Spire Spring 2018

class notes

Friends Honorary alumnus and professor emeritus Will G. Gordon of Bluefield, West Virginia, died November 22, 2017. Will was a U.S. Army veteran, resident of Bluefield since 1962, and a dedicated member of Trinity United Methodist Church. His active teaching career at Bluefield College spanned 42 years. He taught Sunday School at Trinity for more than 45 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Sanders Gordon, and son, William D. Gordon (‘70) . He is survived by his son, Mark W. Gordon (‘80) , of Cocoa Beach, Florida. Melvin L. Grubb of Bluefield, West Virginia, spouse of the late June Deaumer Grubb (‘43) , died February 14, 2018. He began his career as a local newspaper photographer before establishing Grubb Photo Service, documenting the life and times of the region for more than 70 years. He later created Grubb Aerial Photography and earned many awards for his photographs, including the legendary “Fog over East River Mountain.” Gilbert “Gil” B. Kelly passed away July 18, 2017 in Williamsburg, Virginia. He taught English at Bluefield College and the University of Nebraska before beginning a renowned career as a book editor. Mary Carlene Randall of Knoxville, Tennessee, and the wife of retired BC professor Dr. Robert Randall , died July 29, 2017. Bob and Carlene belonged to First Baptist Church in Bluefield, and she worked as a histotechnologist at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Bonivere “Bonnie” Shott of Bluefield, Virginia, died June 3, 2017. Bonnie was one of the founders of the Summit Players in Bluefield, West Virginia, and performed in a number of its plays. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, served on the auxiliary of the Bluefield Union Mission, and provided volunteer services for many other community organizations and functions. She is survived by her husband, John C. Shott , and two sons, John H. Shott and Michael R. Shott , all friends of Bluefield College. Ida Jean Tyer of Belfast, Maine, passed away May 23, 2017. She was the wife of former Bluefield College president Dr. Charles Tyer . During Dr. Tyer’s administration from 1972 to 1988, BC’s most notable accomplishment was its rise in accreditation to a four-year college in 1975. Suzanne “Sue” Van Dyke of Tazewell, Virginia, died June 2, 2017. A longtime BC friend, Sue was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Tazewell. She was married to the late William Howard Van Dyke. Editor’s Note: Bluefield College reserves the right to edit class notes or other content submitted for publication in the alumni magazine based on space, grammar, style, content, and other formatting standards. The college also may edit or not include submissions that promote beliefs contrary to the values and mission of the school.

James Warren Smith of Quinby, Virginia, passed away March 14, 2018. He was a retired admissions clerk at Shore Memorial Hospital. 1976 Wenona “Wendy” Riddagh of Newark, Delaware, passed away on August 17, 2016. 1983 Lauren S. Bailey of Richmond, Virginia, died March 15, Rebecca Bentley Hall of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on April 4, 2018. She began her career working for three Fortune 500 companies and serving in ministry at First Baptist and Sunset Hill Baptist churches in northern Virginia. Later, she became a minister for children and missions and a pulpit supply pastor at Ridge Road Baptist Church in North Carolina and a ministry assistant for the Raleigh Baptist Association. Outside of work, she was a financial assistant and mentor for the Christian Women’s Job Corps, a room mom at Wake Christian Academy, and a Board member for the BC Alumni Association. 1993 Paula K. Kistner of Roanoke, Virginia, died November 8, 2017. She was a counselor at Mt. Regis Center in Salem (VA) and Counsel of Community Services in Roanoke. 1995 Ronald F. Doty of Roanoke, Virginia, died January 10, 2018. He enjoyed sharing his love for God, nature, gardening and art with everyone around him. 2000 Kathryn A. Slade of Springville, Virginia, passed away August 4, 2017. Kathy was a registered nurse and lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bluefield, West Virginia. Survivors include her son, Grat Slade (‘00) , and daughter, Stephanie Slade Hylton (‘04) . 2001 Patricia Eaton of Richmond, Virginia, died February 24, 2016. She was a professor for Bluefield College Online. 2004 Pamela Kay Wilson of Woodbridge, Virginia, died January 7, 2018. She was a recently retired administrative assistant for the Prince William County Office of Criminal Justice Services. 2010 Donald C. Howell, II of King George, Virginia, died August 10, 2017. Donald was a member of the Rams’ NCCAA 2009 World Series championship baseball team. 2011 Michael L. Hall of Powhatan, Virginia, passed away on December 19, 2017. 2014 David M. Vass of Hillsville, Virginia, passed away on July 23, 2017. 2018. 1986

After his retirement, he worked at Nalls Farm Market in Berryville for 10 years. He was a lifelong member of John H. Enders Fire & Rescue Company. Samuel K. Chaffin of Kingsport, Tennessee, died October 30, 2012. He was a U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and retired from the Army Corps of Engineers. 1964 Stuart H. Knight of Big Island, Virginia, died December 4, 2017. Stuart retired from Georgia Pacific and was a lifetime member and former chief of the Big Island Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member and treasurer of Big Island Baptist Church. Julia Tuck Linthicum of Clifton Forge, Virginia, died October 12, 2014. She was married for 45 years to Rev. John Glenn Linthicum (’68). Dr. Alvin L. Milam of Washington Township, Ohio, passed away January 1, 2018. A retired U.S. Air Force major with 21 years of service, Al was a Junior ROTC instructor and a principal at Wayne High School. 1965 Frederick “Rick” French, Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, died September 11, 2017. Rick taught health and physical education and coached basketball at Lee High School in Springfield (VA) and later Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge. After Gar-Field, he became an assistant basketball coach for George Washington University and a scout for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. He then worked for the U.S. State Department until 2002, and in his retirement served at the Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton (VA). 1966 David M. Shanahan of Grundy, Virginia, passed away May 25, 2018 following a courageous battle with cancer. David was the owner and founder of Iaeger Pharmacy in Iaeger, West Virginia; Medical Park Pharmacy in Grundy, Virginia; Four Seasons Pharmacy in Princeton, West Virginia; and Buchanan Pharmacy Associates in Grundy, Virginia. 1967 Hugh S. Adams of Bluefield, West Virginia, died June 20, 2017. Hugh was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Bluefield. Hobert W. Clements, Jr. of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away. 1968 Aubrey Marion Colgin, Jr. of Midlothian, Virginia, died December 14, 2017. A retired tax accountant, he was known as “Fearless Warrior” during his courageous battle with leukemia. Hilda Wright Johnson of Ocala, Florida, passed away on May 21, 2014. She and her husband, Dr. Edward D. Johnson (’68) , served First Baptist Church of Ocala for nearly 25 years. 1969 William “Bill” Lee Herring, Sr. of Keswick, Virginia, passed away August 9, 2017 after a long battle with heart disease. Bill was the owner and president of Eagle Window Company, an insurance agent for Mutual of Omaha, and a deacon at Christ Community Church. 1970 Robert L. Wood, Jr. of Rockville, Virginia, died January 22, 2008. 1974 Donald S. Keister of Pearisburg, Virginia, died February 9, 2018. Steve was a member of the Iron Workers Union for 35 years, an avid Harley Davidson rider, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

what’s new? Have news you would like to share in class notes? Submit your class note online by scanning this QR code or visiting bluefield.edu/class-notes . Even view expanded notes and additional photos from other classmates. You may also email your name, address, class year, and your news to bcnews@bluefield.edu , or mail the information to Bluefield College, Public Relations, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605.

34