If you have trouble using the email program that comes up after clicking on one of the classmate email buttons, just hold your cursor over the button and the address should be shown somewhere on your screen that you can write down and use in your own email program.
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Helen (Lang) Wilhite
Helen and her husband, Milt, had dinner with Ben West and a few other friends at the El Dorado Golf Course restaurant recently, and enjoyed catching up with news about each other. Milt graduated from Wilson in 1954, and was an outstanding athlete on our baseball team.
02/10/26
Bette (Franks) Fineman
Bette's daughter, Erica, has let us know that her mom has later-stage dementia, and is not remembering her school years. She does remember, however, the times at the beach after school! Erica said, "She's hanging in there, but is not doing too well. Just wanted to keep in touch."
02/09/26
Robert Morrell Carmichael
Doug Noble called to let us know that his good friend, Bob, passed away on January 3, 2026, in Philadelphia where he has lived for quite a few years.
Bob was a very generous man who donated over $10,000 to our reunion committee over several decades to enable us to put on very good reunions. We actually turned down his additional offer for our 70th reunion because we already had plenty of money to buy the meals for all who attended.
02/09/26
Sue Ellen (Dikeman) Holleman
Sue Ellen is on a world cruise on the Queen Anne and promises to send pictures later. She also recommends this book, “Delivery Man,” by Rory Laverty, the son of her friend. It is a true, non-fiction account of events during WW2. The hero, Roy Matsumoto, was born in Japan and became an American citizen when his parents moved to the Long Beach area. He speaks of the “Pike” and went to LB Poly HS. Because he knew Japanese, he was recruited to be in the Intelligence unit when his American squadron was sent to Burma. It is hard to read because of all they went through then.
Now we are cruising off the west coast of Africa. We just left a port town where we went ashore for the day. We heard pre-school children singing in their town school (a “shack town” area), and they were adorable and happy when our group visited them. Then we ate lunch in the posher area on the Pacific Ocean where many of the employees of the mines live. Please give our classmates my best wishes. We are approaching the Maldives tomorrow and later in the trip we will be in Manila. We did get to swim in the Indian Ocean yesterday on our land tour.
Cheers, Sue Ellen 02/14/26
Alan Heywood
Sorry that I couldn’t attend the most recent reunion in October. My wife, Karen, was recovering from a 2nd knee replacement, and traveling from Oregon would have been somewhat difficult.
Thanksgiving and Christmas found us sharing with family and 6 of my 9 grandkids. In January, Karen and I flew to Maui to celebrate my 88th birthday. We have been visiting Maui for more than 50 years and have shared many adventures there with my children and grandchildren.
On this trip, Karen and I enjoyed two sailing trips. The first sail included a Whale Watch where we were treated to many, many humpback whales, including a mother and baby calf that swam between the two hulls of our boat. Many whales would surface and then dive, with their tales slapping the surface and making a loud cracking sound.
Our second sail was a 6-hour snorkel trip to 2 locations on Leeward Maul. Great swarms of beautiful tropical fish everywhere. On the return to Ma’alaea Harbor, we lucked out and sighted several humpbacks breaching almost out of the water, spouting water and air out of their blow holes. Wow, what a sight!
We also visited one of our favorite places for lunch, the upcountry Ulupalakua Ranch Market. Great views.
Birthday dinner at Leilani’s on the beach at Whalers Village in Ka’anapali on our last night completed our trip.
The local whether report indicated it was the coldest, low ever recorded for this time of year, at 65 degrees. That seemed much warmer than the 35-45 degree low we experienced we arrived home.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Best regards, Alan 02/17/26
Jim Marvin Short
We received a text last night from his son, Guy, that Jim passed away at home earlier that evening.
He was a great friend and a longtime member of our reunion committee. Many of us will miss his friendliness and humor.
02/27/26
Jim suffered two heart attacks and had a 100% blockage of a carotid artery removed over a month ago. He spent several weeks in a rehab center before being allowed to return to his home in Long Beach this week.
