Our very successful and fun filled lunches continue...with the next one scheduled for Nov 13th at Jimmies of Mint Hill!
-Ed
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Wednesday, October 03, 2018
CHS'54, "LDL" is Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 11:30
Inbox
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11:33 AM (6 hours ago)
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Our usual disclaimer (and vision test)...This message is being sent to all CHS'54 classmates for whom we have an E-mail address. We recognize that many of you live great distances away and may not elect to "do lunch", but we want you to know what we are doing and hope you'll come when you can.You may have heard that it's always the second Tuesday of each and every month.This month's "LDL" (Let's do lunch) is to be held on...Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 11:30 @ Jimmies Restaurant in Mint Hill.Please tell other classmates! Invite them to come! Even better, bring someone with you!We'd really like to see you and sure hope you'll come!
Wednesday, September 05, 2018
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Eyesight
Hi folks!
I wont be posting much anymore.only because of my failing eyesight.
Otherwise, my health is great....I'm enjoying life up here in Falls Church...with all my family close by. LIFE IS GOOD!
Ill still be reading all my emails, etc....just not posting much anymore....
But I'm still here....surrounded by wife, children and grandchildren.
LIFE IS GOOD!
Keep those cards and letter (and emails) coming!
My best to you all!!
Ed and his evil twin brother Lee
I wont be posting much anymore.only because of my failing eyesight.
Otherwise, my health is great....I'm enjoying life up here in Falls Church...with all my family close by. LIFE IS GOOD!
Ill still be reading all my emails, etc....just not posting much anymore....
But I'm still here....surrounded by wife, children and grandchildren.
LIFE IS GOOD!
Keep those cards and letter (and emails) coming!
My best to you all!!
Ed and his evil twin brother Lee
Thursday, August 09, 2018
Warren Sparrow's WEEKLY READER
The Weakly Reader
Volume IV, Number 1
1 August 2018
Forest City, North Carolina
Time Traveler
Soon I will be 82, having lived a charmed life ever since that first morning at St. Peter’s
Hospital in Charlotte. It was August 13, 1936. Mind you, my life has not been without setbacks.
In fact, my daughter Dora died unexpectedly last November, three days after her 52d birthday
and two days after outpatient surgery to repair a ligament on her left knee. With heavy hearts her
children and the rest of our family soldier on.
At this moment, more than eight months after Dora’s death, things are going quite well.
There have been some big changes: Mary Sandra and I were married on January 8, 2018. Four
months later I sold the Winston-Salem house where I had lived for 46 years. Clearing it out was
a major accomplishment, achieved through the unselfish efforts of family and friends.
Most of the remnants of my life are resting five miles from Forest City in a “climate-
controlled” facility patriotically named “All American Storage.” Last week I retrieved from
there an old scrap book, one with smelly, crumbling pages. You know what I mean. You turn a
page, its edge flakes off. Nevertheless, I kept turning. Every story I had written in 1950 for The
Charlotte Observer is glued to those brittle pages.
The stories are about football games played by A.G., Piedmont, Harding and Tech. Here
are some of the headlines:
Harding’s Juniors Bump A. G., 13-0
Graham Down Tech’s Wolves By 6-0 Margin
Piedmont Drops Bulldogs, 18-7, In Junior Tilt
BULLDOGS SPANK PANTHERS, 14-0
Baby Rams Are Junior Champions
2
Then there are the names within the stories: Ed Myers, Alton Widenhouse, Neil Jones,
Bobby Wells, Jack Campbell, Buddy Matthews, Johnny Thomason, Bobby Hord, Louis Farmer,
Bud Witherspoon, Jimmy Rowland, Donnie Cates, Marion Justice and more.
Here are the lineups for the second game of the 1950 season between Piedmont and A. G.
as they appeared in The Observer:
Piedmont Pos. A. G.
Matthews LE Hurt
Kidd LT Johnson
Householder LG Norman
Brazzell Center Broadway
Shaver RG Richardson
Evans RT Farmer
Moss RE Stone
Campbell QB Hord
Myers LH Polk
Widenhouse RH Foard
Burris FB Thomason
Like the song says, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end….”
But, end they did. We moved on. Sixty-eight years after Harding won the championship and
Johnny Thomason played for A.G., it is more important than ever to keep moving.
This is not always easy. Fortunately, I am in fairly good health even though my arthritic
knees limit my mobility. It has been a year since I played tennis. “Couch potato” best describes
my exercise routine. A weekly stroll through the grocery store is about all I can handle.
