|
Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retirees Newsletter April 2008
April 25th was the date of the latest meeting of the Oklahoma SCS/NRCS Retirees at the Hometown Buffet Restaurant in Oklahoma City. Sixty people were in attendance. They were: Mike & Mary Barrick, Don & Darlene Bartolina, Otis Bennett, Bob Bumgarner, Charlie & Carolyn Cail, Everett & Helen Cole, Les & Barbara Conner, Geri Cutler, Bob Davis, Bob & Betty Day, Fred & Gayle Fortney, Randy & Bonnie Freeland, Lloyd Garrison, Gayle Goforth, Chuck Grimes, David Haggard, Odos & Dianne Henson, Newman & LaWanna Hicks, Sandra & Terry Hough, Ottie Johnson, Mavis & Wilene Jones, Ed Kephart, Otho LaMar, Nick & Doris Lambeth, Carl & Jeanne Mackey, Forrest & Louise McClung, Lowell & Minnie McMasters, Hadley Meinders, Nelson Meuller, Gordon & Minnie Carol Moebius, Steve Mornhinweg, Glen & Eunice Mullen, Bill & Ladonna Peterman, John & Joy Pewthers, Clyde Pratt, Stan Rice, Alma Richards, John & Shirley Spitzer, and Bettie Todd.
The Oklahoma group discussed the status of the Oklahoma website, various ways to notify retirees of our group and upcoming meetings, the value of a periodic newsletter, and conducted a Memorial Service for former employees and spouses who have passed away since our last meeting. Those were: Clyde Rawson, Paul Valentine, Fines Sturgeon, Gary Spencer, Louise Sasser, Marie Murrell, Nadine Evans, George Romans, Leo Dowling, Ozzie Keairns, and Billie Bollinger.
Randy Freeland also encouraged those in attendance to become members of the Association of Retired SCS Employees (ARSCSE). It is a great way to keep up with retirees from other states and see how they spend their time in their new life (retirement). He also encouraged those 83 years old or older to become recognized as Senior Conservationists by ARSCSE. He provided forms for that purpose.
Some of the “happenings” reported by those in attendance were: This was Geri Cutler’s first meeting with the group. She retired in Marlow in 1982. Geri now lives in Edmond and provides transportation for Seniors who no longer drive. Lowell & Minnie McMasters have three children all with degrees from OSU. They have 9 grandchildren. Lowell stays busy with gardening and Minnie with Scrap Booking. John & Joy Pewthers still live in Waurika after many years. They have 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren. They spend their time following grandkids to various sporting activities. They stay active in church and John mentioned he still enjoys identifying plants. Ott Johnson retired in 1987 and has served many state and county organizations from pork producers to water boards. For 14 years he has written a weekly newspaper column for the Stillwater Newspaper. He and Virginia have two children and three grandchildren.
Gordon and Minnie Carol Moebius live in Duncan, Oklahoma and are active in Duncan Christian Center Church teaching Sunday School and noonday bible studies. They have two daughters and two teenage grandchildren. Gordon has developed his own soil and environmental services business and does some real estate work. Alma Richards retired in 1988. After 50 years on the family farm, she moved to Enid in 2002 to be near her daughter and her family. She does volunteer work through the First United Methodist Church and provides quilts for various mission organizations. She has 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and two more on the way! She has made or is making a quilt for each one of them. Carl Mackey said he spends his time fishing and playing cards and dominoes. Nick Lambeth continues to be active in several social and church organizations. He spends some time as a driver for the local Chevrolet dealer. But his passion is riding motorcycles. A slight limp can be attributed to that!
Nelson Mueller retired in 2001 and spends his time cutting cedar trees (a real Oklahoma pest), mowing yards, hauling junk iron, and driving a bus for the youth at his church. He has two children. He plans a trip to Europe in June 2008. Don Bartolina still works part time for the Oklahoma County Conservation District and coordinates the National Land and Range Judging Contest. He and Darlene have taken several cruises. Ed Kephart retired in 2006 and lives in Blanchard. He is co-owner of an economic business development company specializing in Tribal business development and International business development. He also volunteers services to various rural communities. Bob Bumgarner and Anita have recently moved from Davis to Duncan, Oklahoma to be near their children and grandchildren. Glen and Enice Mullen still do disaster relief work with their latest in Greensburg, Kansas. They will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in September.
Mike Barrick is a recent retiree (2008). He is a member of the Red Cross Disaster Team and State Coordinator for the Chainsaw Disaster Team with the Oklahoma Southern Baptist Convention. Stan Rice does some environmental consulting and fishing. (Sounds like a good combination to me). Bonnie and Randy Freeland live in Stillwater and attend most all OSU sporting events. Randy has recently completed the training and service hours for the Oklahoma State University Master Gardener Program. They have two grown and married sons. Bonnie spends most of her time sewing, painting, and making crafts for….you guessed it, their first grandchild in August.
Bob and Betty Day have six great grandchildren that they thoroughly enjoy. Bob collects toy tractors and assists his son, an optometrist, in making glasses on a part time basis. Forrest and Louise McClung have an RV and have traveled to all 50 states, England, Canada, Mexico, South America, Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Caribbean Island, Australia, and the South Pacific. Forest reports he’s been successful in his primary goal in retirement. Avoiding Work!
The next meeting for the Oklahoma group is scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2008 at the Hometown Buffet Restaurant in Oklahoma City. Sandra Hough, Secretary/Treasurer has spent a number of hours updating and expanding the Oklahoma Retirees mailing list and hopes to see a large number at our next meeting.
| Back | |