In Memoriam

Walter Scott Benson Jr. H’36

died on Feb. 14, 2021, in Austin, Texas. He spent three years in England in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a squadron communications officer in the Eighth Air Force, achieving the rank of captain in 1944. After VE day, he married Francis Byrd Bolton. Walter received two degrees from The University of Texas, one in electrical engineering in 1948, after which he spent a short time in Pittsburgh working for Westinghouse. After graduation and lettering on The University of Texas 1938 Southwest Conference champion team, he spent his spare time developing his well known golf swing and participating in amateur golf tournaments in Austin. He won the 1956 Bill Drake trophy for being the best golfer in Austin.

Walter joined the family business as president of W.S. Benson & Company, Inc. Educational Publishers and was active in the business until 2003. He published many great public school textbook programs including: Our Expanding Vision and The Creative Eye with Kelly Fearing; and Handwriting for Communication with Lee Little Soldier. Late in the 1960s, Walter purchased some ranching property, revisiting his love of horses and starting a thoroughbred racing stable.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife Florence on Nov. 21, 2005, and granddaughter Courtney on March 26, 2003. He is survived by his son, Walter Scott Benson III, daughter Barbara Bolton Benson Padgett, and grandson Walter Scott Benson IV.

Robert Livingston Weil H’38

W’35 died on March 17, 2021, of natural causes. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Nebraska and attended summer sessions at Culver. He graduated from Yale University with high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

With the U.S. entrance into World War II, Bob’s class graduated early, and he completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. A few months later he was deployed to Morocco and Algeria, then on to Italy, surviving a troop ship sinking en route. After two and a half years of war service, he returned to the States. With his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Seidler, he moved to Seattle in 1947. After several years with Best’s Apparel, Bob was transferred to Portland as co-manager and when Nordstrom assumed ownership, he

became general manager and vice president, managing stores in Portland and Spokane. For his achievments, he was awarded the John W. Nordstrom honor, given each year to the top executive in the company.

After retiring in 1978, he consulted for clients in Oregon, Washington, and Montana, including four governors, and served on many civic and social boards of directors. With his deep interest in urban affairs, he audited a record setting number of classes at Portland State University for more than 31 years. Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Peggy; and is survived by two sons, John and Richard; and one grandson, Daniel.

James Hunt Barker W’38, a longtime resident of Palm Beach, Florida, and art dealer, died Oct. 10, 2021, in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1950, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. He then served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1953 in the U.S. Army as a master sergeant. After his military service, he returned to the University of Kentucky for graduate studies in political science and history.

He lived a storied, flamboyant life that included careers as an actor, public relations manager, portrait model, race horse owner and avid rider, art gallery proprietor and collector, and dog enthusiast. Barker was also the owner of the historic “Wedding Cake House” in Kennebunk, Maine. A popular attraction, it is one of the most photographed and painted buildings in Maine. In 2005, he opened his home for public tours to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. But it was in the art business where he found his permanent roost. He showcased over 55 painters and sculptors in his gallery over the years and among his clients were members of the Vanderbilt, Whitney and Mellon families.

He is survived by his sister, Joyce; two nephews; a niece; and several grandnephews, grandnieces, great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces.

Robert Rinker “Bob” Tresslar

’40 (Company C) W’36 died on Jan. 26, 2021. He attended Wabash College until his ROTC commission was activated shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot, flying P40s and later P47s. He was later assigned duties as a test pilot and flight instructor before serving in the European theater for the balance of the war. He married his wife of 69 years, Maria Teresa Avalos, in 1943.

After being discharged, Bob worked with his father operating the Tresslar Company variety stores in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. He was a member of multiple civic organizations, including serving as president of Rotary Club of Vincennes and Knox County Chamber of Commerce.

He was also a competition sailplane pilot, a member of the U.S. National team who competed in international events several times.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Mark. He is survived by one daughter, eight sons, 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. All of his children attended either Woodcraft Camp or Summer Camps.

Benjamin Whiting Hoge ’42 (Company A) PG’43 W’35

died on Dec. 15, 2020, in Alexandria, Virginia. He grew up on Army posts where his father, Col. Benjamin Hoge, was stationed, as well as Culver. His education at the University of Virginia was interrupted by World War II, in which he served as a captain in Gen. George Patton’s Third Army, seeing heavy front-line service in France and Germany, for which he received the Bronze Star and combat infantry badge. After the war, he resumed his studies at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1951. Subsequently his career was at the Institute for Defense Analyses and the Executive Office of the President. He was a master woodworker and enjoyed sailing. Ben is survived by his wife of 72 years, Wendy; two daughters, Leslie and Hilary; and one grandson, Nicholas.

Gorman Jones Roberts N’42

died on April 11, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from Cumberland Academy at age 15, and attended Cumberland College, spending his summers at Culver. He became an excellent baseball player and was offered professional contracts by both the Yankees and Reds, playing briefly for the Yankees, backing up Joe DiMaggio. He left baseball to serve in World War II in the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet. Following the war, Gorman graduated with honors from Northwestern University, then received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

He began his business career in 1949 as a trust officer at the Louisville Trust Company. In 1965 he joined JJB Hilliard & Son, became a partner in 1967, and chaired the Sales, Marketing, and Branch Administration Committee until his retirement in 1989. Gorman served on the board of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was a deacon at Crescent Hill Baptist Church; president of the Harvard Club of Kentucky and founding member of Harmony Landing Country Club. Gorman is survived by his wife of 66 years, Madge; their three children, Jeff, Joan, and Gorman J. Roberts Jr. W’81; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Julien Jefferson Hohenberg ’43

(Troop II) died Jan. 16, 2021, in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Yale University in 1946 with dual degrees and immediately went to work at the family firm, Hohenberg Brothers Cotton Company, making his own mark working in Central America and Mexico, as well as Europe and Asia. After working in the business for 11 years, he entered the master’s program in international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

The obituary dates are from January 1 – June 30, 2021

IN MEMORIAM

with a concentration in Asian studies. As a 21 year-old, he had been in Shanghai on business shortly before the city was overrun by Mao Tse Tung’s forces. Then, 25 years later in 1973, he was one of the first American businessmen allowed into China after President Nixon opened up relations the previous year. Artists, poets, musicians, and others were drawn to him, and he became a patron and important ally of photographers and producers. Poet Allen Ginsberg was a friend, as was President Jimmy Carter. Along with his first wife, Mary, he was an early and ardent supporter of the Civil Rights movement in Memphis starting in 1964. Julien is survived by his three daughters and three sons, as well as nine grandchildren. He also leaves two former wives and was preceded in death by his third wife Elizabeth.

John Dunlap Sheaffer T’43 of Memphis, Tennessee, died on Feb. 6, 2021. After graduating from Culver, he served in the U.S. Army, where he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in the Southwest Pacific theatre of operations, participating in the Philippine liberation on the island of Luzon and the Allied transition of the island of Honshu from Japanese control. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and received an honorable discharge in January 1946.

John graduated from the University of Colorado with a BS in business administration in 1950. He returned to his hometown of Fort Madison, Iowa, to work for the family business, W.A. Shaeffer Pen Company. He became vice president of international operations, overseeing manufacturing and sales functions in Canada, Australia, Brazil, England, and Argentina. At the time Sheaffer had exclusive dealers in 77 countries. He also served on the Sheaffer Board of Directors until the company’s sale.

He married Gertrude Coors in Memphis in 1951, with whom he recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary. John was an active member of the Fort Madison community as a Rotarian, Chairman of The Board of the Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course, President of the W. A. Sheaffer Memorial Foundation and a number of other community and civic boards in Iowa. He was a member of several golf and hunting clubs. John was also a member of the Culver Legion Board and served as vice president.

John is survived by his wife, two sons, John ’70 (Troop A) and Russell ’81 (Battery A); two daughters, Virginia Kemp and Carolyn Masterson ’75 (New Dorm); nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and two sisters.

William “Bill” Fiege Koeckert

N’43 of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, died on Sept. 27, 2021. In the U. S. Army during World War II, he was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, temporarily leaving him blind and deaf. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Bronze Star.