One of my favorite “pastimes” is TV. Did you see Peter Sellers in his final movie, Being
There? He watched much TV. So do I, including a daily dose of Wheel of Fortune. “What are
you doing?” is one of the show’s categories. I would like to know, “What are you doing?”
Meanwhile, here is what I have been doing…. Eating and sleeping well, paying bills
when they come due and making car payments (lease) for the first time in almost 15 years. Life
is good for Mary Sandra and me. The old Winston-Salem Victorian barn I bought in 1972 was
sold on May 18, 2018. It was on the market three hours when a bankruptcy judge and her
husband (school teacher) made an offer to purchase it. After some haggling, the realtors closed
the deal. I lived in Winston-Salem for almost 56 years.
Freed from the heavy chain associated with a 114-year-old house, Mary Sandra and I
quickly went off the deep end. For openers, we leased a new car. The Winston-Salem dealer
delivered it to our Forest City door on the day after July 4 th . For us old people it is no ordinary
car. It is a 2018 Accord Sport. Having gone off the deep end, naturally we needed a blue car.
3
So, the car is blue, not gray, white or black. It is not Carolina blue. Far from it. It is what I call
Aquafina Blue. My friends say we will have no trouble finding it in a parking lot.
We wasted no time in trying out the car. After all, we had leased the car without ever
seeing it. On the day after the car was delivered, we drove it to Asheville, which is about 60
miles from Forest City. We had dinner at the Stable Café in the Biltmore House. Our goal was
to see the Chihuly glass sculptures. Unfortunately, it rained. Gene Kelly, who delighted in
singing in the rain, would have enjoyed dancing around the Biltmore grounds that evening.
Mary Sandra and I were less enthusiastic but we still marveled at Chihuly’s unique artistry.
The following week we gave Aquafina a big ride… to Chesterfield, MO, and
back—1,404 miles. We cut the trip into two segments. Our way station was Lexington, KY,
where we were treated to dinner by Randy Barker who is a retired advertising guy. Many years
ago Randy worked for the Winston-Salem ad agency that created the Joe Namath pantyhose TV
ad. Remember?
Chesterfield, a St. Louis suburb, is the home of my oldest daughter Cathy Peele and her
husband Alex. While in Chesterfield we got to see all 10 midwestern members of the family.
The stars of the event were Brock Krier, my 2-year-old great grandson, and Kate Kinkade, my 7-
month-old great granddaughter. There is nothing like a 2-year-old in a baby pool, especially on
a 97-degree day. It was a joyous time, making the drive well worth it.
One final note: Thank you for joining me in this “backward glance.” Hopefully, it has
been unlike the one Vaughn Monroe told Ballerina she could not afford. “Go on with your
career,” he advised her. Yes, “go on” is what we all do. Fear not. Try the deep end. Go see
Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again. Just think: If your car is Aquafina, it will be so easy to get out
of the parking lot.
Cheers!
Volume IV, Number 1
1 August 2018
Forest City, North Carolina
Time Traveler
Soon I will be 82, having lived a charmed life ever since that first morning at St. Peter’s
Hospital in Charlotte. It was August 13, 1936. Mind you, my life has not been without setbacks.
In fact, my daughter Dora died unexpectedly last November, three days after her 52d birthday
and two days after outpatient surgery to repair a ligament on her left knee. With heavy hearts her
children and the rest of our family soldier on.
At this moment, more than eight months after Dora’s death, things are going quite well.
There have been some big changes: Mary Sandra and I were married on January 8, 2018. Four
months later I sold the Winston-Salem house where I had lived for 46 years. Clearing it out was
a major accomplishment, achieved through the unselfish efforts of family and friends.
Most of the remnants of my life are resting five miles from Forest City in a “climate-
controlled” facility patriotically named “All American Storage.” Last week I retrieved from
there an old scrap book, one with smelly, crumbling pages. You know what I mean. You turn a
page, its edge flakes off. Nevertheless, I kept turning. Every story I had written in 1950 for The
Charlotte Observer is glued to those brittle pages.
The stories are about football games played by A.G., Piedmont, Harding and Tech. Here
are some of the headlines:
Harding’s Juniors Bump A. G., 13-0
Graham Down Tech’s Wolves By 6-0 Margin
Piedmont Drops Bulldogs, 18-7, In Junior Tilt
BULLDOGS SPANK PANTHERS, 14-0
Baby Rams Are Junior Champions
2
Then there are the names within the stories: Ed Myers, Alton Widenhouse, Neil Jones,
Bobby Wells, Jack Campbell, Buddy Matthews, Johnny Thomason, Bobby Hord, Louis Farmer,
Bud Witherspoon, Jimmy Rowland, Donnie Cates, Marion Justice and more.
