JAMES
EDWIN McKEEVER, Class of 1943
All,
It is with
great sadness I report the death of Ed McKeever, a member of the
graduating class of 1943. Ed’s passing was relayed to John
Parker ’42. He died yesterday, April 10, 2008 in Shady Springs,
MD. We hope to have an obituary on the Association’s website
tomorrow.
Herb
ACHILLEUS M. ZAPPAS
My late husband: Achilleus M. Zappas was a former student at
Greenbrier.
He did not graduate, but he was so very proud to have attended
there. He was a problem child, Hyperactive, and A.D.D. In
those days they had no idea what to do for children afflicted with
that problem. So his father sent him to the Academy. The
discipline and the comradeship was wonderful for him.
He joined the Army during the Koren conflict, and was a very proud
Airborne Ranger. He passed away on April 6, 2008.
In the past be went back to West Virginia and visited Greenbrier. he
enjoyed the Greenbrier Record so much.
Thank you very much.
Charlotte Zappas
Murray McClung Blake, Class of '45
ASHTABULA — Murray McClung Blake, age 80, of
Winterhaven Drive, passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon, April 6,
2008, at Ashtabula County Medical Center.Murray was born May 14,
1927, in Goshen, Va., to Ernest Ward Blake and Myrtle (Sharp) Blake.
His father died while Murray was very young and he was raised as the
youngest of three brothers by his mother and grandmother, Amanda
Burns, in Lewisburg, W.Va. Murray graduated from Greenbrier Military
School in Lewisburg in 1945 and was drafted into the United States
Army, but he did not see active service because World War II ended.
He then returned to GMS for two years of junior college, and
continued his education at West Virginia University in Morgantown,
graduating in 1951. After taking ROTC and receiving a commission,
Murray was called back into the military as a Second Lieutenant and
was sent to South Korea. He saw active duty, ended this phase of his
service as a Captain, and earned the Bronze Star. In 2003, he and
other Korean War Veterans were honored for this service by the
Korean American Cultural Foundation.Murray married Frances Jean
Schafer on Oct. 16, 1954, and they had three children: Beverly,
Rebecca and Murray Carlton.He taught math at Lewisburg High School
for several years and worked on his Master’s Degree before moving to
Ashtabula in 1959 to teach at Harbor High School. He would also
serve there as assistant principal (1964-1967) and principal
(1967-1969).After the death of his wife in 1964, Murray married
Nancy Peterson in 1969, and they had a daughter, Krista.Murray
became principal of Columbus Junior High School in 1969, retiring
from there in 1987. He had many fond memories of the students, and
enjoyed seeing them throughout the ensuing years.Following
retirement, Murray remained very active. He was a strong Christian
man and served his church, First Presbyterian, in many capacities
including Elder on Session, Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent,
and singing in the Chancel Choir. Music was an important part of his
life, and he had shared his talent beginning as a young man singing
at Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg, with a college band,
at weddings, and performing solos during variety shows at Harbor and
Columbus Junior High.Murray also considered his long membership in
Rotary Club most significant. He was very faithful in his attendance
and became a Paul Harris Fellow twice. Murray was a lifetime member
of the American Legion, and belonged to the Ashtabula Area Retired
Administrators, Ashtabula Dancing Club, YMCA and B.P.O. Elks #208.
The
American Cancer Society appointed Murray
to head Ashtabula County’s Community Crusade in 1990.Other interests
included woodworking, gardening, playing bridge, bowling and
spending time with friends and family. He took great pride in the
accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.Murray was that
exceptional individual who always accepted and met any challenge.
During his life, he earned the respect of his colleagues and
students because of his fairness in judgment and consideration of
others. He was a “hands-on” father who gave unconditional love, and
he will be close to all of his family in their hearts as they
remember him with love.Survivors include his wife, Nancy; four
children, Beverly (Douglas) Link of Bryan, Ohio, Rebecca (Michael)
Weber of Lewisburg, Pa., Murray Carlton (Kathy) Blake of Antioch,
Ill., and Krista (Jeremy) Toburen of Stow, Ohio; seven
grandchildren, Leo and Wyatt Link, Meryl and Paul Weber and Blake,
Avery and Ariana Toburen; and three step-grandchildren, Elizabeth,
Rebekah and Joseph Simpson.He was preceded in death by his parents;
his wife, Frances; his brothers, E. Ward Blake and John Blake; and
his canine companion, “Cuddles.”Calling Hours will be from 5 to 8
p.m., Friday, April 11, 2008, at DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 4524 Elm Ave.,
Ashtabula, with an Elks Memorial Service to be held at 7:45 p.m.A
service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at
First Presbyterian Church, 4317 Park Ave., Ashtabula, Ohio, with the
Rev. Dr. Stephen Long officiating. There will be a calling hour at
the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will
be in Edgewood Cemetery with Full Military Honors. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Memorial
Fund or to the
American Cancer Society.
