Orrville High School class of 1968 celebrates 55-year reunion

Wooster Daily Record
·3 min read

The OHS Class of 1968 held its 55th reunion Sept. 22-24 and welcomed 40 classmates and 17 guests.

The graduating class had 126 graduates. The reunion kicked off with a Meet and Greet at Schmid Hall followed by a carry-in dinner and an exciting OHS vs. Fairless football game. After the 38-28 victory the classmates returned to Schmid Hall for move visiting and telling of old stories while classmate, Corina Alejandro Howard acting as the DJ, played Oldies and Goodies songs from the 1960’s.

Saturday the class shopped at the J.M. Smucker Company Store, enjoyed lunch at Dravenstott’s Restaurant, and then toured and shopped at P. Graham Dunn in Dalton. The Dunn company donated a book entitled Unlikely Entrepreneur, Memoir of P. Graham Dunn which was won by Amanda Shetler Nussbaum.

Pictured are member of the Orrville High School Class of 1968. In the front row are Kaylyn Wagner Monheim, Anita Ray Walker, Lois Greenbank, Corina Alejandro Howard, Mike Perkins, Vicki Mullett Billheimer and Nancy Nussbaum Chandler. In the second row are Jenny Miller Curtis, Ron Erwin, Barb Hostetler Magier, Connie Sommer Davis and Sylvia Sladek Seifried, Brenda Wingerter Syntax, Shirley Caulier McKeal, Judy Arnold Berry, Amanda Shetler Nussbaum, Susie Maxwell Hughes, Shirley Robinson Martin, Patricia Warner, Patty Schmidt and Linda Bupp McHenry. In the third row are Jim Curtis, Bob Long, David Hochstetler, Marvin Byall, John Dodds, Debbi Falk Mastrine, Janice Gavin Wisniewski, Diane Myers Kessler, Mary Bilderback Starn, Mike Casey, Victoria Workinger Schneider Absent from photo but in attendance were Steve Dellafave, Becky Demlow Snyder, Dennis Fry, Don Grimes, Ellen Reiheld Grimes, John Herbert, Rite Kandel Atkinson, Delbert Martin, and Jamie Myers.

The evening dinner was held at White Oak Event Center. Steve Dellafave gave the blessing. A program by Mary Bilderback Starn, Jim Curtis, Bob Long, and Linda Bupp McHenry followed. Long and McHenry welcomed the class and read “How to Know You’re Growing Older” by The Word Framer. Next, Starn led a group of ten “old ladies” from the class in her rendition of “Those Were the Days” with classmate and lead soloist, Corina Alejandro Howard.

Jim Curtis led the class in the 1968 Trivia Challenge Game with questions: How much was the minimum wage? ($1.60) the cost of a load of bread? (22 cents) cost of a postage stamp? (6 cents) the World Series Winner? (Detroit Tigers) and best picture movie? (Oliver).

McHenry shared a list of all the past reunions which were held every five years along with the treasury reports. There was still $0.00 in the treasury after the first three reunions. A dinner/dance was held for the 20th and 25th reunions with Becky Demlow Snyder and Frank Croskey in charge who also sold raffle tickets earning the first money for our treasury. The 50th dinner/dance three day reunion had the highest attendance with 99 attending.

Honoring the veterans

A tribute was then given for our USA Veterans who were called forward for recognition and thanked for their services: Steve Dellafave (Army, Vietnam); John Dodds (Coast Guard); Mike Perkins (Army, Vietnam); Shirley Robinson Martin (Army, Vietnam Era); Ray Kalchert, guest (Army, Vietnam); and Randy McElroy, guest (Army, Vietnam). Handmade cards and an American flag were presented to each. A list of 24 Veteran classmates was read aloud by Long and Curtis, and they honored thirteen as deceased. Veterans unable to attend were: David Anderson (Army, Vietnam); Dale Hupp (Navy, Vietnam); George Foster (Marines, Vietnam); Ron Forrer (Navy, Vietnam); John Heidt (Army, Vietnam); Jim Smith (Army, Vietnam); and Gary Bender (Air Force, Vietnam).

The women’s Kazoo Chorus played and sang “Hoorah for Riders” with music and words written by Mr. Willis Jarvis their 4th grade teacher at Maple St. Elementary School. They also sang “Fight the Team Across the Field” and led the class in the singing of the OHS Alma Matre.

The Bagby Band with our own Class of ’68 drummer, Mike Casey of Casey’s Root Beer Stand, entertained the class with favorite 60’s songs including “Wipe Out” along with dancing.

Pictured are members of the OHS Class of 1968 during their 55th reunion. In the front row are Patty Schmid, Debbi Falk Mastrine, Mike Perkins, Linda Bupp McHenry, Lois Greenbank, Corina Alejandro Howard. In the second row are Jenny Miller Curtis, Anita Ray Howard, Amy Shetler Nussbaum, Judy Arnold Berry, Sylvia Sladek Seifried, Janice Gavin Wisniewski, Connie Sommer Davis, Shirley Caulier McKeal, Rita Kandel Atkinson, Shirley Robinson Martin. In the third row are Bob Long, Jim Curtis, Delbert Martin, Ellen Rieheld Grimes, Steve Dellafave, Mary Bilderback Starn, Diane Myers Kessler, Kaylyn Wagner Monheim and Brenda Wingerter Syntax.

A Farewell brunch was held Sunday at Blackberry Community sponsored by Starn and Sylvia Sladek Seifried. The following favors were given out: wood rulers engraved with OHS Class of 1968 were donated by Debbi Falk Mastrine & Apple Creek Historical Society; Don and Ellen Grimes’ popcorn; Hershey chocolates with OHS ’68 stickers; red OHS Class of ’68 pens.

Thank you to all the great reunion volunteers: Debbi Falk Mastrine, Jenny (Miller) and Jim Curtis, Bob Long, Steve Dellafave, Shirley Caulier McKeal, Corina Alejandro Howard, Sylvia Sladek Seifried, Kaylyn Wagner Monheim, Vicki Mullett Billheimer, Brenda Wingerter Syntax, Mike Perkins, Ellen Reiheld Grimes, Mary Bilderback Starn, and Linda Bupp McHenry.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Orrville High School class of 1968 celebrates 55-year reunion