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Life member Joseph C. Speakman, age 86, of Pickerington, Ohio, passed away August 28, 2008. He was born in Minerva, Ohio, graduated from Mansfield Senior High School and received his Bachelors degree in Biology from Ashland University and his Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and retired after many years with the State of Ohio Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency where he worked on programs concerning land pollution control. He was a member of East Baptist Church in Whitehall and was a member of a number of health, military veteran, and university alumni organizations. Joe was a charter member of the "Families in Touch" organization and was instrumental in the success of the program. He is survived by his adoring wife of 63 years, Eleanor “Peggy” Speakman; children, Rebecca J. Crownover, Joseph M. (Sue) Speakman, and Jeffrey S. Speakman; grandchildren, Lisa (Dan) Zacharias, James Crownover, Joseph R. (Laura) Speakman, and Anne Speakman, all of whom he was extremely proud; nieces and nephews.
We were sorry to hear of the death of Ted and Bette Thomas’ sister-in-law in Texas, and the prolonged illness of Ted’s brother.
Bob Donaldson's elder daughter, Janet Manczak's daughter, Regan Manczak Jones and her husband Rob Jones made Bob a great grandfather for the first time, and he and Mary Ellen are delighted with the new baby. Ezra Sawyer Jones arrived on Sunday, June 29, 2008, at 2:25 a.m. after nearly 26 hours of labor and delivery! He is 7 lbs. 2 oz., 20 inches long, blonde hair and beautiful!
Love spoon carver and WSCO St. David’s Day seminar presenter, Chris Watkins, and his wife, Deborah, whom many of you met at the luncheon on March 1st this year, were expecting an addition to their family to arrive in the middle of September. No details at the time this newsletter went to the printer.
WSCO member and former board member Janice Davis retired at the end of March and goes around with a big smile on her face.
Life member Lilly Cranston, who is 98-years-young, celebrated her birthday for four days near the end of June at the Maui Sands Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. On hand to help her have a good time were: her son Tom Cranston and his wife Donna McNees; her daughter and husband Charlotte and Stanton Prior; the Prior’s sons Jim and Andrew; the Prior’s daughter Amy Littler and her sons Graham and Lawrence Joseph (L.J.). Besides splashing around at the waterpark, various members of the family made trips to Cedar Point and Put-in-Bay.
Instead of joining us for the WSCO bus trip, Ronda Griffith-Grubb and hubby, Charles, had tickets for “The Lion King” and spent the night in a castle in New Plymouth, Ohio, celebrating her birthday and their 19th wedding anniversary.
Lowell Kreeger retired recently and he and his wife are planning on re-locating soon. Lowell and Judy, a WSCO life member and sister of Evan Jones, won the unofficial prize for coming the longest distance of all the day-trippers on the August 31st WSCO bus trip – the Kreegers live in New Jersey.
When Ann and Jim Gillard left Chicago after NAFOW, they went on to Brown County, Indiana, to stay at the bed and breakfast near Nashville where they spent their honeymoon fifty-five years ago.
Llongyfarchiadau (congratulations) to each of you!
Welsh folk dancer and WSCO member Patti Jones had hand surgery in August. She is healing well and showed up at the Sept. 3rd dance class, but classmates were careful during a dance that involves clapping hands with your partner.
CWSS member Maria “Mabli” Agozinno was in Ireland for conferences in June and was in Boise on the day of the WSCO picnic.
Ace Welsh language coach for the CWSS, Shirley McKee, was sorely missed during the early months of the summer while she was visiting with her mother and then off to Cwrs Cymreig to broaden her knowledge of the Welsh language and polish up her pronunciation. Shirley has been the Cwrs Cymreig Registrar for several years.
Bob and Mary Ann Penry are a few steps closer to moving back to Ohio – they have their Florida house up for sale and have purchased land in the London area.
Member Highlights continued on page 6