Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Linda, Max and others who have inquired,

I'm doing just fine. And NO, my lips are not swelling, although my gums and brain could use some help. In the first round I had 5 "root tips" extracted. On Wednesday this week, there will be at least 4 more. Still don't know if there will be bone grafts, but when it is all over I should have a full set of teeth for the first time in years. Could take up to 5 or 6 months. Beats the hell out of losing a leg (think of our heroic Dave Long) or back surgeries (think Diane Gardner and Max) or fighting cancer (and there are many of you) or worse.

Please congratulate those who are having birthdays. I am so sorry I missed Alan Swartz and John Nolte last week. I just needed to take a break.

In Linda's words, I love ya.

Same old toothless Mel

Julie Hart

max - i think kokopelli would be a great tat but since it's a fertility deity you better watch out!  childbearing at your age might be a bit difficult.

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Julie...  I think the difficult part these days would be "child raising".  Wouldn't want to go through in today's times what I went through 40 years ago.  Definitely don't have the patience now that I had then.  I'll just continue to spoil my grandkids and send them home to mom & dad!       ...~Max~...

Marvin Theobald

I received a call from John Brown Saturday and he notified me of the sad news that Bill Walton had passed away that morning. Funeral arrangements are being made through Kibler Brady Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington. The funeral will be Tuesday May 25 but other details are not yet known. Bill had few living family members and John is in charge of arranging for pallbearers. He is looking for volunteers from our class. If anyone is interested in volunteering please let me know.

Bill along with Wayne Kearny surprised us with a visit at our 55th class reunion. It was the first time he had come to a reunion and it was a very special evening for the numerous classmates that were so happy to see him after all the years. I know he will be remembered with great fondness for those who knew him in those great high school days.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Dear Toothless in Chicago:

I hope you are still being able to eat healthy food.  You can blend up salad and make gazpacho, a cold Spanish soup.  If you like a big juicy steak, you could grind the meat and make a thick hamburger on the grill, and then break off pieces with your fingers to feed yourself.  For dessert, you might roast marshmallows.  Of course, you can also have all of the soft cooked vegetables.  Perhaps watermelon would be easy to eat also.  But, then, I could send you some 'gummy' bears!

Good luck,

A smart aleck in El Paso

Marvin Theobald

Update on Bill Walton:

https://www.kiblerbradyruestman.com/obituary/William-Walton

William "Snookie" Harrison Walton

August 8, 1945 ~ May 15, 2021 (age 75)

Obituary

Bloomington - William “Snookie” Harrison Walton, 75, of Bloomington, passed away at 5:51 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at his home.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington with Rev. John Brown officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the memorial home.

Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.

Snookie was born on August 8, 1945 in Seattle Washington to Ruthie Mae Walton. He was a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, where he received a bachelors in Medical Technology, and also attended Illinois State University, were he received a bachelors in Psychology. Snookie proudly served his country in the United States Army and also was a dedicated worker for twenty-five years as a medical technologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. While working as a medical technologist he was an active member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Snookie is survived by his sister, Shirley Becton and loved by a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Marvin Theobald

The funeral of Bill Walton was yesterday morning. It was my good fortune to have been one of four of our classmates in attendance at his memorial service. Having attended many funerals over the years, none has been so filled with an outpouring of love or the celebration of the goodness in a person as I witnessed yesterday. Bill was a very private person but he was a crucial friend to those he was close to providing wisdom, comfort and guidance when people were in troubling situations in their lives.

Pastor John Brown, our classmate, officiated the service and following numerous others who shared their deeply heartfelt stories, presented a beautiful eulogy that demonstrated how good and caring a person Bill was throughout his life. For those that were not in attendance, an opportunity was missed to realize what a special person Bill was and what a wonderful and accomplished family he was a part of. Along with John and me, other classmates in attendance were Wayne Kearney and Clayton James.

Marvin Theobald

Another classmate loss that I have had some awareness of, but had not previously posted since I had minimal information.

Dennis Saunders passed Dec 30, 2020, but I have not been able to locate an obituary, The Pantagraph posted that his funeral was pending at Beck Memorial Home but no other information has been found.