Here are the lineups for the second game of the 1950 season between Piedmont and A. G.
as they appeared in The Observer:
Piedmont Pos. A. G.
Matthews LE Hurt
Kidd LT Johnson
Householder LG Norman
Brazzell Center Broadway
Shaver RG Richardson
Evans RT Farmer
Moss RE Stone
Campbell QB Hord
Myers LH Polk
Widenhouse RH Foard
Burris FB Thomason
Like the song says, “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end….”
But, end they did. We moved on. Sixty-eight years after Harding won the championship and
Johnny Thomason played for A.G., it is more important than ever to keep moving.
This is not always easy. Fortunately, I am in fairly good health even though my arthritic
knees limit my mobility. It has been a year since I played tennis. “Couch potato” best describes
my exercise routine. A weekly stroll through the grocery store is about all I can handle.
One of my favorite “pastimes” is TV. Did you see Peter Sellers in his final movie, Being
There? He watched much TV. So do I, including a daily dose of Wheel of Fortune. “What are
you doing?” is one of the show’s categories. I would like to know, “What are you doing?”
Meanwhile, here is what I have been doing…. Eating and sleeping well, paying bills
when they come due and making car payments (lease) for the first time in almost 15 years. Life
is good for Mary Sandra and me. The old Winston-Salem Victorian barn I bought in 1972 was
sold on May 18, 2018. It was on the market three hours when a bankruptcy judge and her
husband (school teacher) made an offer to purchase it. After some haggling, the realtors closed
the deal. I lived in Winston-Salem for almost 56 years.
Freed from the heavy chain associated with a 114-year-old house, Mary Sandra and I
quickly went off the deep end. For openers, we leased a new car. The Winston-Salem dealer
delivered it to our Forest City door on the day after July 4 th . For us old people it is no ordinary
car. It is a 2018 Accord Sport. Having gone off the deep end, naturally we needed a blue car.
3
So, the car is blue, not gray, white or black. It is not Carolina blue. Far from it. It is what I call
Aquafina Blue. My friends say we will have no trouble finding it in a parking lot.
We wasted no time in trying out the car. After all, we had leased the car without ever
seeing it. On the day after the car was delivered, we drove it to Asheville, which is about 60
miles from Forest City. We had dinner at the Stable Café in the Biltmore House. Our goal was
to see the Chihuly glass sculptures. Unfortunately, it rained. Gene Kelly, who delighted in
singing in the rain, would have enjoyed dancing around the Biltmore grounds that evening.
Mary Sandra and I were less enthusiastic but we still marveled at Chihuly’s unique artistry.
The following week we gave Aquafina a big ride… to Chesterfield, MO, and
back—1,404 miles. We cut the trip into two segments. Our way station was Lexington, KY,
where we were treated to dinner by Randy Barker who is a retired advertising guy. Many years
ago Randy worked for the Winston-Salem ad agency that created the Joe Namath pantyhose TV
ad. Remember?
Chesterfield, a St. Louis suburb, is the home of my oldest daughter Cathy Peele and her
husband Alex. While in Chesterfield we got to see all 10 midwestern members of the family.
The stars of the event were Brock Krier, my 2-year-old great grandson, and Kate Kinkade, my 7-
month-old great granddaughter. There is nothing like a 2-year-old in a baby pool, especially on
a 97-degree day. It was a joyous time, making the drive well worth it.
One final note: Thank you for joining me in this “backward glance.” Hopefully, it has
been unlike the one Vaughn Monroe told Ballerina she could not afford. “Go on with your
career,” he advised her. Yes, “go on” is what we all do. Fear not. Try the deep end. Go see
Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again. Just think: If your car is Aquafina, it will be so easy to get out
of the parking lot.
Cheers!
No Way....Jose
Memory problem?
No way, Jose......not me!
OK...so I didn't remember where I parked my car yesterday at the Mall. Big deal.
I may not walk as fast as I used to....and find myself making mental notes of where the benches are at the shopping mall....
but.....there's noting wrong with my memory!
Heck, as my Daddy used to say, "Ed, you're strong as an Ox....and almost as smart!"
Nope, I may have my share of "old Man problems".....but "Memory" is is not one of them.
I remember during WW2....seeing POWs being trucked down East 5th street ...on ttheir way to work on the farms...outside of Charlotte. I would wave...and they would wave back.
