’30s
Frances Wade Ostergren ’34 of Sevierville, TN, was honored by U.S. Rep. Phil Roe for her service during World War II recently and celebrated her 103rd birthday on Dec. 12. Frances served as a nurse during World War II and has been a member of American Legion Post 104 for more than 60 years. Roe presented Ostergren with a certificate from Washington, D.C., a small American flag and an ornament. A native of Sevierville, Frances attended Tusculum, and became a teacher, first in Loudon County, TN, before moving to Mississippi where she continued as an educator. Frances enrolled in Duke University to pursue a master’s degree but her financial situation resulted in her leaving school to go to work in Alabama. She then moved to Chicago where she received laboratory technician training at Michael Reece Hospital. Frances was working as a laboratory technician in Jacksonville, FL, when the war began and she joined the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She settled in Fitchburg, Mass., after the war and worked there for several years. Moving to New York City, she worked in the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center and while there she met her future husband, Raynor Ostergren. After their marriage and his retirement from the military in 1956, the coupled moved California. During an extended visit to Tennessee to visit her parents, Raynor became ill and died early in 1960. Afterwards, Frances stayed in Sevierville to help care for her parents. As family circumstances permitted, Frances became active in the community. She served on the board of directors of the Sevier County Fair and facilitated the floral exhibits. Frances participated in several bridge clubs and was a charter member of the Sevierville Garden Club. Through her lifelong love of drawing and painting, Frances often traveled out into the countryside in Sevier County to sketch and paint rural scenes and older structures. Most of her artwork is now part of the collection of the King Family Library History Center, part of the Sevier County Library.
U.S. Rep. Phil Roe talks with Frances Ostergren recently as he honored her service in World War II. Photo by Jake Old, courtesy of The Mountain Press.
Leslie Sierra Shelton ’13 and Trey Whitfield ’12 were married on Nov. 15, 2014, at The Blackthorn Club at the Ridges in Jonesborough, TN. Groomsmen included Neill Blakeney ’12, Marquise Snead-Johnson ’11 and Gareth Rowlands ’11. Ushers were Andy Goellner ’13 and Dakota Norton ’14. Hannah Laposky ’12 served as a bridal book attendant and greeter. Following a honeymoon to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the couple is living in Nashville, TN. Leslie is the special education coordinator at Lead Prep Southeast, and Trey is the regional controller of First Call Ambulance Services.
’70s
Ronald W. Beers ’70 of Monroe, NC, passed away on November 24, 2014. After graduating from Tusculum, Mr. Beers took a position as a staff accountant with the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, D.C. Thirty-three years later he retired as assistant director of GAO. His work took him all over the country and gave him the opportunity to interact with some of the nation’s finest scientists, physicians and educators. At Tusculum, he served as a lifeguard and a photographer for the College. Survivors include his wife and Tusculum alum, Pamela Rhea Beers ’74.