Bill continued his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve and went to college, graduating from the University of Omaha and Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he earned his regular Army commission as an armored cavalry officer. From 1946-47 he was assigned to Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, where he oversaw men guarding Japanese military personnel accused of committing war crimes.

The final army move was to Ft. Riley, Kansas, from which he retired in 1964 after 22 years of service. Settling down as a civilian in Columbus, Ohio, Bill began a career in education. Initially, he taught civil defense at The Ohio State University and earned his MA in adult education, completing most of the requirements toward a Ph.D. in the field. The family moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, in 1972 when Bill joined Dyke College in Cleveland as an instructor and Dean of Students, a position he held until the late 1970s.

Bill was active in a variety of fraternal organizations during both the military and civilian chapters of his life. He was a Shriner, a member of the Military Order of World Wars and the Masonic order, where he was a Master Mason and 32nd degree Mason. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gara, and is survived by two daughters, Lynn and Mary, and five grandchildren.

Andrew “Andy” Rembert

Carr ’44 (Company D) died at his home in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on Dec. 28, 2020. After graduating cum laude on D Day, June 6, 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy as a sailor for one year, then received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was commissioned as an ensign and graduated in 1949 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

He served in the U.S. Navy aboard a destroyer for three years and an amphibious flagship for two years in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, before resigning his commission to return to his family’s farm business, Mascot Planting Company.

He managed the business and farming operations at Mascot, continually seeking to improve all manners of farming and ginning. He was among the first to implement irrigation and land forming practices.

In 1965, Andy became deeply involved in the Civil Rights movement to promote equal opportunity and the respect and dignity for Mississippi’s marginalized poor in the Delta region. He developed a comprehensive local support system, including services such as Head Start, legal aid, and adult education. Andy was preceded in death by his wife, Susie, and is survived by five children, including son

Michael ’71 Sr. (Battery B)

N’67, 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Henry “Mark” Maynard Rees

Jr. ’44 (Battery A) died of a sudden heart attack in Quebec on Feb. 22, 2021. He earned a degree in chemical engineering at McGill University and worked for several years

at Dow, DuPont, and Union Carbide. He followed his passion, becoming a stockbroker for Jones Heward and later a financial analyst for H.M. Rees and Associates, where he specialized in Canadian investment for American companies. In 1957 he married Monique Laberge and in 1970 married Joanne Hewson, whom he remained happily married to for more than 50 years. Mark is survived by his wife, Joanne; one son; four daughters; 11 grandchildren; and one greatgrandson.

Robert E. “Bob” Lee ’44

(Battery A) N’41 died on May 14, 2021. He graduated from Drury College in 1950 and married his wife, Marguerite, on July 21, 1951. Upon graduation from Drury, Bob entered the family business, Elkins-Swyers, and had a long and distinguished career. He later purchased Inland Printing and served as president and chairman of both companies. Bob sold Elkins-Swyers in 1987 and retired. He and Marguerite spent the next 32 years spending most of the year in their home on Maui. Bob was a past member of the Downtown Rotary Club and a member of Hickory Hills Country Club. He is survived by his wife; a son, Robert, and two daughters, Gail and Lesley. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Peggy.

James “Jim” Homer Russell ’45

(Company C) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died on April 16, 2021, just two days following the death of his beloved wife, Lahoma, on April 14, 2021. He grew up in Kansas City, and after graduation from Culver, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946, serving in the Medical Corps until 1948. Later, he attended the University of Kansas; University of Denver; and Western State College of Law.

Jim was a self-employed real estate broker and developer in Kansas (1950–1963); a hotel owner/operator in Texas (1963–1984); and a serial entrepreneur in California (1963–1994). He owned or controlled businesses in the mining, petroleum, motion picture, television, health supplements and cosmetics industries.

He enjoyed reading, politics, history, religion, college sports and traveling. He served as president of the Young Republicans, University of Kansas; and football commissioner of Pop Warner Football, Orange County, Calif. He loved his children and took an active interest in their education, sports activities, and careers.

In his early years, Jim was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Later, he founded the Covenant Church of Our Redeemer, which he pastored for 40 years. Jim was preceded in death by a son, James Lee, and grandson, Matthew Russell. Survivors include four sons, Thomas, Mark, Walter and Charles; and five daughters Alice, Rita, Kelly, Christine, and Claudia Suzanne; 21 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Harry L Stern N’46 died on Nov. 14, 2020, at the age of 90. A fifth-generation Chicagoan, Harry turned his classical training and love of languages into a 55-year career as an antiquarian book and map dealer. He never retired and was working on appraisals until 10 days before his death.

He attended Yale University, where he studied classical languages, and at the Interpreters’ School at the University of Geneva. At the age of 61, he earned a master’s degree in American history from the University of Chicago. During his military service in the U.S. Army (1952–1954), Harry was posted to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where he translated German documents captured during World War II. He remained in Europe and sold books in France and Germany. In 1956 he married Suzanne Denison, and in 1957 they settled in Chicago, where they had three children.

Harry worked in the family business at Hillman’s Stop & Shop as a wine merchant until 1965, when his interest in antiquities and books led to a job with a world-renowned dealer in antiquarian books and maps. In 1975, Harry launched his own business, buying and selling rare books and antique maps, and appraising items for universities, private collectors, insurance companies, and estates in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. A resident of Lake Forest, Illinois, since 1979, he is survived by his wife of 41 years, Petrea; three brothers, three children, five grandchildren, two stepchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Harry Joseph English N’47

died on May 16, 2020, in Munster, Indiana. He earned a degree from Indiana University in 1952 and then served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He worked for Chicago area banks and retired in 1989, then moved to Rensselaer, Indiana, for 14 years before moving to Hammond, Indiana.

Harry was a Blue Lodge Mason Member #125 F & AM, of Chicago and American Legion Post #21 since 1951. He was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, Allen. He is also survived by two nephews.

Howard George Pearcy NB’47

of Columbus, Indiana, died on Feb. 18, 2021. He earned a degree in business from Indiana University in 1952, married Joan Rushworth, joined the U.S. Air Force and relocated to Japan. After returning stateside, Howard honed his business skills, love of numbers and storytelling abilities as general manager of a Hunt- ingburg furniture company, a Frankfort radio station and, finally, as an accountant in New York City. Once he earned his CPA, he returned to Indiana and joined the Irwin Management Company of Columbus in 1963, where he remained for 32 years, eventually retiring as vice president of taxes.

His involvement in the Columbus community was substantial and diverse. He was involved with the United Way and served as board president for the Bartholomew County

IN MEMORIAM

Hospital Foundation, as well as a board member for the Columbus Enterprise Development Corporation and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, and is survived by his daughter, Sharon; son, Jeff; three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

David Jackson Macarthy N’47

died on June 10, 2021, in Naples, Florida. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served four years in the Army Security Agency. He earned a BBA from the University of Cincinnati and joined Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co., retiring 33 years later as a vice president. He also earned an MBA from Xavier University.

He was active in the Jaycees, Boy Scouts, Rotary, Masons, Scottish Rite, and the Shrine. In 1989 he relocated to Collier County, Florida, and continued to be active in civic and social organizations. In retirement he traveled to all 50 states and seven continents. He was preceded in death by Jo, his wife of 54 years, and is survived by a son, D. Mark, one daughter, Maureen, one granddaughter Shannon and two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Domenic.

Samuel Henegar Campbell III

W’47, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, died at his home on Oct. 8, 2020. He graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. and returned to Chattanooga to become the third generation leader of the family business, Chattanooga Bakery, where he served as president and then chairman until his death. He also founded or managed Brownie Special Products, Sportsman’s Dens, Signal Smelting & Refining Co, and Professional Aviation.

