’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 103^rd 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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

’60s

Dennis A. Wolford ’68 of Lafayette, TN, received the A.C.H.E. Regents Senior Level Health Care Executive Award at the Tennessee Hospital Association’s annual meeting on Nov. 7 in Nashville. He was recognized for his 44 years of service and leadership in the healthcare field and his community. Dennis has been CEO of Macon County General Hospital for 30 years. He has been board certified in healthcare administration since 1988. Dennis has served on the Tennessee Hospital Association’s board of directors and several other committees for the association. He currently serves as chairman of the board for the Upper Middle Tennessee Rural Health Network, chairman of the Macon County Health Council, chairman of the board for the Macon county Senior Citizen’s Center and chairman of the Makin’ Macon Fit Family Fitness Festival Wellness Committee. Dennis is also a member of the Lafayette Rotary Club.

 

’70s

Wayne Eichele ’73 of Ventura, CA, and his wife Pam have retired and are looking forward to the next chapter of their lives. They have just returned from a trip across the Canadian Rockies via the Rocky Mountain Rail Road. They plan to cruise to Alaska next spring and also tour Italy in the future. Wayne volunteers several hours a week at an elementary school and finds its rewarding in many different ways. The students and staff are awesome, he writes, and are appreciative of volunteers who can help students improve their academics and social/civic skills. Wayne would love to hear from fellow alumni. He can be reached at weichele@bcglobal.net.

 

’80s

Dory Wetzel Creech ’82 of Kingsport, TN, is a finalist for the 2014-15 Supervisor of the Year honor representing the First Region of Northeast Tennessee. In her position as assistant superintendent of instruction for the Kingsport City Schools, she oversees 14 people and has been with the system for 26 years.

 

 

 

 

Lesley Murray ’04 was married to Ryan Hawk on October 25, 2014, at 9 Oaks Farm in Monroe, GA. Bridesmaids included Rebecca Muncy ’05 and Julie Maples ’05. Following a wedding trip to Antigua in the West Indies, the couple is residing in Monroe.

 

Jade Bussell ’14 and Jonathan Essary were married November 8, 2014, at Christ United Methodist Church in Greeneville, TN. Bridesmaids included Ashley Fritz ’14, Kristen Lane ’14 and Latisha Stover ’14 and current Tusculum student Bailey Lawson. Following a wedding trip to Gatlinburg, the couple is living in Greeneville. Jade is a case manager for Frontier Health.

 

 

 

 

Lauren Abramson Baes ’02 of Franklin, TN, and her husband, Kevin, celebrated the birth of their son, Jack Adair Baes, on October 26, 2014. He weighed six pounds and 10 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.  Proud grandparents are Roger and Sanda Montgomery Abramson ’64 ’65.

 

 

 

 

’30s

Ellen Fletcher Kay ’37 of Tequesta, FL, passed away September 17, 2013. She was a retired receptionist of the Bath and Tennis Club.

 

’40s

Patrick H. Miller ’43 of Kingsport, TN, passed away on Oct. 18, 2014. As a student at Tusculum, he lettered in several sports and was captain of the football team. He was inducted into the College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Mr. Miller left Tusculum to enlist in the U.S. Marines. He was stationed in Hawaii and became a C-42 pilot in the Pacific Theatre. His Marine transport squadron led similar units in total ton miles flown, passenger miles and flying hours. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant and logged more than 1,400 flight hours. After the war, Mr. Miller and his life-long friend, B.O. Ripley ’42, tried their hands at both the grocery and ice cream business before Mr. Miller returned to college on the G.I. Bill, completing his degree at the University of Florida. He then returned to Kingsport and began his career at Holston Defense, later transferring to Tennessee Electric Company, Inc., where he retired as senior financial associate in the comptrollers department. Mr. Miller was active in volunteer work at First Broad Street United Methodist Church. He gave his time generously to Civitan, Meals on Wheels and Junior Achievement. Mr. Miller amassed a wonderful wild flower garden over the years and delighted in sharing it with others. He also was a natural storyteller and loved to recite poetry.

 

’50s

Edgar A. Bergholtz ’50 of Cottageville, SC, passed away on September 28, 2014. Mr. Bergholtz was a veteran, having joined the Navy in 1942 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was a boatswain’s mate first class when he was discharged. He was a retired FBI special agent. While at the Bureau, he received several meritorious recognitions from Director J. Edgar Hoover and worked mainly in the area of organized crime. Mr. Bergholtz was a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI as well as the Irish Society.

 

Lt. Col. Jack Hoover Jenkins, USAF (Ret.) ’50 of Centennial, CO, passed away June 18, 2014. Lt. Col. Jenkins was an accountant and received his MBA in accounting from Michigan State University. During his service in the Air Force, he was stationed all over the United States.