I remember going to the "Ice House" with my Dad on Sunday afternoons when he would run out of cigarettes….(those Ice Houses later morphed into 7-11's,
I remember putting empty milk bottles on the porch for the "milkman" to swap for full bottles of milk.
I remember wax whistles....filled with some kind of sweet lliquid.
I remember a CHS football player....in a class a fouple of years ahead of us...named "Peanut Parker" who ran all over the opposing teams .
I remember how great the CHS bands were and how impressive their halftime shows wre at football games.
I remember one of the last horse drqwn wagons to drive up past my house on the way to "up Town."
No. I may be "getting up there".....in age....and had a little difficulty finding my car in the Mall parking lot....the other day....
But memory problems?
No way, Jose!
Ed
No
No way, Jose......not me!
OK...so I didn't remember where I parked my car yesterday at the Mall. Big deal.
I may not walk as fast as I used to....and find myself making mental notes of where the benches are at the shopping mall....
but.....there's noting wrong with my memory!
Heck, as my Daddy used to say, "Ed, you're strong as an Ox....and almost as smart!"
Nope, I may have my share of "old Man problems".....but "Memory" is is not one of them.
I remember during WW2....seeing POWs being trucked down East 5th street ...on ttheir way to work on the farms...outside of Charlotte. I would wave...and they would wave back.
I remember going to the "Ice House" with my Dad on Sunday afternoons when he would run out of cigarettes….(those Ice Houses later morphed into 7-11's,
I remember putting empty milk bottles on the porch for the "milkman" to swap for full bottles of milk.
I remember wax whistles....filled with some kind of sweet lliquid.
I remember a CHS football player....in a class a fouple of years ahead of us...named "Peanut Parker" who ran all over the opposing teams .
I remember how great the CHS bands were and how impressive their halftime shows wre at football games.
I remember one of the last horse drqwn wagons to drive up past my house on the way to "up Town."
No. I may be "getting up there".....in age....and had a little difficulty finding my car in the Mall parking lot....the other day....
But memory problems?
No way, Jose!
Ed
No
Tuesday, August 07, 2018
LDL August 14 !
|
Thursday, July 05, 2018
LDL July 10th !
By Jerry Gaudet
Wow! Half the year has passed! You don't want to miss the next "LDL"."LDL" (Let's do lunch) will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 11:30 AM at "Jimmies" Restaurant in Mint Hill.
We'd like to see you. Please help spread the word! Invite other classmates to come! Even better, bring someone with you! Just be sure YOU, come!This link may help you find your way: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Jimmie%27s ,+Mint+Hill,+NC&fb=1&cid=18354 106434370977171&li=lmd&z=14&t= m
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Father's Day
I'm not a fan of those :nade up" holidays such as "Mother's Day, Father's Day, Love your Cat Day"....etc. I consider them just more "made up" days to get us "sheeple" to spend more money.
Bah, Humbug....
However, this year, my daughter presented me with two gifts....that touched my hard heart so deeply...that it …..almost literally …..melted.
"What in the world...could affect a cantankerous, senile, old man.....like that?....you ask.
Good question. After all, I'm 83 and a half years old..."I've been to some big towns, heard me some big talk...….etc "
Well, I'll tell you:....
The gift was.....
It was...…(forgive me, I'm tearing up)….
It was...….
A SIX PACK OF RC COLAS......AND A BOX OF MOON PIES!
Life is good!
-Ed
Bah, Humbug....
However, this year, my daughter presented me with two gifts....that touched my hard heart so deeply...that it …..almost literally …..melted.
"What in the world...could affect a cantankerous, senile, old man.....like that?....you ask.
Good question. After all, I'm 83 and a half years old..."I've been to some big towns, heard me some big talk...….etc "
Well, I'll tell you:....
The gift was.....
It was...…(forgive me, I'm tearing up)….
It was...….
A SIX PACK OF RC COLAS......AND A BOX OF MOON PIES!
Life is good!
-Ed
Deep Thinkers
Authors, including Charlotte's own Harry Galden, have written about it for years.
It's one of the most important questions mankind has been asking for thousands of years...and, no doubt, will be asking til the end of time.
Unlike the questions philosophers usually concentrate on....like "Why are we here?..etc….etc...
This most often asked question has ...not just one.....but many answers!
Think about it...…..
Keep thinking...……..
Keep on thinking.....….
Give up yet?
Well, the answer is..………
"What's for dinner?"
-Ed
It's one of the most important questions mankind has been asking for thousands of years...and, no doubt, will be asking til the end of time.
