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It was a bittersweet celebration as members of the Lake High School graduating
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| Gladys Perry |
class of 2010 received their diplomas at Owens Community College just days after their school was destroyed by a tornado.
The class chose as their motto, “Remember Yesterday, Live for Today, Dream for Tomorrow” – words that seemed especially apropos after the catastrophe the grads will remember for decades to come.
This past weekend, a small group of alumni who graduated from Lake seven decades ago got together to remember yesterday, catch up on their “todays” and to discuss plans for next year’s get-together.
Among the alumni from the Lake class of 1940 who got together July 24 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stony Ridge were Earl Schulte, Phyllis Belch, Gladys Perry and Mildred Ford. George Tighe, who started school with the group but moved away before graduation attended as a guest.
One classmate, Irwin Welling, was conspicuously absent. Welling and his wife, Alberna, were injured when their Millbury home was struck and destroyed by the tornado June 5. Irwin was unable to make the reunion because he was a patient at Mercy St. Charles Hospital for treatment unrelated to the tornado, but Alberna attended as a guest.
The graduates have been getting together annually for 15 years. At that time, 30 to 35 classmates and spouses generally attended according to Perry, who has been the primary organizer of the reunions.
“We used to meet at the Holiday Inn French Quarter, but as the numbers dwindled, it became too expensive,” Perry said. “About 10 years ago, Irwin (Welling) suggested meeting at St. John’s, and we’ve been there ever since.” As they marked the 70th anniversary of their graduation, those who remain from the class that numbered 36 graduates especially wanted to get together this year.
As she does every year, Perry, who is 88, designed a festive invitation for the occasion.
The reunion typically starts with a short business meeting and a memorial service to remember classmates who have passed away.
“This year, we didn’t have a memorial service,” Perry said. “As you would expect, the main topic of discussion was the tornado.
“It’s terrible what happened to the school,” said Perry, who served on the committee for construction of the “new” school building that was destroyed by the tornado. “But it’s one of those things that happen – something that we don’t have any control over.
“Like most of us, I went through school there,” she said. “The majority of us were farm kids. You might say we all grew up together.”
After a dinner prepared by Perry’s friend, Mary Kidd, the alumni enjoyed ice cream and cake, followed by a trip down Memory Lane. “I bring all of my albums of the photos that I have take in years past, and so do the rest, and we sit and talk,” Perry said.
“I always have a little gift for everyone to take home as a memento,” she said, adding that this year’s gift was a ring handcrafted by Mary Kidd.
As fun as it was, this year’s reunion could be the last – at least in its current format, Perry said. “If we decide to get together next year, we’ll probably do it at a restaurant – someplace with a small room where we can eat and then visit together for a couple three hours or so.”
“It’s always nice when we get together,” Perry said. “The girls in the class used to go out and have lunch together until some had to drop out because they couldn’t drive any more, or because of all the problems that befall us as we get older.”
Gladys Perry has been organizing the yearly gatherings for the Lake High School class of 1940 for the past 15 years. The alumni met for their 70-year reunion July 17 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stony Ridge. (Press photo by Tammy Walro)
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