He was provided with a 24-hour caregiver taking very good care of him in addition to frequent visits from his sons, Todd and Guy. Here he is in his recliner, keeping warm with his USMC blanket and hat, although he is quite weak.
02/24/26
Gerry Peters
I just wanted to let you know that my beautiful wife of 37 years went to be with her LORD last night (Sunday, Mar. 1) at 9:00. Marilyn was the light of my life, and I will miss her so much, but I know that she is resting in the arms of Jesus now. All suffering and pain are gone, and she is jumping for joy and renewing old friendships. I don't know what I will do without her, but I do know that I will see her again in the not-too-distant future. I am 88 and on the way to heaven myself.
03/05/26
Sue Ellen (Dikeman) Holleman
Our ship was in port in Manila 2 days ago. We are now cruising toward Bali. My daughter was in Manila as an exchange student in high school, so I took lots of photos for her. Manila looks small compared to Singapore and Hong Kong, but I enjoyed the area we saw very much. The American Cemetery there reminded me of Normandy, France---so dignified but sad. The murals of the battles of WW2 done in mosaic were well done. We also went to the cathedral and the fort built when the Spanish were there, and
a Spanish mansion that is now a museum. Our lecturer for Road Scholar is now doing talks on Buddism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity and Judaism. We have visited many temples of each belief along the way.
I am sorry to know about the deaths of our friends and classmates. I remember them well. Here, in our RS group, I am the eldest, which is kind of startling! The Queen Anne is cruising along well and is such a comfortable and beautiful ship. Please give our friends my best wishes.
03/05/26
Carol (Nelson) Thomas
I’ve always enjoyed going on the Wilson website. Sometimes when you get old, you can’t always figure things out, but I’m always glad to hear about other people and what they’re doing and what’s happening.
When I was at Bible Study the other night they were talking about when they became Christians, and I said that I’ve been a Christian for 70 years. It started when I started LBCC and a young man at my college Bible study led me to the Lord. Just about that time, I became an LA Rams cheerleader. The Lord has been with me and Gary all these years, with me going through the different ministries.
I'm so thankful that I can still walk, but maybe not as fast. I can talk, which I do a lot of, and my driving is good. (I have my driver's license, which won't be renewed until I'm 96 years old!) Thanks for the news about our fellow students, whom we haven't seen in years.
03/05/26
Nelda (McMichael) Gruenthal
Reading the letters from classmates brings up some memories. Sorry to hear of more passings. We are at that stage of life. I remember Bob Carmichael. I always wondered if we were related in the far past (Carmichael ... McMichael) Scots/Irish.
Alan Heywood’s visits to Maui reminds me that one of my grandsons lives on Maui and is in partnership owning and running Stillwell’s Bakery and Cafe in Wailuku, Maui (breakfast and lunch).
He is back living in Lahaina after losing his condo in the fire. He and his dog couch and hotel surfed until recently. If any of our remaining classmates visit Maui, and have a chance, pay Matthew Portilla a visit, be sure to tell him that his favorite grandma sent you.
Sue Ellen (Dikeman) Holleman reminds me that my deceased husband, Frank, and I cruised all over the world too, just not all at once. We also went down the west coast of Africa (when visiting some of those countries was still safe), ending up in South Africa where we took a safari in Kruger Park. Some years earlier, we toured all around Kenya. Imagine taking an outdoor shower from a bucket. Wonderful experiences. I’m so pleased Sue Ellen has been able to travel as much as she has. I enjoy her letters as well as all the others.
My traveling has come to a halt, especially having to go through LAX. I’ll be reaching 90 in October, and even though I’m pretty healthy, traveling is very difficult.
Right now I’m enjoying life right here in Camarillo. My sister, Judy, and I get along (thankfully), I am blessed by daughters who dote on me, and friends are close by to have lunch with. I can’t ask for more.
My best to all our classmates. Keep writing those letters, I love reading them.
Hugs, Nelda 03/05/26
Later update:
We have left Bali and are now heading to Darwin and then to Sydney. My brother, John Dikeman and Susan, are having health issues so I am hoping to be with them in the short time we are there.