In 1957, he married Susan Joy Harley, and they moved to Lookout Mountain, where they recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. As sportsmen who loved to hunt and fish with friends and family members, they traveled the world. Active in community life, Sam served as trustee of The Bright School and McCallie School, where he received the Alumni Achievement Award, the Chambliss Center for Children and a deacon and trustee of First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife, Susan; two sons, Sam III and John, one daughter, Elizabeth; ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Scott Clark Schurz W’47

former chairman of Hoosier Times Inc. and a leader in the local journalism industry since he started work at The HeraldTimes in 1966, died on Oct. 8, 2020. He became publisher of the Bloomington newspaper soon after his family bought it more than half a century ago, and stayed at the helm until 2002, when he went into semiretirement.

Schurz was known for his devotion to journalism and his strong support for Indiana University. He got to know his employees at the paper, and often wandered through the newsroom checking on the stories of the day or in the press room at night.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Denison University in 1957, then worked for Schurz Communications, Inc. in Hagerstown, Maryland, at the Morning Herald and Daily Mail, and at the South Bend Tribune, among other properties. He moved to Bloomington in 1966.

In 1997, Schurz received the Denison University Alumni Citation, the highest honor bestowed to alumni. He was also inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named honorary president for life by the Inter American Press Association in 2005.

Schurz also served his local community and was active in the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. He also sat on the IU Foundation’s board.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn and son John ’91 (Battery A).

Walter Meredith “Tad” Bird

Jr. ’48 (Company B) died on Dec. 11, 2020, in Green Valley, Arizona. He followed his father’s footsteps to Harvard University. He earned the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Army ROTC program, then went to Japan to support the Korean War. Returning from military service, Tad took a job at the United Shoe Machinery Corporation and joined his aunt to run Red Acre Farm, a nonprofit he remained involved with for the rest of his life in various roles.

He earned an MBA at Northeastern University, which led to a career in the investment world, first at Arkwright Boston Insurance and later at Shawmut National Bank, from which he retired in 1993. He was the junior warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, Massachusetts, and served on the town of Stow’s Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and School Committee.

His true calling, however, was leading his family through outdoor adventures. They climbed the 63 New England 4,000 foot mountains by the early ’70s. But the real joy was in creating a team effort, having his five children learn how to work hard, make things, break things, and finish a job.

When Tad retired, Carolyn and he set off to see the world, traveling to Africa, the Middle East, and New Zealand, as well as taking 23 trips across the United States.

Tad was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn, and is survived by four sons, one daughter and 10 grandchildren.

Joe Mason Dearmin ’48

(Company A) died on Dec. 14, 2020. After graduating from Culver, he attended Indiana University where he earned a BS in marketing and met and married his wife, Marilyn. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952 and served for five years, during which he was sent to OCS in Newport, Rhode Island, and was later stationed in Key West, Florida. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant and remained active in the reserves from 1956–1959.

Joe moved back to Odon, Indiana, in 1956 to raise his family and join the family

business, Dearmin and Co. He later became involved with The First National Bank of Odon, where he earned an ownership position, from 1973 to 2018. He served as chairman of the board there from 1994–2016. He was also affiliated with The American Legion Post #0293.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, W. Fred Dearmin and Cleta Dee, as well as his second wife, Jo. He is survived by his third wife, Barbara; his first wife, Marilyn; his son, John ’73 (Troop B) W’68; and his daughter, Priscilla ’74 (New Dorm). He is also survived by four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

James Daniel Bryson, Sr. N’49

of Hopwood, Pennsylvania, died on June 26, 2020, at home. He briefly attended Lafayette College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and serving on the USS Roanoke during the Korean War. Upon his return, he graduated from the General Motors Institute and joined the family business, Bryson Motors, founded by his father in 1923. Dan went on to run the business, until his retirement in 1994.

Dan was an enthusiastic cyclist and could often be found cycling through Hopwood and the Uniontown area. He also took many cycling trips with his brothers and other family members, including the “Bryson Assault on England” in 1985; a cycling trip through England with his two children, Dan and Sarah; brothers Bill and Bob, and their families.

Dan was dedicated to his community and served as a

SMITH HELPED TRANSFORM HORSEMANSHIP

Veleair Courtlandt “Cort” Smith II ’49

(Troop I) died at age 90 on July 27, 2021, in his Winfield, West Virginia home. A Lancer and Rough Rider during his cadet days, Cort fell in love with the horsemanship program and began his long dedication to the Black Horse Troop and Summer Cavalry. After graduation, he earned a BS degree in geology from Duke University, followed by serving his country in the U.S. Air Force as an agent in the Office of Special Investigations. At the conclusion of his active service, Cort studied at Lehigh University before returning to West Virginia to join the family businesses. He remained active in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as well.

Cort learned all aspects of the natural gas business under the Veleair C. Smith Management umbrella. With Teavee Oil & Gas, Inc., and Putnam Natural Gas Company, he was active in drilling gas wells and providing industrial gas service. With Well Service, Inc., he was involved with contract well and cement work for the natural gas industry over a multi-state area. With Union Oil & Gas, Inc, he was involved with providing gas utility service. While visiting relatives in Cali, Colombia, en route to reviewing a mining venture in Bolivia with his father, Cort seized an opportunity to purchase a used drilling rig and begin a well drilling company to provide water irrigation for sugar cane operations. Over the following years, he primarily lived in Colombia, where he was very active in polo. After his marriage in 1963, he and his family divided their time between Cali and the farm in Winfield.

Although his business interests were primarily in drilling and natural gas, Cort was also active in either starting or providing venture capital to endeavors ranging from an early chain of ice cream parlors in Colombia to hovercraft capable of being driven on land or water. He was a founder and served on the board of directors of the Teays Valley National Bank from 1973 until it was acquired by Kanawha Banking & Trust in 1984. He also served as president of the Charleston Rotary Club and longtime parliamentarian on its planning committee, as well as an active member of the West Virginia Small Public Utility Association and Cosmos Club. In his later years, Cort returned to his true passion of horsemanship at Culver.

In 1999, while he was a member of the Culver Legion Board, he created and chaired the Committee of the Horse, which, among other things, rapidly increased the number of Troopers, Equestriennes, and Summer riders. The capital campaign he led created an impressive endowment that increased enrollment in every equestrian program and modernized Culver Horsemanship’s equipment and facilities.

He served on two Horsemanship Advisory Boards. In recent years, he was a volunteer instructor and popular figure in the horsemanship department for both Summer Campers, as well as Academies students (often staying in his distinctive RV, dubbed The Chateau).

In 2007, Cort was inducted into Culver’s Horsemanship Hall of Fame for his achievements and service to Culver and was inducted to Culver’s Cum Laude Society in 2011.

Though health issues slowed him down in recent years, Cort still remained actively engaged with his hay farm, land purchases and even some road trips back to Culver.

Cort was preceded in death by his son Collett V. Smith and is survived by three children, Courtlandt L. Smith ’85 (Troop A), Christian V. Smith and Caroline K. Smith. He is also survived by four grandchildren Courtlandt L. Smith Jr. ’16 (Troop A), Wilson C. Smith, Lauren Claire Smith and Oliver Classen, as well as his former spouse and mother of his children, Kemp Littlepage McElwee.

Veleair Courtlandt “Cort” Smith II ’49

IN MEMORIAM

member on many charitable and civic organizations, including the United Way, Salvation Army, and the Uniontown Rotary Club. He was also a member of Laurel Lodge #651 F & AM. In 1996, he was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce. He was the co-founder and race director of the Uniontown Triathlon, which benefitted the Salvation Army. He was also an active member of the Asbury United Methodist Church.

Dan is survived by one son, James; one daughter, Sarah; and two grandchildren, Rebecca and Christopher. He was preceded in death by Sara, his wife of 58 years; two sisters; and one brother.

Dr. Alfred Ellery Darby Jr. ’49

(Battery A), died on April 7, 2021, at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home in Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University and then Tufts Medical School in 1957. Dr. Darby was a well known child psychiatrist and in more recent years, practiced privately in Fall River and Taunton, Massachusetts. Over the years he also held various consulting positions and was highly regarded in the areas of child and adolescent psychiatry. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Edith, four children and one grandson.

