Class Notes

HAWORTH, N.J. – Sayre Archie Schwarztrauber, Rear Admiral, passed away on April 8, 2015. Born in Zion, Il., in 1929, he was high school valedictorian there in 1947. Earned B.S. from Maryville College, TN., in 1951; MA., in 1964; and PHD in 1970 from American University, Washington, D.C. He was commissioned ensign, USN in 1952 and retired as Rear Admiral (0-8) in 1983. Commanded guided missile destroyer Decatur and Flotilla of 250 river patrol boats (PBR’s) in Vietnam; aide to chairman JCS; Deputy Chief of Staff, SACLANT(NATO); Director, Inter-American Defense College of U.S.-Spanish combined staff, Madrid. Decorated with Defense, Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medals, two Legion of Merit, Spanish Gran Cruz De Merito and 21 others. He was also a recipient of Navy League’s Alfred Thayer Mahan Award. He is a member of SAR, MENSA, Phi Kappa Phi and numerous military, literary and professional organizations. Following Navy retirement, he was commissioned rear admiral, U.S. Maritime Service; President, Maine Maritime Academy: editor, Massachusetts maritime Magazine; Secretary of the Navy Advisory Committee, amateur genealogist and author of “Three- Mile Limit of Territorial Seas” and numerous articles, essays and reviews in professional journals. Married since 1953 to the Beryl Stewart of Haworth, N.J., an elementary teacher. They have four incredible children, Sayre Jr., Beryl Ann, Heidi and Holly. They have 11 grandchildren and are awaiting a great-grandchild

Dr. Robert H. Schwoebel, scholar, teacher, activist, and Marine, died in his sleep on October 19, 2021 in Bala Cynwyd, PA. He was 92 years old. Dr. Schwoebel was born in Bordentown, New Jersey in 1929. While still in high school he told his guidance counselor that he wanted to be a history teacher. He received his BA in History from Maryville College, TN in 1951, his MA in History from the University of Mississippi in 1954, and his PhD in History from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. Dr. Schwoebel taught history at Temple University from 1957-1996. During his time at Temple, he published two books, “In the Shadow of the Crescent: The Renaissance Image of the Turk”, published in 1967, and recently translated into Turkish, “Renaissance Men and Ideas”, published in 1971. His last book, “History and Prophecy in the New World of Francisco Lopez de Gomara,” was published in 2019, when he was 89 years old.

Dr. Schwoebel was first and foremost a dedicated teacher and lifelong mentor to his students. His students recognized this by nominating him for the Danforth Foundation E. Harris Harbison Award for Gifted Teaching in 1970, which he won. He was also awarded the Temple University Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1980. He spent the 91-92 academic year teaching at the Temple University Rome Campus. His lifelong mission was to inspire his students and others to grow as whole human beings and to understand the importance of history, both the role of their own family histories and the role of global history in charting the future course of the world.

Dr. Schwoebel spent his life promoting social justice and social change. He did this through the various innovative and pioneering programs he designed and administered at Temple University, including the Student Development Program, the Cooperative Learning Program, and the Center for Contemporary Studies. He contributed to the social movements of the 1960s, and continued to contribute his time, money and intellect to the causes of peace, civil rights, human rights, and immigration, among others, throughout his life. His personal life also reflected his commitment to social justice, including from 1971-1975, as a founder/member of the Pinebrook Community, an intentional community in Paoli, his volunteer work with African refugees the year he spent in Rome, and his lifelong support of a wide variety of international and community organizations. Dr. Schwoebel served as Chairman of the Temple University United Christian Ministries from 1967-1980 and was active in several local churches. As a young man, he served in the New Jersey and Tennessee National Guards before joining the Marine Corps, where he served on active duty for three years, followed by 17 years as a Marine Corps Reservist, ending up as an instructor at Quantico.

