Shelby Pillow:
CLASS OF 1955
Le Claire High SchoolClass of 1955
Le claire, IA
Shelby's Story
Life
Life since graduation has been busy. Immediately after graduation, I went to work at the Bottled Gas Corporation in Bettendorf and later at Alcoa. (see workplace bio)
In the latter part of 1955 I met a very handsome young man with a beautiful dramatic tenor voice named Paul Pillow and I married him in June of 1957. Paul is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and for most of our married life we have been in active church ministry, a good part of it pastoring churches in various states, (Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado) to name a few. Because of his voice, Paul has been much in demand to supply special music for clubs and social events, as well as church services. I spent those years fulfilling the duties of a pastor's wife which were many. (see workplace bio). We have lived in some very beautiful and interesting places.
We have three beautiful daughters. Darla, the oldest, is married, and lives in Roanoke, VA. She has three children. Kim, the middle child, is divorced, and lives near us in Utah. She is partially disabled. She has one son. Terri, the youngest, had two sons. She lost her youngest son, Seth, in January of this year. He died very suddenly at the age of 21 from a birth defect (heart) which had gone undetected all these years. Seth was the picture of health, good looking, over 6 ft, very talented musically. There are some things we simply don't understand. Terri is a registered nurse. She will be taking classes this year towards her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. She is a charge nurse on the oncology ward at present. Terri was voted "Nurse of the Year" at her hospital this year.
We also have six great-grandchildren.
After retiring from pastoral ministry, (Boulder was our last pastorate), we moved to Lafayette, CO. and did weekend and fill-in ministry. I took a position at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder and worked there for eight years. (See workplace bio)
In 1998 we moved to Greeley, CO where we bought a home. Paul went to work in a local church as Senior's Pastor and we also did weekend and fill-in ministry. (Once a minister, always a minister). We loved our "little house on the prairie" but were forced to sell it and move to Orem, Utah when Paul became ill with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) and could no longer minister nor take care of the lawn and house. Our daughter, Terri, provides us with an apartment in her house and she helps with her fathers care. We thank our Heavenly Father for each good day, and we pray He will give us a few more years together.
Our pets are also a real part of our family. We have a Min-Pin by the name of Nikki. He loves to bark at anything that moves and most things that don't. Minature Pinschers are not to be confused with dobermans. They are a breed in their own right. Nikki is a stag red in color as opposed to the more conventional black and tan. He is a fun little dog. He also has been a real help to us. My husband's illness causes him to lose his balance and fall often. One day when I was gone and Paul was alone in the apartment, he fell and couldn't get up. Nikki began to bark and Paul told him to "go get Terri". He barked and ran back and forth to the door of the apartment, barking all the while, until Terri heard him and realized something was wrong and came to the rescue.
We also have a very talkative little parak...Expand for more
eet named Noah. He loves to jump out at you and yell. Some of his favorite phrases are, "Hi There" "How are you" "What are you doing" "Are you a ditsy bird" and then he will laugh hysterically.
Life has had its ups and downs; joys, and its share of sorrow. But we are thankful that we have the Lord's hand guiding us and we trust out future to Him.
School
I remember my school days at LeClaire as happy and carefree days with my friends. I liked school. I liked to study. Therefore I got good grades and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1955.
Our schooldays were untouched by the senseless violence of a Columbine or Paducah. They were,for the most part, carefree days where the hardest thing we had to face was tomorrow's test or what to wear for Saturday night's date.
We received a good, basic education at LeClaire school from a fine teaching staff. They provided us with a good foundation for college or for whatever life we chose after graduation.
College
Everyone thought I would go - and I didn't! But I did look into it. I looked into the University of Iowa with a major in Journalism. I also looked in to taking Bible classes at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But, marriage and children got in the way.
Workplace
My first work out of high school was at the Bottled Gas Corporation in Bettendorf. I remember them most for the sense of "family". They were a wonderful bunch of people to work for. But when Alcoa called with a better position, I accepted the call to their Planning Dept. Later, I was promoted to a secretarial position in one of the laboratories where I had my own office. I kept this position until the birth of my first child.
After that, most of my years were spent fulfilling the duties of a pastor's wife: teaching, Bible Studies, Sunday School, Midweek Services, Women's Meetings; playing the organ for church services; running the church office, and the many other duties required of a pastor's wife.
After retiring from pastoring, I took a position at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) a part of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) partially funded by the National Science Foundation. NCAR is located on the mesa above Boulder. There is a lot of wildlife on the mesa including deer, coyote and mountain lion. This was a fascinating place to work. Scientists and dignitaries from all over the world come to NCAR to study and research the weather. I thoroughly enjoyed this work. My duties included helping to arrange meetings and conferences, setting up security for important guests, running the Mesa Laboratory Bank, procuring and dispensing the payroll for the annual influx of students, and providing and keeping track of the petty cash fund for the 1200 scientists and other employees of the Mesa Laboratory. From the dignitary walking through the front door, to the doe with her fawn eating the shrubbery outside the window, to the prairie rattlesnake in the breakroom downstairs, there was never a dull moment.
I had a few parttime positions over the years. Nothing too exciting. I did drive school bus. Driving a 72-passenger school bus can be a challenge especially if you are only 5 ft tall. But, yes, I could see over the steering wheel!
On February 21, 2009 Paul went home to be with the Lord. He is greatly missed. We had been married for almost 52 years.
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