George Sheldon “Gus” Hoster Jr. ’49 (Company B) N’47

died at home in Columbus, Ohio, on April 10, 2021, five days after his 90th birthday. He attended Northwestern University and The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Throughout his entire life, flying was his favorite activity. At the age of 12, Gus began flight lessons. He obtained his private pilot’s license at the age of 18 and immediately began his military and civil aircraft careers by flying copilot for Anchor Hocking during summer breaks. Gus was a captain and senior pilot, squadron test pilot, wing transport pilot, and wing air staff intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, 49th Fighter Bomber Group, and in the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing of the Ohio National Guard. He also served on active duty at the end of the Korean War and was recalled to active duty during the Berlin Crisis.

In 1957 he merged his love of banking, business, and air- planes by founding Aircraft Acceptance Corporation He went on to specialize in aircraft leasing and financing as an executive with Huntington National Bank and Park National Bank, then expanded his career to consult mergers and acquisitions, founding the Hoster Group in 1984.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy, and is survived by his second wife of 47 years, Linda. He is also survived by five children — Mark, Laura, Elizabeth ’83 (Linden), George “Jake” Hoster III, and Christopher, as well as three grandchildren, Hannah, Olivia, and Carson.

Irvin Emerson Poston NB ’49

W’46 died on May 31, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. He graduated from Attica High School in 1950 as the class valedictorian, then attended Purdue University, where he played snare drum in the All-American Marching Band and tympani in the symphony band. Irvin also joined Sigma Nu Fraternity. In 1954 he graduated from Purdue with a degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s in industrial engineering in 1955 and began work as an engineer at the Allison Division of General Motors in Speedway, Indiana.

In 1958, Irv was transferred to General Motors’ new technical center in Warren, Michigan, where he became a pioneer in the field of plastics, and over the years earned the reputation of being one of the world’s leading experts on plastics and composites. He was manager of plastics/ composites for GM during most of his professional career and gave speeches throughout the U.S. and Europe regarding the application of plastic in the automobile industry. He received numerous awards from the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Engineering Society of Detroit. Irv retired from GM at the end of 1996.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lois. He is survived by four children, Janet, Patricia, Steven and David; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Lawrence Edward “Bud” Post

H’50, W’46 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died on Dec. 17, 2020. Bud spent his early summers at his grandmother Woodruff’s farm in Culver, Indiana, and later at Culver Military Academy. He graduated from Leelanau School in 1950. After a year at Purdue University, Bud joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to a Nike missile battery in New York City.

In his spare time, Bud earned his private pilot seaplane rating. After receiving an honorable discharge, Bud took a bus to the Cessna factory in Wichita, Kansas, and flew home his first airplane: a shiny new Skyhawk. Soon afterward, he went to work at his parents’ company, North Star Bus Lines, where he worked his way up to President/CEO. While on an assignment at the company office in Traverse City, Michigan, Bud met Doris Randolph, whom he married on March 10, 1967.

After his successful tenure at North Star, Bud sold the business and retired in 1980. Doris died in 2003 after a lengthy illness. In his retirement years, Bud captained the charter boat “Flying Fresian” for several years out of Grand Haven, spent a great deal of time at his deer camp in the Upper Peninsula, shot competitive pistol and skeet, volunteered his time flying trips for Wings of Mercy, and hunted all over the world. He was a member and officer of Safari Club International Michigan Chapter, as well as the Kent County Conservation League. Bud is survived by one daughter, Lori, and two grandchildren.

Newell Barker “Wally” Wallace Jr. ’50 (Troop I) N’48

died on Feb. 25, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas. He attended Culver Summer Schools &

Camps in both the horsemanship and naval programs. He earned a BS in Economics at the University of Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957 as first lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division. After his military service, Wally joined General Motors in 1958 and spent 15 years in various roles, including district manager for Cadillac in Lubbock. After leaving GM in 1973, he briefly owned Texas Wrecker until he sold the business to enter into McDonald’s restaurant franchises.

In 1975, while in training, he met his bride-to-be, Faye Wells, and they married on July 28, 1977. Wally graduated from Hamburger University and opened his first franchise store, spending 1975-1993 as owner/operator of six locations in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1993 they sold their McDonald’s locations and retired to Lubbock, Texas.

In service to his community, Wally joined the East Fort Worth Rotary Club in 1980 and continued a nearly 40 year perfect attendance record with Greater Southwest Lubbock Rotary Club until 2019. He is survived by his wife Faye; their three daughters and one son; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Jerry Lee Wise ’51 (Company

B) died on Jan. 15, 2020, at the Brookdale Pinnacle Senior Living in Grove City, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1960 with a BS in electrical engineering. He later obtained his license as a professional electrical engineer. He was a longtime member of the Grove City Elks Lodge #37 and a member of the OLPH Knights of Columbus. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Barbara. He is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, 33 great- grandchildren and one greatgreat grandchild.

Col. Dr. David Gilmore Dibbell Sr. ’51 (Battery A)

died on Nov. 19, 2020, in Madison, Wisconsin, at home with his wife, Susan, and daughter Cherie at his side. He graduated from Yale University, where he was a varsity wrestler and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Dibbell was headed for flight school with the U.S. Air Force when he was accepted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 15 years from 1959–1974, earning the rank of colonel. He was deployed in the Adriatic and flew cover in both the Cuban Missile Crisis and Berlin Crisis.

In 1968, Dr. Dibbell arrived in Vietnam in the wake of the Tet Offensive. He was appointed the sole faculty member of the medical school in Hu, in charge of a 1,000-bed hospital and an 800-bed leprosarium. Despite a lack of resources, he excelled in teaching the Vietnamese medical students and treated patients from both sides of the conflict.

He completed residencies in both general and plastic surgery at Yale, Stanford University, and Roswell Park Memorial Institute. Upon returning from Vietnam and discovering the U.S. Air Force did not have its own reconstructive surgery program, he started one at Wilford Hall Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Dibbell received a Bronze Star and Combat Air Medal for his military service and retired as a full colonel.

His legacy is building the first program in reconstructive surgery at the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery, where he created inter- national outreach programs, providing plastic surgery and care in Central and South America. It became one of the top 10 programs in North America within his first five years as its division chief. Dr. Dibbell is survived by his wife, Susan, one daughter, one son, two grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Dr. Ernest W. Hetrick W’52, of Marion, Indiana, died on July 4, 2020, in Marion General Hospital from complications of pulmonary blood clots. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1963 and furthered his radiology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical School, Class of 1967. then served two years in the U.S. Navy at Chelsea Naval Hospital, Boston. He married his wife of 56 years, Barbara, on June 20, 1964.

He was a well-respected radiologist at Marion General Hospital for 24 years; Morrow County Hospital for 10 years; and with Aris Teleradiology for three years. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he set a goal to bring state-of-the-art radiology to a small town. He succeeded in securing ultrasound, a CAT scanner, and MRI equipment for Marion General. Ernie also knew there was a need in the U.S. for more doctors to serve in small towns, so he recruited young doctors to Marion.

He was also proud to be a part of HAND, the Home and Neighborhood Development organization. Ernie is survived by his wife, Barbara; one daughter, Jennifer; two sons, Ernest and William; and seven grandchildren.

Dr. Larry Alan Huntsinger

N’52 died on Nov. 6, 2020, in south Florida. He graduated from Indiana Medical School in 1959 at the age of 24, then served in the U.S. Navy as a commander during the Vietnam War from 1961–70. He entered into a private medical practice in Broward County from 1970 until his retirement in 2001. Larry is survived by his wife, Rebecca, six children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Donald Bruce MacAlpine ’52

(Battery A) died on Nov. 23, 2020. He was raised in Fresno, California, attended Midland School for Boys, and graduated from Culver. He attended Stanford University and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War, first as an enlisted man and then as a drill instructor. He was a first lieutenant and one of the first jet fighter pilots of Marine Air, stationed in Hawaii, where his plane caught on fire over the big volcano of the big island and he had to eject, landing on the volcano as the plane exploded all around him.

IN MEMORIAM

After serving his country in the Marine Corps and war time, he began a career as a police officer for the City of Madera, California, where he retired after 20 years, having served as a patrolman, sergeant watch commander, firearms instructor and training officer.