Unlike the questions philosophers usually concentrate on....like "Why are we here?..etc….etc...
This most often asked question has ...not just one.....but many answers!
Think about it...…..
Keep thinking...……..
Keep on thinking.....….
Give up yet?
Well, the answer is..………
"What's for dinner?"
-Ed
Monday, June 18, 2018
Shirley Ann Carswell Foster
(1935 - 2018) |
|
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Obituary
 Shirley Ann Carswell Foster, 82, of Albemarle passed away Thursday, June 14, 2018 at Bethany Woods. Her memorial service will be 3 PM Monday, June 18, 2018 at Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church in Kannapolis with Rev. Don Burleyson officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 2:45 PM at the church prior to the service. Born July 19, 1935 in Catawba County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Elbert Carson Carswell and Winfred Oxford Carswell. She was a graduate of Central High School in Charlotte and worked as a Nursing Secretary at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Mrs. Foster attended Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church. Her family was very important to her and she made a point to attend all her children's sporting and special events and later, her grandchildren's sporting and special events. She even retired early in order to keep her grandchildren while their parents worked. She loved beach music and loved to dance the Shag with her husband. She was also a devoted Tarheel fan. Mrs. Foster was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Edward Foster in 1996. Survivors include son Robin Lamar Foster of Charlotte, daughters Jan Foster Burleyson (Don) of Albemarle and Jill Foster Karam (Eddie) of Huntersville, grandchildren Hope Kilgo, Brad Kilgo, and Wilson Karam, brother-in-law George Foster (Cheryl) and nephew Alan Foster. She was preceded in death by a sister Edith Grady and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mitch and Bunny Foster. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Bethany Woods for their love and compassionate care of Mrs. Foster. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 3152 Little Road, Suite 146 Trinity, Florida 34655 or online at http://www. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is entrusted with arrangements. | |
Thursday, June 14, 2018
116th !
By Jerry Gaudet
The Class of 1954 gathered to celebrate Charlotte Central High School of years ago for the 116th time at Jimmie's Restaurant in Mint Hill.
We remembered Shirley Maynor for having started our luncheons.
Following a week when we learned of the passing of two of our classmates, we read the days attendance roll asking "what these names had in common".
Marlene Beaty, Sylvia & Vic Brawley, Clyde Burnett, Carolyn & Harold Cullingford, Johnny Culp, Robert Dodge, Pat & Jerry Gaudet, Jo Anne & Joe King, Betty Palomba, Ronnie Pourlos, Willis Rimmer, Nancy and Al Selby, and Jean & Charlie Willis.
Johnny Culp had the answer, " We're all alive". And, doing the best that we can.
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Monday, June 11, 2018
LaVerne Helms Sizemore Passes
LaVerne Helms Sizemore (1936 - 2018) |
|
Obituary
 LaVerne Helms Sizemore of Charlotte, NC went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday June 8, 2018. She was born in Charlotte the daughter of the late Hurley S. Helms and Alma Garland Helms.LaVerne was raised in Charlotte and graduated from Central High School. Following graduation she went to work for Southern Bell until her retirement. After retiring LaVerne stayed active with lifelong friends and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Hurley Jr., Jimmy and Ed. LaVerne is survived by her son Michael and his wife Alice; daughter Lisa Stogner and her husband Jeff; grandchildren Cameron and Summer; and great-grandchild Cameron Jr. Her family will receive friends Monday June 11, 2018 from 11:00 AM until noon in the chapel of Sharon Memorial Park Mausoleum, 5716 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212. Funeral service will be at noon. Entombment will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests you get together with lifelong friends and enjoy a meal with LaVerne's favorite, Coke a Cola or just spend time together listening to Elvis music. Arrangements are in the care of McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park. www.mcewenfs.com | |
Saturday, June 09, 2018
Charles Sweitzer
By Jerry Gaudet
With great sadness we learn of the passing of classmate Charles Sweitzer, who died on June 7, 2018. No details available at this time.
We have the following contact information for his widow:
Mrs. Donna Sweitzer
Friday, June 08, 2018
LDL Tuesday June 12 !
Here comes the next "LDL" (Let's do lunch) ! It's to be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 11:30 AM
at "Jimmie's" Restaurant in Mint Hill.Please tell other classmates! Invite them to come! Even better, bring someone with you!We'd really like to see you and sure hope you'll come!This link may help you find your way: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Jimmie%27s ,+Mint+Hill,+NC&fb=1&cid=18354 106434370977171&li=lmd&z=14&t= m
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