Marvin Theobald

The long awaited calming of COVID has arrived and it is time to try to get anyone interested together for our traditional August Mini-Reunion. Encouraged by Jack Keefe, I have reserved Saturday August 7 at 5:30 at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant. Hopefully enough of us will be comfortable by that time to attend to make it worthwhile, although if only two of us show up it will be worthwhile. I know Jack and I will be there for sure.

Hope you can all get out to join us. Be aware that masks will be optional.

Marvin Theobald

Without any excuses other than I have been actively enjoying every day as fully as possible, my website participation has been terribly neglected for many months. For those that have had concerns regarding my well being and hip replacement recovery, I have never felt better and am as physically as active as ever. I promise I will try to be more active on the website and hope the rest of you will join me.

Judy and I had a most enjoyable winter get away in the Florida Keys. Several different friends and relatives joined us during that time for short visits. I will post a couple of pictures now with more to follow later. A few days after our return to Bloomington I drove to Texas to visit my daughter and her family as well as several friends in the Dallas and San Antonio areas. The combined drive from Florida to Illinois and to Texas and back to Illinois involved about 3,800 miles of driving in two weeks. Good thing I kind of enjoy driving.

One of the fun things we discovered in Florida was the original boat from the movie African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. It is at a marina in Key Largo and is available for short excursions. Unfortunately it was fully booked the day we went to see it, but we were able to get on board and get some pictures. In a way I was glad they were booked because we learned that the boiler was cracked and they were running with an outboard motor rather than the old steam engine. A lot of my want to ride it was to experience the sound of the steam engine. Charlie Allnut would have had that patched up and running in no time.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Marv:

Glad you enjoyed your trips!  Thanks for the photos, too.

Is it time for more funding on this website for our class?  Just let me know.

Linda

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Love to all!

Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

Hey Linda... would I pass for a Texan Cowboy in my new "sun hat"???

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Rookus:

You would pass as a cowboy or a ranchero with that hat!  It should keep the sun off of you!

Enjoy it!

Love ya, Linda

David Long

Greetings one and all, 

It is with considerable sadness that I am adding come pictures to the memory of Bill Walton.  Bill was my teammate and my friend.  I was so pleased that both he and Wayne Kearney accepted my personal invitation to attend the 55th class reunion.  I have so many memories of both Bill and Wayne, but want to add some thoughts at this time to the memory of Bill.  

Bill was always quietly funny on all of our road trips.  He was the gentle giant among us, could probably bench press the distance runners without breaking a sweat.  I remember Bill running in a relay race and out pacing the competition even though they had their best runners in the race.  

Typically, KOOL, in attendance at the 55th Reunion, Bill showed up in shades and an oversized hat - never one to go unnoticed.  Gotta Love him!  I still remember the Viaduct Painting after the team won the Big 12 conference meet - there was the sign WALTON '64 for all to see.

Here are a couple of pictures from our time on the Track Team that may bring back some memories - 

R.I.P my friend.  You may be gone from this mortal coil, but you are not forgotten!

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Dave, thank you for your comments and memories about Bill Walton. I barely knew him, but I remember him as an outstanding and enormously kind person. The fact that he and Wayne Kearney were at the last big reunion together was fabulous. We have at times talked about the BHS '64 wrestling team, but have not focused on the track team. Bill was an amazing part of that group, as were you and many others. Too bad that wasn't one of the celebrated sports at the time. BHS '64 was all about football and basketball then, but our golf, track and wrestling teams all were in contention for state championships. And don't forget the debate team. What a ride we have had and Bill was a huge part of it. I could go on, but again, THANK YOU for honoring one of the finest people ever to come out of BHS. R.I.P. Bill. You will always be a shining star for all of us who knew you, even if only in passing.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

David, that was a great Tribute to Bill.  I wish I could 

have gone to the 55th reunion, I sure would have 

love to see Bill and Wayne.

RIP Bill 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Mel:

How are you doing so far?