Published in The Star Beacon from 4/8/2008 -
4/9/2008.
Ed.
note: Murray also taught at GMS during 1956-57.
CHARLES
MINOR WEBBER, Class of '44
From wife Wendy:
Charles Minor Webber died
peacefully at 12 noon Friday, February 9th, 2008in
Cumming, Ga. Funeral services will be held at the Logan Funeral
Home in Eljay GA, on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12 pm.
Charles is a Graduate of Greenbrier
Military School in Lewisburg, WV, a member of the Class of 1944. He
was a life member of the Alumni Association and love the school so
dearly that a memorial fund has been established in his memory.
Donations should be sent to the Association’s Greenbrier Forever
Fund at P O Box 922, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
VERNON MEADOWS, Class of '56
Vernon G. Meadows died this
morning, Monday, January 7, 2008 in Lexington, KY of Alzheimer’s
Disease. Vernon spent two years at GMS, was a sergeant in “C”
Company. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 9th
from 6-8pm at Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, 513 Tennessee
Avenue, Charleston, WV. Funeral Services will be at 11 am at the
funeral home on Thursday, January 10, 2008.
More later.
Herb
Jose "Joe" Perdomo, Class of
'49
Details to follow.
CARLOS PERDOMO, Class of '49
Died 12/31/07. More later
THOMAS L. SCHULTZ, M.D., Class of '48
From the News-Herald,
Willoughby, Ohio
Thomas Leonard Schultz,
76, passed into the loving arms of his Lord Dec. 22, 2007, in Austin,
Texas.
He leaves a legacy of dedication and service to his God, his country,
his community, his friends and especially his family. A self-described
"thinker," he was a man of few but valuable words. By God's grace, he
held fast to dignity during his illness and shared his unique wisdom and
humor to the end.
He was born June 24, 1931, to Elmer Henry Schultz and Irene Elizabeth (Scherff)
Schultz. He, along with his big brother and little sister, spent his
childhood around his father's nursery, Wayside Gardens in Mentor. He
attended Greenbrier Military School in West Virginia, where he graduated
class valedictorian at the age of 16.
He completed college and medical school at Western Reserve University,
where besides his academic achievements (cum laude), he was a small
college football All-American. In 1950, he married his college
sweetheart, Susan Schmidt Schultz. At the young age of 23, he graduated
from medical school and joined the army to complete his medical
internship. He served for 11 years while raising his family, primarily
in San Antonio and Killeen, Texas, but with short assignments in
Kentucky and Louisiana.
Leaving the service of his country with the rank of Major in 1965, he
and his family moved to Painesville, where he went into private practice
as an orthopedic surgeon. He loved his role as team doctor for the
Riverside Beavers as well as playing golf and just piddling. A common
thread through all his endeavors was his love of photography; his family
fondly referred to him as "Snappy Tom." Then, in 1983, his beloved wife
of 33 years and mother of his first four children, died tragically of
cancer at the age of 54.
God's blessing brought Donna A'Bate Schultz into his life in 1984, and
together they added two more children to his family. In 1993, he moved
his young family to Austin, where two of his sons and their families
lived. After retiring from private practice in 1997, he worked at South
Austin Hospital as a surgical assistant donating his income to the
continuing education of the operating room personnel. It was during
these years that he discovered the loving grace of God and was a member
of Westlake Bible Church.
He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Donna of Austin, Texas;
brother, Jack Schultz of Mentor; sister, Marilyn Hodgins of Mentor;
sons, Bill (Maryann) Schultz and Fred (Lorrie) Schultz, both of Austin,
Texas and Karl Schultz of Willoughby; daughters, Liz Richter of
Willoughby, Deidra (Mike) Schultz Petersen of Dallas, Texas, and Kaity
Schultz of Austin, Texas; grandchildren who adore him and will always
remember him as a kind and gentle soul, Jesse Schultz and Becky Schultz
Shaheen, Kenny and Tommy Richter, Zachary, Braxton and Mackenzie
Schultz, Chloe and Winston Schultz; and great-grandson, Canyon Schultz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Irene; and beloved
first wife, Susan.
Special thanks to those who gave him such tender care, especially
Samantha Kern, Linda Deckard and Hospice Austin.
Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home, 368 Mentor Ave., (opposite
Lake Erie College) Painesville from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at the funeral home with
burial immediately following at Mentor Cemetery. Memorial services in
Austin, Texas will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Westlake Bible
Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Hospice Austin or
Hospice of the Western Reserve.
Online condolences at www.johnsonfuneralservices.net
CLEMENT
WHITLEY BOOTH, Jr., Class of '42
Clement Whitney Booth
Jr. of Southold, N.Y., died of a stroke at the age of 81 on Sunday, Nov.
25, 2007.
He graduated from
Greenbrier Military School and the University of Virginia while living
at "Sleepy Hollow" in Bath County.