Dr. Schwoebel was a Renaissance man. He was an avid traveler throughout his life. He and his wife, Anne, spent time in Italy, France, Norway, Finland, Turkey, Morocco, and the Caribbean. While in the Marines he travelled to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He led Temple University students on an extended summer tour through Europe in the summer of 1962. He traveled to multiple countries in South America and East Africa with his older daughter, and he travelled extensively throughout the US. Beginning in 1962 he spent most of his summers on Swan’s Island, Maine, where he fished, sailed, and foraged for mushrooms, berries, mussels and clams. He was a prolific reader of both fiction and non-fiction and sustained a lifelong love of learning. He studied a number of foreign languages, and read and spoke Spanish, Italian, French, and German. Dr. Schwoebel turned his backyard in Swarthmore into a paradise for birds, of which he identified dozens of species. He loved gardening both flowers and vegetables, and cooking dishes from all over the world with his own fresh produce.

A deeply loving and committed husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. Schwoebel survived two wives; his first wife was Barbara Schwoebel née Stidham, to whom he was married for 29 years and his second wife was Anne Allen née Hirsch, to whom he was married for 25 years. He is survived by daughters Mary Hope Schwoebel and Camilla Schwoebel and son Sean Allen; grandchildren Kaamila, Lydia, Liban, Amalia, Cole and Yehoon; sons-in-law Steven Curtis Taylor and Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali, and daughter-in-law Nora Dock. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.

Rev. Shakley was a resident of Ohio at the time of passing. Born in Manorville, Pa. Nov. 8, 1928, to Charles and Mary (Wylie) Shakley, he graduated from Ford City High School, Ford City, Pa. in 1946; Maryville College in Maryville Tenn. in 1951; and Western (Pittsburgh) Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1955. In lieu of flowers, material tributes may be made in his name to The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Youngstown, OH 44510, or to a charity of your choice.

Lincoln Shimomura MD, 85, of Bridgewater, NJ, died at his home on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Reformed Church, 100 Main Street, Somerville. Lincoln was born in Salinas, California, the fifth of eight children of Japanese parents. After internment in Poston, AZ his family moved to New Jersey where he graduated from Princeton High School. He attended Maryville College, TN and completed his medical studies at the University of Louisville, KY. After completing his internship in Galveston, TX and his residency at the University of Indiana, IN, he settled in Somerville, NJ where he practiced Anesthesia at the Somerset Medical Center for 37 years. He loved to travel, sail, ski, fish, golf and spend time with family and friends. He was active at the United Reformed Church in Somerville and during his retirement he especially enjoyed working for Habitat for Humanity. Lincoln was predeceased by his daughter, Karen in 1995. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marianne Shimomura MD; his children, Audrey and Andrew; their spouses, Johannes Ernst and Sarah Walters; and his five grandchildren, Taro, Emma, Naomi, Lucie and Alice. Also surviving are 4 sisters and 3 brothers and many nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by his numerous friends and neighbors.

Patricia Ann Cox Sines, 77, died Feb. 10, 2007, in Franklin. She was born in Lisbon, Ohio, and moved to Fort Pierce in 1972. She graduated from Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., and the University of Pittsburgh with a master of library science in 1968. She sang opera in college. In Fort Pierce she and her husband created Wayne Construction Co. In 1973, she became the librarian of John Carroll High School and worked there until her retirement in 1988. In Fort Pierce, she was president of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a volunteer with the Treasure Coast Opera Society. Survivors include daughters Cynthia Catenaci of Rogersville, Tenn., and Patricia Walker of Vero Beach; brother Jim Cox of Canton, Ohio; three grandchildren; and former former husband Wayne Sines Jr.. Memorial contributions may be made to the John Carroll High School, 3402 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34947-0349.

