September 2008 Update
Class of ’34: Eva (Oberholtzer) Book passed away August 30, three months short of her 103rd birthday. She was mother to 7 children, 19 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. After 35 years in Pasadena, the family moved to Upland, where most of her children attended school.
Class of ’73: Tim and Lois (Wyant) Musser have moved to Spokane, WA to help in a church plant, directed by one of their sons, David. Lois is teaching in a local school.
Class of ’75: Debbie (Wyant) McLaskey and Doug have moved to the Salt Lake City area where Doug is attending a pharmacy school. They attend a growing Calvary Chapel. Other news is they are enjoying their first grandchild.
Class of ’81: Our last issue of Alumni News included the story of Hal Hargrave, Jr.’s accident, resulting in his quadriplegic spinal injury. The city of Claremont recently honored the Hargrave family as “Claremont Community Heroes,” with recognition at the LA County Fair.
Class of ’88: Lynn Martin is the new Vice Principal at Western’s Claremont Campus. Lynn comes with experience in both teaching and administration in California Christian Schools.
Class of ’90: Janice (McLeod) Cantu and husband, Aaron, along with four-year old Emma and two and a half year old Joshua, welcomed their third child, Matthias Allen born on April 18. She is happy to be a stay at home mother.
Class of ’94: Bernadette (Gillespie) Swails and husband, Billie, welcomed their second child in June, 2008.
Class of ’95: Rachel (Voelkle) Waters would appreciate prayer for her son. Aiden, who was born with a Port-Wine Stain birthmark. Regular treatment continues. Possible surgery to prevent brain damage may be needed.
Class of ’97: Sara (Hughes) Martinez is a makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics. She and husband, Jeremiah, welcomed a son, Ezekiel Jeremiah, last November. They love being parents. They attend Faith Community Church, where her brother, Taylor, class of ’96, is youth pastor.
Class of ’97: Emily Gillespie is living in Denver, CO, and travels in three states as a trainer for Clarins.
Class of ’03: Maria Hanafy graduated from Cal State SF with a BA in Radio and Television, May, 2008. As a part of her studies, the class went to Thailand in June, 1987 and produced a mini documentary which aired in the Bay Area.
Class of ’05: Diana Hanafy finished her third year at San Jose State. She shared in a student exchange program where she studied in Sydney, Australia. She is doing well in school and just loved Australia.
February 2008 Update
Class of ’31: Alvin Musser passed away peacefully on November 14, 2007.at age 94. He is described in our 1931 yearbook as a “fast driver” with his treasured possession being a “white milk truck”. Alvin grew up on the family dairy, and raised his family of nine children there. With the urbanization of this area, his son Mike, recently moved the dairy to Idaho. All of Alvin’s children graduated from our school: Richard ’52, Elizabeth ’55, Marilyn ’57, Marjorie ’63, Gordon ’65, Grace ’67, Mike ’69, Ruth ’71 and Tim ’73. Alvin and wife, Hope, gave loyal support to Western, with Alvin serving some time on our School Board.
Class of ’62. Beth (Ulery) Saba and husband, of Springfield, Ohio, were visitors at the Upland Brethren in Christ Church, January 13. She enjoyed renewing memories of her days at Upland Academy.
Class of ’65: Steve Tange, of San Ramon, CA, shared in a recent phone conversation, his testimony, that Western had changed his life. After Cal Lutheran and 4 years in the Navy, he continued his education at the graduate level and today is a successful banker.
Class of ’80: “Danny and Greselda Ireland welcomed their first child, Rebecca Lucia.” This was a news item in INFORM 15 years ago. On November 24, 2007, daughter Becky was honored with a “Quinceanero” celebration at the Double Tree in Claremont. A host of family, relatives and friends, including an Honor Court of ten young men and ten young ladies joined parents and grandparents in recognizing Becky’s new status as a young lady.
Class of ’81: Lori (Salce) and Hal Hargrave have come a long way from the auto accident July 26, 2007, which left their 18 year old son, Hal Jr. a quadriplegic from a spinal injury. College plans are shelved as he undergoes extensive therapy at Casa Colina, Claremont Club, and now at Project Walk Spinal Cord Recovery Center. An awareness of the frequency of such injuries and the financial implications, led them to form the Be Perfect Foundation. Check their web site at www.lilhal.info.
Class of ’95: Chad Darvis has been a vital part of the Family Christian Store at Foothill and Central in Upland for the past five years. He is usually not seen by shoppers because his responsibility is Inventory Control, often busy in the basement.
Class of ’97: Dawnelle (Darvis) Rothell and husband, Josh, are both active in Christian ministry, Dawnelle teaching in a Christian school and Josh as a church Youth Minister.
Class of ’00: Veronica Orozco graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2005 and spent two years in the marketing department of a Los Angeles software company. In August she began a new job at the Art Institute of California as public relations specialist, at which she is much happier.
FACULTY ALUMNI
Leo Wingett, Western teacher 1966-68, passed away January 14, 2008 Leo’s son Bob has been our Varsity basketball coach at Western until his move to Baldwin Park. Although Leo’s health was failing, he was a faithful supporter of Western’s athletic program.
Kay Day, who served on Western’s faculty for eight years, has just returned from a year spent in Malawi, Africa, teaching at Zomba Theological College and preaching every Sunday in a different church. She is now continues in her ministry at Mt Pisgah Presbyterian church. In Pittsburg, PA |
