Rockwell Class of ’42 reunion

The Rockwell High School Class of 1942 held its 72nd reunion recently at Blue Bay Seafood Restaurant in Salisbury. There were nine class members and eight guests present. Betty Barringer Honeycutt presided and Bill Brown gave devotions.

Members present were Carl Euart, Bill Brown, Brown J. Sides, Joanne Kluttz Eagle, Mary Helen Kluttz Shive, Blanche Brown Drew, Betty Barringer Honeycutt, Nevada Ludwick Rabon and Cecil Fisher.

There are presently 41 deceased out of a class of 62 members, with no deaths since last year.

The 2016 reunion will be held at the same time next year.

 

CGHS Class of 1945 reunion

The 1945 Class of China Grove High School met at Gary’s Restaurant on Saturday, Aug. 22 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their graduation. Jim Stirewalt welcomed the group of 12 class members and five guests.

Sixty-three classmates graduated in 1945 and there are 21 surviving members. Since the reunion in 2014 there have been two losses: Ramona Ervin Cline and  Grey Corriher.

A group of pictures of the oldest elementary schools in Rowan County were displayed and a brief history was shared by Jim. Three members of the 1945 class attended one of the old one-room schools: Mabel Patterson Brown, Mildren Moose Williams and Harold Litaker (deceased) attended the Patterson Elementary School; Jim Stirewalit attended the one-room Deaton School.

Class members attending the 70th reunion from China Grove were Hazel Freeze Menius and her daughter, Bobbie Earnhardt, Louise Wall Shive and Melba Walters Funderburke, from Winston-Salem, Bill Lefler, from Lincolnton, Elvira Overcahs Linder and her daughter Leesa Dawson, from Kannpolis, Mabel Patterson Brown, from Faith, Howard Haynes and wifeArlene, and from Salisbury, Donald McKnight and wife, Priscilla, Kinard Park Sheeks, Louise Glenn Waddell and Jim Stirewallt, from Harrisburg, Cora Mae Rogers Peeler and husband Leo.

 

Koontz reunion

The descendants of the John Thornton and Sarah Young Koontz family met Sunday, Aug. 16 for their 68th Koontz reunion at Trading Ford Baptist Church on Long Ferry Road. More than 60 family members attended.

The Koontz family lived on Long Ferry Road. Their children were Clara Koontz Massey, Donnie Koontz Iddings, Allen Thornton Koontz, John Henry Koontz, Ira G. Koontz, Lizzie Koontz Williams and Lula Young. There is one surviving grandson, Edwin Koontz, of the Allen Koontz family.

The host family for this 68th reunion was John Henry Koontz. Glenn Kreps, descendant of John Henry Koontz, welcomed everyone to the reunion and gave the blessing. The family enjoyed a covered-dish lunch.

There was a table display with the history of the Koontz family and old family photographs. A flower arrangement of red roses was placed on the table in memory of the descendants who have died since our last reunion:

Jeffrey Dean Bassinger, John Henry Koontz family; Melvene Goodman Koontz, Allen Thornton Koontz family; and Ted K. Barnes, Donnie Koontz Iddings family.

Descendants from Salisbury and Spencer and surrounding counties enjoyed an evening of fellowship, sharing family stories and making family photographs.

 

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club met Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Rowan Public Library. President Kim Fahs presided. Carol Comer gave a presentation on “Totems and Birdbaths” and 2015 year books were distributed.
If you are interested in visiting the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club,  call 704-754-8905 for more information.

 

The Salisbury Elks Lodge

The Salisbury Elks Lodge recently made a sizable donation of school supplies for children in need. Rich Penk delivered the items this past week to the Rowan-Salisbury School offices and to Communities in Schools-Rowan on Innes Street. With the help of a grant from the Elks Grand Lodge, the Elks felt there was a pressing need to help children who may be homeless or less able to purchase the supplies they need. Every child deserves a quality education and this helps them start the school year off on the right foot.

 

 The Dunbar Reunion Parade 

The Dunbar Reunion Parade will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. The Dunbar Reunion will celebrate its 31st Mass Reunion and they are asking the community to come out and enjoy the parade. Anyone interested in participating in the parade, contact Essie Foxx at 704-630-0922. Parade registration is open and at no cost. All participants are asked to check-in at the East Spencer Town Hall on the 5th at 9:30 a.m. to receive an entry number.