Sharon Musick Smith, March 31, 1931 – December 20, 2016, daughter of Doris and Mary Leavelle Musick was born in Huntington, WV. Sharon graduated from Maryville College with a B.S. in Biology. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Sands Smith, who passed in 2009. They were married for fifty years. Sharon and Dick owned and operated the now historically preserved Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. They moved to Wickenburg in the late 1970’s. Sharon was very loving and nurturing to her brother, sister and all the nieces and nephews that needed her help. She extended that same care to her friends, neighbors and her animals. She enjoyed volunteering, raising and training their many horses, golf, bridge, gardening and cooking. She was a devoted member of both Las Damas and Saddle Bags riding groups. She is survived by her brother, Emmet Colbert, sister-in-law Donna Colbert, sister Mary Leavelle Colbert, nieces and nephews: Carol Funderburgh, Lisa Colbert, Glenn Colbert, Philip Mulford. Great nieces and nephews: Alexa Bays, Erick Thompson, Cliff Thompson, Lacy Colbert. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

George Stanfill, age 94 of Covington, LA and Violet, LA passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Gayle Desselles (Wayne) and Peter Stanfill (Trisha); grandchildren Amy Desselles Yager, Jacob Desselles, Evan Stanfill and Cameron Stanfill. He is also survived by his brother Dennis Stanfill, as well as cousins and life-long friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Olga Ormond Stanfill, and parents Sam Broome Stanfill and Hattie Carothers Stanfill.

George was born in a log cabin on a hill by the Duck River in Centerville, TN on July 26, 1929. He grew up an avid reader, loving the outdoors, & playing Football, Basketball & Baseball. George attended Maryville College in eastern Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But before graduating, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marines Corps as an officer in the Korean War, during which he was wounded, and received the Purple Heart. After his recovery and honorable discharge, George returned to graduate from Maryville College.

One of George’s post-war jobs brought him to Louisiana, where he met Olga Ormond of New Orleans. They married after a brief courtship on November 23, 1957. George then began a lifelong career as an Educator, beginning with 5th graders at Covington Elementary. He earned a Master’s in Education from UNO after he and his new family moved to Violet, LA, where George taught Social Studies/History/Civics at St. Bernard High School for almost 30 years, making an impact on several generations of young folks in St. Bernard Parish. Many of his students fondly remember Mr. Stanfill & the many different activities he got them involved in, such as the Weekly News Quiz, & Local/Regional/State Social Studies Fairs, to enhance their learning.

George treated everyone with respect and was a kind southern gentleman throughout his whole life. He always knew the right things to say to folks to make them feel valued. An avid sports fan, George loved to pull for the Saints and LSU in Football. He coached youth basketball, and also enjoyed teaching the art of fly fishing. He was a fisherman from his early Tennessee days of freshwater and creek fishing to inland saltwater fishing in lower St. Bernard later in life. Golf was another source of pleasure, especially on Brathwaite Golf course and the N.O. City Park courses. He loved dogs, especially small dogs that reminded him of one of his favorites, “Gnat”.

He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. His family wishes to acknowledge and thank the wonderful staff at Restoration/Sage Lakes assisted living of Covington, and at Traditions Hospice, for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. George Stanfill may be made to: The Nature Conservancy (Louisiana) https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/louisiana/ or the NorthShore Humane Society https://www.northshorehumane.org/.

The Stanfill family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.

Earl Harrison Valentine, 89, of Bristol, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 10, 2014, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born May 15, 1925, in Great Falls, S.C. a son of the late Arlie H. and May Hartsell Valentine, and he lived most of his life in the Bristol area. He was a retired owner/operator of Office Machines and Supply Co. for 58 years and was an active member of Anderson Street United Methodist Church for 58 years. He was a founding member of the Twin City Civitan Club. Mr. Valentine was a U.S. Army Air Force World War II Veteran. He was a tail gunner on the B-17 “Heaven Sent”. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Sarah Nelle Frye Valentine; son, Tim Valentine and wife, Robin; grandchildren, Jonathan Valentine, Jillian Valentine; brother, Frank Valentine; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 13, 2014, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Barbara Doyle officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 until 5:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. The burial will be held 11 am Thursday, August 14, 2014, in Glenwood Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Bristol VFW Honor Guard and the Tennessee National Guard. Pallbearers will be Louis Gurley, Bill Edwards, Mike Atkins, Loodie Booher, John Mann, and Stanley Mann. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Twin City Civitan Club and members of the Hugh Pyle Sunday School Class.

Durward Robert Van Nest, 89, died July 22, 2019, at his home in Meridian, Idaho. Arrangements by Boise Funeral Home, Aclesa Chapel.

