Wilma Lewis:
CLASS OF 1956
Anchorage High SchoolClass of 1956
Anchorage, AK
King's Garden Junior High SchoolClass of 1952
Seattle, WA
Central Junior High SchoolClass of 1951
Anchorage, AK
Denali Elementary SchoolClass of 1950
Anchorage, AK
First Presbyterian KindergartenClass of 1944
Anchorage, AK
Wilma's Story
Life
Just got through reading my last entry only to find that it was written in 2006 when I was home for my 50th reunion. Since that was 4 years ago, guess it's past time for an update.
2010: We went home to Anchorage last year but won't make it this summer. We are planning a trip to Mexico this fall but when we do go home, we like to stay all summer and just don't feel that we can do two lenghty trips so close together.
Two of our boys (#'s 1 and 2) came for visits last summer (2009) but did not come together. Kevin (#2) came in mid-June and it rained and the wind blew hard the entire week he was here. Kenny (#1) came several days after Kevin left and the weather was absolutely beautiful during his stay. At this point, I guess I should tell you that every time Kevin got into trouble growing up and was punished, he somehow got the idea that his mother liked his older brother better than she did him. Now, he's convinced that Oregon feels the same way about him so he says he's never coming back. We'll see!!
Of course, it probably didn't help that I always gave the kids a number to indicate the oder of their births so it would be easier when I was telling someone about them or when I introduced them to others. Now, Kenny (the oldest) lords it over the others in an effort to make them think that he is special because he's #1.
Chuck and I had our 50th wedding anniversary this past March but since Chuck runs with scissors and doesn't play well with others, no celebration was planned.
Truth is that since all our friends and family are in Alaska, we will delay our celebration till we go home next summer (2011). All the boys sent cards, flowers, Alaska Wild Berry Products, Reindeer Sausage and called to let us knwo that they hadn't forgotten us. We also had our 50th announcement placed in the Anchorage newspaper and several friends we had lost touch with years ago happend to see it and got back in touch, so that was a nice and welcome surprise.
We have an ex-sister-in-law whom I've never met even though we grew up together. Chuck had met her several times while she was married to his brother but I never had. She currently lives in Phoenix but had rented a time-share in Washington State for a couple of months and asked us if we could come up and spend a few days with her. Her time-share was on Anderson Island close to her son's job at McNeil Island Prison where he works as a Corrections Officer.
The only way to get to the island is by ferry from Steilacoom, WA. We were first in line in one of the car lanes on the ferry so we had a good view and I got some great pictures. The weather cooperated so we had plenty of sunshine but Peggy's rental had no air conditioning so when the tempertures climbed into the high 90's, we spent some time driving around this little island just trying to keep cool in the air conditioned car. I do have to say here that I am glad that we had enough gas in the car to accomodate our efforts to keep cool as there are no gas stations on the island at all. As a matter of fact, the only businesses this island bo...Expand for more
asts are a small "mom & pop" type grocery store and an Espresso shop so the prices are outrageous to boot. It was a great trip and one I will certainly want to do again.
That pretty much brings my story up to date for the time being so IIf anything more should come to mind in the meantime that might prove of some interest, I'll be sure and try to remember to post it.
School
Looking back, I regret that I did not take more of an interest in school activities. I began working when I was 14 and worked most of my highschool years so I didn't have much time for extra curricular activities.
I did, however, join the band as a member of the majorettes and enjoyed my participation with that group very much.
I have fond memories of a lot of the students, some teachers, various games (basketball, football), proms and sock hops.
Being a 'people person' I enjoyed the comradery that school affored me but being a hyper-active person, sitting hour after hour did not rate high on my list of favorites although it definitely topped that other list!!
I attended the 20th,30th and 50th year class reunions and was on the organizing committee for all of them. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones. I am definitely looking forward to more class reunions.
Workplace
I began working at the age of 14. My first employment was with an Interior Decorator named Mel Kohler. I was employed as his Office Assistant/Receptionist.
When school started that fall, I went to work at Snow White Laundry and Cleaners during the week and at night and on the weekends, worked at the Denali Theater. I then worked for Sunbeam Real Estate for one summer and again at the theater at night and on weekends.
When Jim Dandy's Drive Inn opened, I became one of Alaska's first car hops (summer and winter) working from 6:00p.m. until about 3:00a.m. and also continued to work weekends at the theater. I worked at Jim Dandy's for over 4 years.
After graduation, I worked one year for Northern Engineering as a Telephone Answering operator/2-way Radio and mobile telephone dispatcher. Upon leaving there, I worked the next 10 years for Communications Engineering doing pretty much the same thing as I did at Northern Engineering only on a much larger scale.
I finally decided that it was to my advantage to stay home and raise my kids myself and did not go back to work until I had the opportunity to do a temporary assignment at Kulis Air National Guard Base working as Base Receptionist and Secretary.
After that temporary status ended, I stayed home for a little over a year and then found another temporary job at Hope Cottages. This job started out as a temporary position but soon turned into a permanent position as Office Manager. I enjoyed my job there and worked with some of the best people and in the best work environment ever. I left that position because they decided to do away with my job and I would not only have been demoted but would not recieve the pay raise that was due to me for that year. All in all, I have good memories of my working life and most of the folks I have worked with.
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Reunions
Photos