He and his wife and four other couples pioneered the establishment of the Grace Community Church of Madera. He was also a member of both the Madera and Oakhurst Rotary International clubs.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 55 years, Candi; two daughters, Stacy Coleen Daly of Oakhurst and Kristina Jayne Lafferty of Kuna, Idaho; a son, Donald Jr. of Fresno, and adopted children Steven and Terry Lynn MacAlpine.

William “Bill” Calvin Smith,

Jr. N’52 of Montrose, Alabama, died on Dec. 22, 2020. After high school in Memphis, Tennessee, he enrolled at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial management. He attended Culver’s Summer Naval School and later enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was the honor graduate of his field communications training course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He served four years in the U.S. Army and Tennessee National Guard.

Bill began his professional career working for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, before acting as unit superintendent of the polymer division of Celanese Corporation in Shelby, North Carolina, for many years. Bill met his future wife, Martha, while she was in nursing school at Emory University. They were later married on June 12, 1959.

He served his community as a volunteer at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope; was the leader of a Bible Study at Trinity Presbyterian Church; and enjoyed participating in a weekly gathering of special friends. Bill is survived by his wife Martha, one son, one daughter and three grandsons.

Don Maurice Lowenstine ’52

(Company C) W’47 died on Feb. 17, 2021, in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Dr. Richard Alexander Wright

’52 (Battery B) W’47 died at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 14, 2021, after a short battle with pneumonia. After Culver, he graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1976 with a major focus on rehabilitation of serious injuries. He resided in Palm Beach and New York City for most of his adult life. Richard and his family enjoyed many years as the owners of Wright By The Sea in Delray. He is survived by his sister Katherine Willoughby, and her two sons Dr. David and Dr. Brian Willoughby.

William John Veach ’52

(Company B) N’50 died in Richmond, Indiana, on April 11, 2021 at Reid Health Hospital. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1956 with a business degree and served in the U.S. Army Reserve. William owned and managed the family-owned Veach’s Toy Store for more than 50 years. He married Shirley Bensman on Feb. 19, 1966 in Minster, Ohio. She survives, along with daughter Jennie and husband, Tony Truitt, a son John and granddaughter Baleigh. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Richmond.

Capt. George Dalton Myers II

N’53 W’50 died on April 14, 2020. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1954 before entering the U.S. Naval Academy the same year and earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1958. He was involved in the field and carrier suitability of the A4E auto throttle, which sensed the angle of attack with and without elevator input signal and included the first shipboard landing while aboard the USS Lexington. He was also involved in the first shipboard trials of the T2B, testing the determination of the minimum catapult end speed and maximum sink off the bow permissible at 10,400 pounds and associated shorebased tests. George joined SETP in 1966 while serving as a project test pilot in the Carrier Suitability Branch/ Flight Test Division at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland. Following two deployments flying the A6, he joined General Electric Company in 1969 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and flew engine development programs in the F4, F5, B47 and B52. James “Tom” Frank N’53 of Indianapolis, died on Jan. 20, 2021 at home. He graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales. Tom had many passions and hobbies: sailing, traveling the world, taking photographs, being a ham radio enthusiast and a choral conductor and member of three different choirs.

As a proud member of Sertoma International, Tom fulfilled his desire to make this world a better place by serving others. He was also a longtime active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Tom is survived by a son, James Jr.; four daughters, Tracy, Deborah, Jennifer and Tiffany; stepdaughter, Terri; stepson, Robert; 20 grand- children and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn.

Donald Clyde Brown ’53

(Company D) W’49 of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, died on May 21, 2021. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Amherst College in Massachusetts, then attended medical school at Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to retirement, he served on staff at the Jeannette Hospital as a general surgeon. He recently finished two terms as a board member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Sara “Sally” Brown.

George Marvin Walcoff ’54 (Troop B) died on Sept. 18, 2011, in Houston, Texas. He is survived by his wife,

Janis; three sons and two grandchildren.

Dr. Lawrence Frank Halpern

’54 (Company A) of Towson, Maryland, died on Dec. 20, 2020. He had a long successful career as a periodontic dentist in Baltimore. He is survived by his wife, Karen; two sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren. Due to the pandemic, a virtual funeral was held on Dec. 23, 2020.

Gary Harmon Baas N’54, died on March 10, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was a graduate of Bexley High School, Class of 1955, and attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He joined the U.S. Army and was an Honor Guard in Washington, D.C., as President Eisenhower’s personal guard and a ceremonial Honor Guard.

As an entrepreneur, Gary was president of a third-generation family business, Inland Products, Inc., He also started Pet Cremation Services of Columbus, and multiple other businesses, including real estate developments.

He was a member of many civic clubs and organizations including The Aladdin Shrine, Blue Moose Lodge, Scottish Rite, The City Club, The Columbus Club, The Athletic Club of Columbus, and The Scotch and Bourbon Society, which his father co-founded. Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Suzanne. He is survived by his four children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Jon Hugh Ryall Sr. ’54

(Company D) N’52 died on March 11, 2021. He attended the University of Michigan and then served in the U.S. Army, where he trained in a forerunner of the Army Rangers program and then as an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy. Jon was an entrepreneur with a widely varied career, which included owning a logging camp in Canada, an import-export business in Michigan, and being president of a furniture rental company in Miami. He found his niche in real estate, where he worked as an agent, broker, developer, and owner of several real estate companies over more than 40 years of his real estate career. He and his business partner, Carol O’Neal, opened Earth Available Realty, Inc. as an exclusive buyers’ agency in early 1991 and then on Dec. 19, 1992, they expanded their partnership to a personal one when they married. They spent almost 30 years together, active in their church, their business, and in local and national associations. He is survived by his wife; one daughter; one stepdaughter, and five grandchildren.

Axel Eberhard Strauch ’54

(Battery B) died on April 7, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida. He grew up in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, and then attended Culver, where he served as Battery commander. He also graduated cum laude. Axel attended the University of Wisconsin for both undergraduate and medical school, then continued his medical training in San Francisco, where he met his first wife, Birgit. They have three children, Clint, Nicole and Kent. Axel was drafted into the U.S. Air Force and served as chief of urology at Elgin Air Force Base. After serving his country, he moved with his family to Hollywood, Florida, where he joined Urological Associates as a surgeon. He lost his first wife, Birgit, to cancer in 2001, then remarried and lost his second wife to cancer four years later. In 2010 he married his current wife, Julianne. Axel is survived by his wife, his three children Clint, Nicole and Kent, and eight grandchildren.

Bruce Emerson Munroe ’54

(Company A) N’53 W’47 and Phyllis Munroe of Culver, Indiana, died on May 19, 2021. Longtime residents, they had formerly lived in Indianapolis and Scottsdale, Ariz. Bruce and Phyllis enjoyed socializing with their friends in Culver and especially enjoyed Wine Time and Yacht Club parties.

Born on July 18, 1935, in Agawam, Massachusetts, to Charles and Edna Munroe, Bruce grew up in Indianapolis. After attending Butler University and Indiana University, Bruce worked 40 years in the petroleum industry as a marketing manager. He was an avid sailor and enjoyed working as a sailing instructor at Culver Summer Schools & Camps, where he was affectionately known as Captain Munroe.

Phyllis was born Aug. 5, 1936, in Eaton, to the late Lloyd and Dora (Knife) Richardson. She graduated from Ball Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and completed post graduate studies in operating room management at the graduate hospital of University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She worked at IU Medical Center and the Indiana Hand Center at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

They are survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Grant and Ginny Munroe of Culver, and preceded in death by a son, Alex, whose seven children survive.

Michel Folsom Thompson

H’55 died on Nov. 11, 2020, in Sarasota, Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dyke College, then served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was honorably discharged in 1966. After graduating from Dyke College, Mike worked for Lybrand and Ross Brothers & Montgomery as a public accountant until he took the job as CFO at Lee Wilson Engineering Company in Rocky River, Ohio. He was also the chief financial officer and vice president of Lee Wilson Engineering of Canada.

Mike married Nancy Lynn (Luce) on Dec. 20, 1985. He was always proud of his three children, as well as his four grandchildren and his six step-grandchildren.