Elenor Van Pelt died peacefully in her sleep Jan. 31. Elenor was born Jan. 4, 1930, in Maryville, Tenn., to Thelma and Sylvan Kramer. She was predeceased by her husband, the Rev. Dr. W. Austin Van Pelt, and is survived by her children Mary, Anne, Peter and Dave Van Pelt; her granddaughter, Jessica Regenbrecht Haque (Dewan); and many close cousins, including Roy Kramer, who was more like a brother. Elenor received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Maryville College. She was an elementary school teacher, active in PEO and a p r o u d member of the Maryville/ A l c o a N A A C P . E l e n o r was a very active member of Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colo., and later a member of New Providence Presbyterian Church when they relocated to Maryville in 2010. She was an important part of Austin’s ministry as they served churches across the nation, including Maryville, Tenn., Utiqiagvik, Alaska, and Leadville, Colo., making lifelong friends along the way. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at New Providence Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Emily Anderson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Providence Presbyterian Church, Wellshire Presbyterian Church or Maryville College. McCammon-AmmonsClick Funeral Home, 982- 6812, www.mccammonammonsclick.com.

Donald Greer Walker, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 1, 2018, at Blount Memorial Hospital of Maryville, TN. Don was born to Ruth Boring and Troy Walker of Friendsville, in 1925. He was a graduate of Friendsville High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree of Economics from Maryville College. He did his post graduate work at Colorado College in Economics, and Agriculture at the University of Tennessee. Following graduation, he served in the United States Army where he served in the Army Special Services. Don worked for the USDA as the State Director for the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service and raised cattle in the Big Spring community. Don served both his community and his church in many capacities throughout his life. A member of New Providence Presbyterian Church for 50 years serving on numerous committees, many community positions including many years on the Maryville City Council, First Tennessee Bank Board, Blount County Library Board, Beautiful Blount, Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Maryville Kiwanis and the Blount County and Tennessee Livestock Association. He is known for his generosity and kindness, his love for people and his community, and his ability to light up a room with his presence. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Troy and Ruth Walker; son, Donald Gary Walker; sister, Martha Ruth Walker Honaker; and brother-in-law, Lombe Scott Honaker II. His is survived by his wife of 65 years, Hilda Roberts Walker. Other survivors include his son, Troy Rob Walker (Michel) of Friendsville; granddaughters, Sarah Walker Delpy (JJ) of Atlanta; Shelby Walker McCulla (Johnathan) of Maryville; and Robi Kristine Walker of Friendsville; niece, Julia Honaker Beeson (Rick); nephew, Lombe Scott Honaker III (Barbie); and multiple great nieces and nephews. A receiving of friends is scheduled for Saturday, July 7th from 4-6 p.m. at McCammon-Ammons-Click Chapel, Maryville. The funeral service will follow with Rev. J. Steven Musick officiating. Family and friends will meet at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 8th, at Big Spring Cemetery for the interment service. The family expresses their gratitude to the Staff of Blount Memorial Hospital and Asbury Assisted Living. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Big Spring Cemetery, 237 Meadow Road, Friendsville, TN 37737. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com

Irene M. (Mellon) Young, 92, of North Versailles, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. She was born Sept. 8, 1929, in East McKeesport, a daughter of the late Frank and Mable Mellon. Irene was a lifetime member of the Linway United Presbyterian Church, North Versailles, where she served as a deacon, an elder and was active in numerous ministries over the years. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as an advisory board member for East McKeesport Assembly of Rainbow Girls. Irene was proud of her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Maryville College, Tennessee, and went on to work in the accounting department of Koppers, Pittsburgh, before focusing on raising her family. Irene loved camping in Sigel and spending time with her grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of over 27 years, R. Glen Young; daughter, Cheryl Young; and sisters, Agnes Cunningham and Doris Langley. She is survived by her children, Karen (Jeremy) Ewing, of Plum, and Glen (Stephanie) Young, of North Versailles; and grandchildren, Zachary, Abigail and Jacob Young.