherings and to take both his spirit and some of his ashes both to many special places that he enjoyed as well as to some that were still on his list of places to discover. His wit and wisdom and his ability to tell stories will linger in the memory of many friends. Memorial contributions can be made to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, a very effective regional land trust that protects landscapes in western North Carolina, including lands surrounding the special section of Appalachian Trail that crosses the Roan Highlands and Hump Mountain. Their web site is: https://appalachian.org, and the address is 372 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

Thomas Chisholm Stanley, 75, of Maryville, passed away May 2, 2018. He was a member of the 1st United Methodist Church and a Methodist Pastor for 30 years. He served the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church in Southwest Virginia and in East Tennessee. He graduated Maryville High School in 1960, Maryville College in 1964, and Emory University School of Divinity in 1967. He was an active member of the P.J. Parkinson support group in Blount County. He was preceded in death by his Parents: Thomas and Barbara Stanley, Wife: Bettye Stanley in 2008, and Brother: Stephen Stanley. He is survived by Son: Greg Stanley and Terri, Daughter: Jennifer Holley and Del, 4 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, siblings: David Stanley and Marilyn, John Stanley and Ruth, and Anne VanCuren and Dennis. In lieu of flowers the family request donation be made to the P.J. Parkinson Support Group: P.O. Box 641, Alcoa, TN 37701, (865) 268-5588. Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences and donations may be made at www.maryvillememorialfuneralhome.com.

was installed as moderator of the Presbytery of West Kentucky on February 10, 2015. Her mother, Ellen Macrae Pierce, class of 1933, was installed as the first women moderator of the same Presbytery in 1974.

Stanley Wrinkle, passed away November 2, 2017, the result of an automobile accident on I-75 near Calhoun, GA. Born November 5,1942 in Knoxville, he was a 1960 graduate of Fulton High School where he was an “all city” guard on the 1959 football team. After high school, he attended Mars Hill Junior College in North Carolina and Maryville COllege before completing his undergraduate and ED.D. degrees at the University of Tennessee. Stanley’s professional life was as teacher, football coach, high school principal, and he served 18 years as assistant superintendent of the Cobb County, Georgia school district. After retiring he was an adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University, co-principal of the school at Roswell Street Baptist Church, board member at Mount Paran Christian School, and very special to Stanley was his work as a board member and mentor in the Marietta Mentoring for Leadership program, 1171 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, GA 30064. Preceded in death by parents Charles and Lillian Wrinkle, sister Cynthia Jane Wrinkle, half brothers Howard and Charles Wrinkle, jr., he is survived by his wife of 52 Years, Kaydell Wrinkle, daughters Jennifer (Kaz) Hzanani and Kirsten (Dennis) Alongi, brother Jerry (Pat) Wrinkle and five grand children. Stanley had many Knoxville friends, growing up in North Hills, attending Fifth Ave. Baptist Church as well as friends from his high school days at Fulton.