Hugh David White W’55 died on Jan. 4, 2021, of cancer at his Toledo, Ohio, home. Dave, or the “Chief,” as he was known by closest family, was educated at Maumee Valley Country Day School and Culver and then at Denison University in 1959.

REMEMBERING THE FAMILY

Randi A. Fischer died on Jan. 18, 2021. A Milwaukee native, she married Charles D. Fischer of Jefferson, Wisconsin on August 22, 1964, which lasted for 56 years. They lived in Durand, Illinois until 1986, where she was employed by Durand State Bank, then moved to Culver in 1986 to take positions at Culver Academies. Chuck taught Physics and Randi’s talent with computers was put to good use as a programmer in data processing, a programmer for Technology Services, and assistant registrar and database manager. Randi was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Culver, where she served the church in many ways.

Randi is survived by her husband, Chuck of Plymouth, Indiana. She will be missed by her children: daughters Kim Kephart (Jim) and Beka Sorg of Culver; David Fischer (Dana) of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Michael Fischer of Huntersville, North Carolina, as well as 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Randi was a woman of great faith who set an example for her family that will guide them throughout their lives. Stephen Craig, a former Woodcraft counselor, died on Jan. 21, 2021 in Davenport, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Karen, two children, Joseph and Jacqui; and three grandchildren Zoe, Graham, and Marshall.

William Holman Hanning Jr., Ph.D. ’56

(Battery A) N’55 W’50 died on Feb. 14, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. At Ohio University he was a member of Army ROTC and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961 and a master’s in 1967. Upon his 1961 graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S Army, where he served at Fort Benning, Fort Knox, and Fort Lewis. After active duty, Bill began a 32-year career in public education, starting and ending his career with the Xenia City Schools.

He also worked as a school administrator at both Twinsburg Schools and Buckeye Valley Schools. He earned his doctorate degree from The Ohio State University in 1982 and was affectionally known by those closest to him as “Dr. Bill.” He retired in 1996, only to return to his alma mater, Culver, as a staff member in the Summer School Program, where he worked for 10 summers as a Senior Counselor and Director of Operations. His family legacy runs deep — his father was a midshipman in the Naval School nearly 100 years ago. Even after retirement, he was an active and full time volunteer, particuRandi A. Fischer larly devoted to his work with Culver, where he served as a member of the Culver Legion Board, as Regional Vice President of Culver Clubs International and the longtime Class of 1956 Class Agent. Bill was also dedicated to the work of his church, West Berlin Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and an elder. Bill also served as a board member with Delaware’s Family Promise and Delaware Speech and Hearing. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his youngest son, James, and his brother, John. He is survived by Ann, his wife of 46 years; their three children, Elizabeth, John and Heather, and seven grandchildren: William, Oliver, Sophie, Ocean, Kingston, Breckon and Matthew. Roy Lee French died at home in North Liberty, Indiana, on Feb. 25, 2021. He was employed as a maintenance worker at Culver for several years. He was married to Cindy Sue Berger, who preceded him in death on April 1, 2008, and is survived by two daughters, Amy Jo and Angy Dee; and three grandchildren: Noah, Elijah, and Beau; and brother, Floyd.

William Hanning

Caroline Renee Boos Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, died on April 18, 2021. She graduated from Kewanna High School and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She worked in the Horsemanship department at Culver from 1967–1980, was an administrative assistant for the American Librarians Association 1980–1984, and as a project accountant at W.E. O’Neil Construction in Chicago from 1984 until her retirement in 1998.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband Paul, and together they toured many destinations in the U.S. and Europe. Caroline is survived by two daughters, Renee and Christina; one son, Timothy; four grandchildren: Whitney, Jameson, Allison, and Grant; three great-grandchildren: Madison, Wyatt, and Brielle and five step-children: Deborah, Andrea, Charles, Lori and Matthew.

Stephen F. Hatfield died on May 1, 2021 at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart, Indiana. He worked at Culver Academies in the Dining Hall and was awarded a Culver ring in 2014 for 25 years of service. In his spare time he loved to work on and tinker with vehicles. He is survived by one brother Mark, as well as several cousins.

William “Bill” David Meridith, Sr. of Fairfield, Ohio, died on May 12, 2021. A retired educator and coach from the Cincinnati Public Schools, he did a radio and television broadcasting program called Sportlight for over 30 years. He brought some of the biggest names in sports to the airwaves: baseball icon Jackie Robinson; Hall of Famer pitcher Bob Gibson; 1978 National League MVP and Cincinnati native Dave Parker; and coaches Sam Wyche, Pete Gillen, Jim Anderson and Tony Yates.

He also broadcast high school basketball and football games for WCIN AM with a variety of partners, including introducing Xavier University radio announcer Joe Sunderman to radio. He did the first play-by-play of high school basketball on Cincinnati’s new cable TV system, WarnerAmex cable (now Spectrum) in December 1981.

Meridith is survived by his wife, Josephine

“Jo,” three sons and three daughters, all of whom attended Culver Summer School or Woodcraft Camp; three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Gerald Robert Planutis of Bridgman, Michigan, died on May 20, 2021 in St. Joseph, Michigan. A talented athlete, in 1948, as a senior, he led the West Hazelton Wildcats into the playoffs with a 92 record and was named as an all-state player. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Trieste, Italy, from 1949–1952. He played service football and basketball as well as a Postal Specialist. As a soldier, Jerry paid for his mother, Anna, to visit Italy and she saw the pope in Rome. He was recruited by the MSU Spartans as a halfback, defensive back and placekicker. He played in two Rose Bowls 1954 and 1956, which the Spartans won.

He received his Master’s in Education from Michigan State and began a remarkable coaching career. He coached at Monroe, Michigan; Indiana University; John Adams, South Bend; and Culver Academies 1970–1972.

Jerry retired from coaching and teaching in 1992 and remained active in Bridgman as an elder at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Boy Scout leader and as a Student Driver Instructor. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; and second wife, June. Jerry is survived by his son, John; granddaughter Emily; brother Bill; three nephews; two nieces; and one stepson.

John Lee Babcock ’58 (Battery A) of Mishawaka, Indiana, died on May 12, 2021. A 1958 CMA graduate, he earned his B.S. degree in Mathematics Education from Northwestern University in 1962, and two advanced degrees from Indiana University (M.S. 1969 & Ed. S. 1982). He taught mathematics at Proviso West High School (Hillside, Ill.) from 1962 to 1966 and then received a position at Culver in 1966, where he was on the winter school staff for 41 years, retiring in 2007. During college and afterwards, he worked on the Culver Summer Camps staff for 18 years, including positions as Woodcraft counselor, division commander, and instructor. And, during that time, he was the founding Director of the Culver Specialty Camps and the Family Camps.

John taught mathematics every year but one, and from 1978 to 2003, he was an academic dean, guiding juniors and seniors in their choices of high school curriculum and college applications. While serving as dean in the Academic Office, he introduced and mastered computerized course scheduling and used various software products to modernize office work. During his early tenure at Culver, for nine years, he was a highly successful varsity rowing coach, including one undefeated season.

In 1975, John won the Spivey Award for outstanding teaching. He became a Master Instructor in 1976, was nominated for honorary membership in the Culver chapter of the Cum Laude Society in 1979 and acted as the Society’s president for two terms. In 2003, at Culver, he left academic counseling and returned full time to the classroom, and subsequently served one year as Mathematics Department chairman. John was recognized by The College Board for long service to their national standardized testing program. He was an avid stamp collector and became the school’s first and longtime advisor to its Stamp Club, providing direction for its young philatelists.

John was also involved in several local community organizations. He was a member of the Culver Plan Commission, was the founder of the Lake Maxinkuckee Management Committee (a lake environment improvement and protection group in Culver), was, for two terms, President of the Lake Association and was the Executive Director of that organization for 18 years.

John and his wife traveled to many parts of the United States and overseas trips included Europe, Asia, South America, and Antarctica. John enjoyed golfing, boating, swimming, and reading, particularly historical works. For a number of years after his Culver retirement, John continued to teach mathematics as an adjunct instructor at IU-South Bend. Recently, he served two years as President of the Blair Hills Community Association. John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda; his children, Patricia (CGA ‘90, WC ‘85), Michael (WC ‘90), and Gregory (WC ’92); and seven grandchildren.