 

Phyllis “Mimi” Pierce McAmis ’50 of Greeneville, TN, passed away Nov. 17, 2014. Mrs. McAmis had worked as a bookkeeper for Dr. Calvin Reviere, then as an aide at Tusculum View Elementary School and retired as a bookkeeper for Central Drug Store. She was a member of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where she had made the communion bread for more than 40 years. She had also started the tradition of the Halloween Popcorn House. Mrs. McAmis served on the board of directors of the Greeneville-Greene County YMCA for several members, was a member of The Bridge Club and volunteered as a cook at Camp John Speer for several years. Her survivors include Tusculum alumni daughter Terri Morrell ’04, granddaughter Sarah Morrell Mathes ’03, sister Wanda Pierce Hall ’54, brother Jimmy Pierce ’60, sister-in-law Betty McAmis King ’50 and her husband, Dick ’51 and sister-in-law Mary McAmis Smith ’53.

Harley Lee Reel ’53 of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, passed away on October 8, 2014. Mr. Reel had enjoyed a productive 40-year career in business. He enjoyed outdoor activities and spending time with family and friends. He was active in his local community government and organizations.

 

Joseph S. Schwartz ’59 of Cherry Hill, NJ, passed away November 19, 2014. Mr. Schwartz was a Life Trustee of Tusculum College and had served as an active member of the Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2011. He was the retired president and owner of Guaranteed Brake Parts, Inc., his family’s auto parts rebuilding company, as well as a member of the Auto Parts Rebuilders Association Board and chairman of the Brake and Clutch Institute. He and his wife Kathy (Cheek) ’58 served their Alma Mater as decade chairpersons for the alumni phase of the Tusculum College 2000 Campaign and in key leadership roles in the Bicentennial Campaign. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cheek-Schwartz Endowment Fund at Tusculum.

 

’60s

Eva J. Hill White ’61 of Greeneville, TN, passed away October 31, 2014. Mrs. White was a school teacher, working in the Greeneville City School System for 30 years before she retired in 1984. She was a graduate of Morristown College in 1941, earning a degree in secretarial science and she then attended A&I (Tennessee) State University in 1943, earning a degree in special education. She then earned a degree in education from Tusculum as one of the first African-Americans to attend and graduate from the College in the modern era. Mrs. White had said she found it a blessing to be able to attend a local college while raising her children and helping her husband take care of her family. Mrs. White earned a master’s degree in elementary education in 1972 from East Tennessee State University. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church and was very active in organizations in the church as long as she was able. As her health declined, she continued to attend church and bring joy to many of her fellow church members until her last time attending services on September 28. Her survivors include daughter ant Tusculum alumna Sharon White Jefferson ’98.

 

Faline Mather Gray ’65 of Lansdale, PA, passed away unexpectedly on September 10, 2014. She and her beloved husband William K. Gray, Sr. ’65 had celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on August 28. Mrs. Gray was director of the Building Blocks Christian Nursery School for 27 years. She had also served as a special education teacher in the North Penn School District. Mrs. Gray was a member of the Lansdale Presbyterian Church where she served as an ESL volunteer teacher and Bible Study leader. She was a foster parent with Bethany Christian Services for 17 years. She was involved with Mothers of Pre-Schoolers as a mentor mother, a member of Heritage Questers, served as a Pennsylvania home school evaluator for 29 years and did sewing for Creative Stitches. She enjoyed baking and cooking and used her talents for the Food from the Heart program.

’80s

Mary Katherine  “Kaye” Marshall ’87 of Henderson, Ky., formerly of Greeneville, Tenn., passed away on November 12, 2013, at her home under the care of hospice. Ms. Marshall was a registered nurse and had worked 17 years for the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services. She was a member of Henderson’s First Baptist Church. Ms. Marshall earned a degree in English literature from Tusculum and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed her flower garden and cooking for her family.

’90s

Raymond Dennis Powers ’97 of Kingston, TN, passed away on July 3, 2014.  Mr. Powers was a maintenance supervisor for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

 

’00s

Douglas Eric Baker ’00 of Liberty Hill, TN, passed away November 11, 2014. Mr. Baker had been a manager of Starbucks in Knoxville, TN, and a member of the staff of Holston Home for Children in Greeneville, TN.

 

Tamara Allison ’04 of Maryville, TN, passed away September 11, 2007. She had worked at TDS Telecom.

 

William Mims ’04 of Dandridge, TN, passed away February 3, 2009, after complications with surgery. Mr. Mims worked at ITT in Knoxville, TN, and had been selected as “Teacher of the Year” in 2008. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Newport. He enjoyed tennis and biking.