Members of the Wilmington High School Class of 1961, from left to right: Front row - Bonnie Moore Mathews, Doris Wiget Cochran, Roger Garrison, Ken Curtis, Wayne Fulton Leva Grant Bath, Diane Edwards Ewing. Second Row - Karen Moffat Herrera, Kris Norvell Fout, Anne Telfair Clippard, Charity Reiley Gehringer, Beverly Liming Roe, Lyle Shaw, Ann Hale Noftsger, Gary Dunn, Roger Foster. Back Row - Bill Daugherty, Dick Caplinger, Dallas Kratzer, Michele Norvell Corbin, Ron Claiborne, Mary Alice Snyder Bryan, George “Mike” Fritz.
Submitted photo
The Wilmington High School Class of 1961 gathered together at the Elks for dinner on Saturday, Sept. 16 to celebrate their 80th birthdays.
The tables were decorated with “Happy Birthday” balloons and senior cartoons were scattered on the table tops. A large table held pictures and various memorabilia from grade school through their senior year. Also were several photo albums holding pictures of the various reunions that have been held. A big birthday cake with the Hurricane logo and 80th birthday cookies added to the fun.
Those attending from out-of-state were Ann Hale Noftsger, Pennsylvania; Karen Moffat Herrera, Missouri; and Lyle Shaw, Minnesota. There were 23 classmates in attendance.
Since their 60th reunion in 2021, they have lost 10 classmates. There were several classmates who could not attend the birthday party and sent notes to everyone. These notes were also on display for everyone to enjoy.
Class secretary Bonnie Mathews received an email from Ken Hormell on Aug. 22. The Sandra Crisenberry Hormell scholarship at Miami University is in its 19th year. The scholarship is awarded to MU students from Clinton, Warren or Butler counties each year who are interested in pursuing a future in educational leadership. Sandy was a beloved resident and educator in all three counties prior to her passing in 2004 of ALS. Classmate Sandy Hormell would have been 80 on Aug. 28 of this year.
There was a small dinner for those in town on Friday night at Fiesta Vera Cruz and an open house Saturday evening at the home of Ed and Leva Bath. Several gathered at Frisch’s on Sunday morning for the traditional wrap-up breakfast after each reunion.
The following were thanked for helping with this year’s event: Ken Curtis, Doris Wiget Cochran, Wayne Fulton, Leva Grant Bath, Kris Norvell Fout, Mary Alice Snyder Bryan and Bonnie Moore Mathews. There was also a special thank you and tribute to Bob Valentine, who passed away this summer. Bob worked on many class reunions through the years including this birthday party. He is certainly missed and was especially held warm in everyone’s thoughts this weekend.
Everyone was reminded to travel safely and to keep watching in 2026 for a “save the date” notice for the 65th graduation celebration of the class of 1961 – the very first class to graduate from the current location of the Wilmington Senior High School.