Linda

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Linda, it is all going much slower than expected. For the past two weeks, I've looked a lot like Gabby Hayes - remember him? On Wed. the upper partial is due, which will give me a half smile. Might be another two weeks after that since 6 to 8 more teeth need to go before getting the lower partial. Thanks for asking. At least I can swim laps. Up to 8 miles, only 67 more to go to meet my goal of swimming my age in miles this summer.

Anyone have plans or goals for the summer? PLEASE, tell us about them.

Patricia (Pat) Hocenic (Lehr)

Okay Mel, here's the scoop. We will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on the 19th of June. Our trip to London was cancelled- our Caribbean cruise in January was cancelled. Perhaps 2022 will be a better year for a celebration! Low keyed dinner in Bloomington is still on- life is good!

David Long

Pat,

Book your cruise NOW.  The cruise lines are offering some great deals into 2023 including free drinks, specialty dining, gratuities, airfare, shore excursions and the best part, fully refundable deposits.  I know that both Norwegian and Holland America are doing this.  Hope you get your 50th Anniversary trip in B4 your 53rd anniversary.

David Long

Mel,

Are you still friends with your dentist?  How is everything going - ready for a Slushie or a big bowl of ice cream yet.  Keep those smiles coming. 

James (Jim) Rookus

 Hmmmm.... well Mel... summer goals ?  Perfect my summertime pool boy skills .... ride bike a lot in hopes of re-loosing the 18# I lost during cardiac rehab just prior to COVID .... and put back on during COVID !  Consume less donuts ... spend as much time with grandkids as possible and brush up on my rusty musical passtime playing my organ, piano and keyboard.  If any extra time might take a stab at a few " honey-do" projects ... although that's highly unlikely!  Have you been on a baby food and soup diet lately?  Sorry we don't live closer ... I'd bring you a pot of my wife's homemade soup ... her varieties are the best!!!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Summer GOAL????

When I do exercises I do 5 reps of each.  I want to do 6 sets of 10.  I don't want to gain weight this summer.

I want to keep slowly dropping some excess pounds to fit into the next lesser size.

My wish is to eat 1 watermelon per month; June, July, and August.

Oh how I enjoy the nectarines, peaches, cherries, figs, oranges, berries and apples.  I am currently including 2 ribs of celery into my daily diet structure.  Somehow it seems to increase my energy levels.

I still work until noon on a daily basis.  Thank God I still enjoy work and can get myself up and out of bed by 4:45 am.  I do enjoy the morning.

I have a few neighbors over 90.  Once a week I bake a treat for them.  If I bake a layer cake, I cut it in 4ths and give them each their 1/4 slice of cake.  They seem to really enjoy chocolate.

That is all!   It is 100 degrees now in my desert. (my biggest dislike)  I am very appreciative of the guy who invented refrigeration for airconditioning!  Often, I think I might kiss his feet if I knew who he was!

Oh, I almost forgot: shelf by shelf I am cleaning out the number of books in my library.  It is 19 feet long by 7 shelves high.  I am donating the rejects to the public library.

Here's hoping you all have a lovely SUMMER!

Love ya, Linda

Terry (Max) Maxwell

I think it's hot about everywhere right now. Has been in the mid 90s up here in Wisconsin.  Hit 97° this afternoon.  Looks to stay this way through the week.

Plans for this summer...  We canceled a trip to Utah twice since this Covid mess.  Going to Steamboat Springs, CO to meet up with 4 of my college friends and wives. One lives in Seattle, one in Kansas, one in SC, one in Iowa and me in Wisconsin.  So it takes some planning to make it happen.  We try to meet somewhere once a year or so to talk smart and relive our college days.  Haven't been able to get together because of Covid.  Will be there for a week and then going from there to Utah and check out the National Parks.  Arches, Moab, Canyon Land, etc area. Hope to be home in about 2.5 weeks.  That's my main plan, rest of the time watching the 5 grandkids play baseball, softball, soccer and swimming meets.  Enjoy that part immensely!  Ages are 12 down to 7 years, so I am talking professional sports here!!!  Have a good summer everyone!