Joan Yvonne (Pattee) Heckford of Culver, died on May 31, 2021 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth, Indiana. After graduating from high school, Joan took some college courses. On May 2, 1970, she married Don Heckford. They moved from Colorado to Culver, and she was employed at the Academies until her retirement. Joan is survived by her husband, Don; two daughters, Lisa and Sharman; one brother, David; one sister, Nancy and four grandchildren.

Nancy L. McFarland of Leiters Ford, Indiana, died on July 4, 2021 at Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester, Indiana. She was a lifetime resident of the Culver area and a 1955 graduate of Culver High School. She had a long career as a hostess and receptionist at the Culver Inn and retired from that position. She enjoyed birds, wildlife and the river, but her favorite events were family get-togethers.

Nancy is survived by her seven children: Mickey, Jackie, Lori, Glennia, Cindy, Mindy, Phillip; 28 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two grandchildren, and her former husband, Francis.

John Lee Babcock

IN MEMORIAM

He later attended Ohio Northern University Law School. Dave joined his father and three brothers in running their Chevrolet dealership. Their enthusiasm and loyalty to the employees allowed the family business to expand to its current status, which today includes businesses throughout the city, state and country. He met his wife of 47 years, Dana Diemer, in high school, and they married after Dave’s graduation from Denison. Their first child, Stephanie, was born the following year when he was serving in the U.S. Air Force. Son David, Jr. arrived the next year, followed by Tim.

Beyond his prowess as a pilot, sailor and flyfisher, Dave was an enthusiastic and skilled duck hunter. As a longtime member of Erie Duck Club in Erie, Michigan, he could be found on opening and successive days of the hunting season. This past 2020 season, despite his cancer status, he hunted and filled his children’s freezers with unlucky ducks. He had an understanding of the role of conservation and was a committed supporter of Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy.

Dave was preceded in death by his wife Dana, and one brother. He is survived by two brothers, one daughter, one son, two granddaughters, as well as his trusted companion of 10 years, Judy DeVilbiss.

David Bruce “Pete” Crew III

’55 (Company B) died on Jan. 6, 2021, in Elmira, New York. After graduating from Culver in 1955, he attended Colgate University, earning his BA in 1959 and his law degree in 1962 from Albany Law School. He started his career as a law clerk in the New York Supreme Court and later worked for two major Elmira law firms before joining the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office in 1968. Pete was elected district attorney in 1973, a position he held for nearly a decade, then to the state Supreme Court for the Sixth Judicial District in 1983, and in 1987, became the district administrative judge for the Sixth Judicial District. In 1991 he was appointed as an associate justice for the Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court, Third Department, a position he held until his retirement in 2007. Over the years, he helped launch the careers of many other lawyers and judges.

Pete loved teaching law almost as much as he loved practicing it. From 1974–1993 he was a faculty member of the Department of Criminal Justice at Elmira College; in 1974 he wrote “Criminal Discovery in New York State — Selected Issues,” which was revised annually and was included as part of his course curriculum.

Pete is survived by his wife of 62 years, Fran, three daughters, one son and seven grandchildren. Two children graduated from Culver —

David B. Crew IV ’85 (Com-

pany A) and Constance Crew Ramsay ’88 (Atrium).

James Doyle May Sr. ’55

(Company B) died in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 15, 2021, from a heart attack. He won the coveted Chambers Award for his leadership, academic performance, and athletic discipline his senior year. He graduated from Rice University in 1959 with a B.A. in mechanical engineering. He is survived by his wife, Judy; three sons, Jim, Jr., Richard, and Mathew; five grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. He is also survived by his first wife and mother of his three sons, Ellen Cartwright May.

Hugh Allen Smith Sr. N’55

died unexpectedly in Valencia, California, on March 8, 2021. When he turned eight years old, he eagerly followed the “Smith Tradition” and attended Culver Woodcraft Camp and Naval Upper School, where he served as battalion commander. He also helped his family milk cows and bail hay on the Smith Dairy Farm in Merrillville, Indiana. Additionally, he helped manage The Smith Shooting Range where he, as well as local and federal law enforcement officers, trained. Following graduation from Indiana University and Indiana University Dental School in 1963, Dr. Smith enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served as a captain in the Vietnam War. Upon returning from his decorated service, he joined his father, “Doc” Smith Sr., and brother, Dr. Marvin Smith Jr., at the Smith Dental practice in Gary, Indiana, providing much needed care to the underserved community. He was also a longstanding member of the Gary Rotary Club.

After dedicating 41 years to this dental practice, Dr. Smith retired, following the death of his wife in 2004. For the past 15 years, he volunteered in his daughter, Dr. Kelly Smudde’s, dental practice, Santa Clarita Advanced Dentistry, where he spent countless hours participating in community charity events. Dr. Smith is survived by his two daughters: Dr. Kelly Smudde and Shannon Angelidis, and three granddaughters.

Robert Wendel Marek ’56

(Battery B) N’52 died on Aug. 28, 2020, in Holiday, Florida. Robert enjoyed his days working as a nurseryman for the cities of Clearwater and Largo, and he especially enjoyed his days teaching wood carving. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and son, Daniel.

James Barnes Medland ’56

(Troop A) of Phoenix, Arizona, died of natural causes on April 1, 2021. Jim attended the University of Michigan for a short time before moving with his parents and brother to Scottsdale in 1957. Having worked in the automotive field for several years, and having an affinity for British cars, Jim and four partners opened Delta Motorsports, Inc. in 1977. He and the last remaining partner sold the business to a close friend in 2013. Jim was an avid race car driver and private pilot. He was also an active member of the NRA, the Phoenix Elks, and past President of the Paradise Village Lions. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn “Kay” and is survived by his three children, Jim, Suzy and Sharon; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

James E. Vernor IV ’58 (Troop

B) died on Feb. 29, 2021. He was the great-grandson of James Vernor, the founder of the Vernor’s beverage company.

William Courtney Bollinger ’59

(Company B) died on Dec. 20, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Connie, and son W. Courtney Bollinger, Jr. H’81 W’78.

Timothy Bartholomew Reilly

’60 (Company C) died on Jan. 12, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. After graduating from Culver, he completed his degree at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, then proudly served his country as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army on a Hawk Missile base in Korea, and then in Detroit. Completing his service, Tim returned to New York City, where he started his career at Ted Bates Advertising agency. Eventually he transitioned his career into the world of finance and retired from Morgan Stanley to enjoy time on the golf course in Vermont and Arizona. He had a great “joie de vivre,”and his passions in life included his wife and best friend of 53 years, June, who survives him, along with daughter Courtney DeHoff, and two grandchildren.

David Byrd Gwinn ’61

(Company A) died Feb. 4, 2021, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, of complications from the Covid19 virus. Born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia, he never lost his distinctive accent or his attachment to the Ohio River Valley. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1965, and the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development, in 1986. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1965 and served a three-year tour of duty in Mannheim, Germany, retiring as a captain in 1968.

He had a long and distinguished career as an executive in the property casualty insurance business. When he retired after 30 years from the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies as deputy chief underwriting officer, senior vice president and managing director, he had managed numerous branch and regional offices for the corporation. Later, he worked for Kemper Insurance Companies as president of the Northeast Region.

Byrd and Molly retired to Pinehurst in 2005, following two generations of Molly’s family who had loved the community since the 1920s. Byrd spent many years as a member and president of the board of directors for Penick Village and served a number of terms on the Planning and Zoning Board for the Village of Pinehurst.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Molly; his son David; two grandchildren; eight nephews; three nieces; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, William.

Richard James “Doc”

Schumann H’61 died on Feb. 5, 2021. He graduated from Wilmington College, where he graduated in 1965. In 1974, he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and opened Enon Veterinary Hospital with his wife Patty.