He married Ellen Alvey
of Fredericksburg in 1948. After serving in the Army Air Corps during
World War II and the Korean War, he returned to Bath County. He moved
back to Southold to become the publisher of the local newspaper and
later worked for Suffolk County. He was very active in community
affairs.
In Southold, he is
survived by his wife, Antonia, and her family; his brother, Edward, and
his family; a son, Clement Whitney III; and a daughter, Edna Wilkens,
and her family. In Virginia, he is survived by a daughter, Pamela Booth
of Fredericksburg, and her children, Susana, Monica and Stephen
Bobadilla; and a son, Stephen of Richmond, his wife, Sally, and their
children, Edward and William.
Whitney Booth was
buried in the cemetery of First Presbyterian Church South-old, with full
military honors
RICHARD V. KROPP, Class of '46
Richard V. Kropp, 79, a resident of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement
Community in Asheville, passed away peacefully at Deerfield on November
29, 2007. Dick was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Walter C. and Vernon R.
Kropp. He graduated from Greenbrier Military School, Oberlin College,
and The Harvard Law School. Dick practiced Law in Columbus, Ohio, and
was a Trust Officer at the Ohio National Bank. In 1969, Dick and his
beloved wife, Beverly, moved to Aurora, Illinois, where he became Vice
President and Trust Officer at the Old Second National Bank of Aurora.
After 14 years, he became Vice President and Trust Officer of the Aurora
National Bank and retired in 1988. Dick was Past President of the
Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association; Member of Humboldt Lodge
F & AM, No. 476; Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus; and Oasis Temple of
the Shrine. He belonged to the Columbus, Aurora, and Hendersonville
Shrine Clubs, and was Secretary Emeritus of the Hendersonville Shrine
Club and a Life Member. He belonged to Rotary International for 39 years
and was Past President of his original club. Dick served as a teacher
and tax preparer for the AARP Tax Assistance for the Elderly. He was
Past President of the Oaks Condominium in Hendersonville and Past
President of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community Residents'
Council. He served on the Board of the Trusts, Gifts, and Endowments
Committee for the Shriners' Children's Hospitals and was a member of St.
Giles Chapel at Deerfield. Dick was joyously married to the late Beverly
B. Kropp for 39 years. His survivors include a brother, Walter H. Kropp
of Columbus, Ohio; nephews, Walter B. Kropp, Karl V. Kropp, and Norman
W. Kropp; nieces, Elizabeth K. Simpson, Sarah K. Kaaua, and Carolyn K.
Mulligan; and the residents and staff of Deerfield, who loved him
dearly. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 4,
2007 in St. Giles Chapel conducted by the Rev. Morgan Gardner. In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be made to Residency Fund at Deerfield
Episcopal Retirement Community, 1617 Hendersonville Road, AVL, NC 28803.
GROCE FUNERAL HOME at Lake Julian is in charge of arrangements and the
memorial register is available online by going to Obituaries at
www.grocefuneralhome.com. "Sign the online
guestbook at
www.dispatch.com/obituaries"
Published in The
Columbus Dispatch on 12/2/2007.
FACULTY OFFICER EVERETT NORTON
SERIOUSLY
ILL
October 25th, 2007
All,
I have just talked with Lynn Haynes ’62
who has remained in close contact with Everett Norton, former faculty
officer at GMS. Whether you knew him as Captain or Major, Everett was
the “E” Company advisor and resident counselor in the dorm. He taught
algebra & geometry from about 1953 thru 1970, give or take a year on
either side. Everette & wife Kay were “substitute” parents for many a
student, not just E company. He also served as a (Southern) Baptist
minister, blending humor, politics, common sense, and religion to create
a distinctive philosophy of life and living it to its fullest. He is a
member of the Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association’s Hall of
Fame
About a year ago, the Nortons moved to
Charles Town, WV to be near their son Alan and daughter Anise (sp), a
move made with great reluctance. But it was necessary. Everett was
still driving and providing the eyes for both as Kay was nearly blind
from diabetes. Everett had significant breathing problems --- no one
who had a class to him would be surprised --- and heart, but mentally
was exceptional. I talked with him earlier in the fall as he wanted to
make sure we had his address correct and to let folks know that he was
sorry he was not in Lewisburg, where the action was.
Some time back Everett became sick, was
hospitalized, and during the hospitalization a resistant infection was
discovered. He has struggled to overcome it, the doctors have tried
various meds and nothing has been found that would stop the disease. He
is not expected to leave the hospital, but the family has not been
informed as to how much time remains.
Herb
Links
to the December 27th press briefing from the State Department with Secretary
Colin Powell and Ed Fox re: Tsunami aid. NOTE: This is the
entire press conference, so be patient. Ed appears at about
3:50 thru 5:19 minutes, and again at about 12:08 thru 13:26 minutes into the
press conference.