Always an entrepreneur, he started a local suntan, video and frozen yogurt shop, Katch-A-Ray. Passionate about the ocean and food, Doc and Patty opened up the Dock Food and Spirits in 1994 in his childhood home. Along with his passion for the beach later in life, Doc was a staple at Sugar Hollow on Norris Lake. Doc dedicated a good portion of his life to his civic duty. He was a member of the Village of Enon Council and served as a Mad River township trustee for many years. Doc was a brother in the Yellow Spring Masonic Lodge 421 and a member of the Antioch Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters Court 10. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patricia “Patty;” two sons & daughters-in-law; four grandchildren; and two nephews.

Thomas M. Corkill ’61 (Troop

A) of Naples, Florida, formerly of Naperville, Illinois, died on May 18, 2021. He was a Lancer in the Black Horse Troop at Culver and excelled at rifle, tennis, and track. He received a B.S. in biochemistry from Cornell University, where he was a Theta Chi member and active in ROTC. Tom earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Tom served in active duty in Germany for the U.S. Army from 1967–69. He was an expert marksman in the U.S. Army Reserve and competed internationally. He retired in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel and began a career in finance that spanned 30 years. He retired at age 55 from Harris Investment Management (Chicago), where he was a partner and portfolio manager. He was named a top five fund manager by Barron’s in 2000 for the Harris Insight Index fund.

Tom is survived by his sister, Dulcie (Mack) Elwood, niece Miller Elwood, and longtime companion Rita DiVinere.

John Rodger Skinner Jr. ’62

died on Feb. 14, 2021, at home in Parkland, Florida. He attended Lehigh University and Geneva College. He was active in the radio and television industry, working at different radio stations as an “on air” personality and engineer. He ended that phase of his career at WQAM in Miami, then branched out into the sales aspect of the radio business and worked at WMJR and Y100. He founded Tunnel Radio in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as Skinner Broadcasting, Inc. and TRA Communication Consultants. Rodger was instrumental in the development and promotion of low power TV and developed several low power TV stations. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gretchen Lehman Skinner, one son, and two grandchildren.

Michael Patrick McCullough

’63 (Battery B) W’56 died on Sept. 5, 2020. His grandfather, Robert Shanks, was the head of the math department at Culver until he retired in the 1950s. He and his wife raised Michael, who grew up with

IN MEMORIAM

wonderful “family” memories of the campus, factory and friends. He graduated from Harvard University in 1967 with an A.B. degree and studied business before living in Europe and then working for a company in Silicon Valley until 2001. Since then, he was semiretired, living off and on in Bangkok and more recently, starting a second career as an ER nurse. He is survived by three children: Robby, Christine, and Jamie.

Allen John Wilkins N’63

of Verona, Wisconsin, and formerly of Huntington, West Virginia, died on Jan. 14, 2021, of COVID-19. He was a member of the Naval ROTC cadet corps at the University of Wisconsin Madison, where he received a B.S. in 1969. He taught economics there for many years while pursuing his master’s and Ph.D. degrees, which he received in 1971 and 1984, respectively. He then moved to Huntington, where he was an economics professor at Marshall University from 1985–2015 and also coached the rugby team. In 2016 Al relocated to Verona to be closer to his daughters, Lisa Ashley Wilkins Smith, Jordan Allen and Lauren Reagan Smith, all of whom survive him. In addition to his daughters and grandchildren, he is also survived by two former wives, Susan Drummond Savage of Madison, and Sara Leuchter Wilkins of Mequon, Wisconsin.

Frank Anthony Werstein Jr.

’63 (Company C) died on June 23, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Jenni. Brian Michael Crist T ’64 a longtime resident of Eagle River, Wisconsin, died on July 27, 2020, at Marshfield Medical Center. Brian had owned and operated Alexander’s Family Pizza in Eagle River since 1976. He was very involved in the community and served on the Eagle River Area Fire Department. Brian was also an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed sporting clay shooting. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Susan; one son, and two brothers.

James Richard Spiece ‘64

(Company B) N’62 W’60, formerly of Wabash, Indiana, died unexpectedly on Feb. 27, 2021, while wintering in Green Valley, Arizona. Born Sept. 8, 1946, in Wabash, he attended Culver Woodcraft Camp and Naval School. He graduated from Wabash High School in 1964, then Jim attended Indiana University and graduated with a BS in 1969 after serving two years in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany. He married Glenda (Oswalt) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Aug. 19, 1978. Jim was a graphic designer and type designer who enjoyed resurrecting old typefaces.

Raymond Hays Morrison Jr.

’64 (Troop B) died on March 15, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended both Miami of Ohio University and MacMurray College before enrolling in Control Data Institute in St. Louis in 1968. His career was in computers; he worked first for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, and then for the Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement in 2017. Ray was a member of The Media Club and served on the board of Gateway Metro Federal Credit Union for 40 years. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow (of the Rotary Foundation). He is survived by five cousins, close childhood friends, and his two godsons, Benjamin and Timothy Schade.

Gary Eugene Pond ’66

(Company C) died on Feb. 9, 2021, of cancer. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington for three semesters. In 1968, Gary married Patricia Stillwagon and worked as a regional sales manager for Wheel Horse, a company that started in the garage of his grandfather, Elmer Eugene Pond, in 1946. He later sold hyperbaric oxygen chambers for Curran Medical. In 1990, he and his father started Porter Case, a company that manufactured carryon size luggage that featured a built-in cart, and Gary served as president of the company. He loved sailing and completed many Chicago Mackinac races. He also loved skiing and enjoyed several trips to Courchevel to ski in the French Alps. Gary is survived by his wife, Martha; his two children, Jonathon Pond and Heather Pond; and one stepson, Brett.

John “Jack” Michael M.

Broadbent W’67 died on April 7, 2020, in Grasonville, Maryland. He received his BA in history from American University in 1976. He met and then married Lani in 1993 when they both worked for Piedmont Airlines.

He was a pilot for his entire 35-year career, first flying gas pipeline patrol flights in Ohio to build time after he learned to fly in the Cleveland area. He was hired at Class One Aviation at Washington National Airport where he flew charter flights. In 1981 he was hired at Fairways Aviation, a contract carrier for the U.S. Navy, where he flew the Beech 99 and de Havilland Twin Otter in the U.S. and Canada until 1985. On May 5, 1985, he was hired at Piedmont Airlines, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He upgraded to captain on the B737 in 1991, and later flew the B757/767 and A320 as a captain until his retirement flight on March 26, 2019.

Jack also had a lifelong passion for history, ancient and modern, especially military history and politics, as well as local and regional history. He had a second home in Canada on Georgian Bay and spent as much time as he could on his friends’ sailboats. He was known for his quick wit, his supportive generosity, and his ready offer of assistance to all.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws. He is survived by his wife, Lani, sisters, an uncle, a sister-inlaw, several brothers-in-laws and many nephews and nieces.

Michael Todd Jackson ’67

(Company C) N’64 died on April 6, 2021. A 1971 graduate of Hanover College, Mike went on to work in the family business of commercial banking in the Midwest. After three decades working in the banks, it was the family’s decision to

sell, prompting his move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to pursue his love of boating. He met his lifelong partner, Marcie, and they were married in 1991.

They traveled extensively, landing on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a year. Upon returning stateside, the two continued their travels in an RV, seeing much of North America. During these years of road tripping, they stumbled into Whitefish. Lifting roots from Florida, the pair moved to Whitefish full time in 1992. Shortly thereafter, their only child, Sage, was born in 1996. Mike is survived by his wife Marcie, daughter Sage, and several nieces and nephews.

Blair John Van Zetten N’69

died on Jan. 18, 2021, at Honor Health, Shea Medical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School in Iowa, then earned his B.A. in business at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.

After the death of his father in 1975, Blair took control of Oskaloosa Food Products, which was his biggest passion. He was dedicated to the egg industry and voluntarily served on many boards to ensure that it expanded and competed globally. Blair married Wendy A. Davis in 1975, and together, they raised three sons, Jason, Brandon, and Travis.

Blair served on many related boards during his career, including the American Egg Board and the United Egg Association. A founding member of the Iowa State University Egg Industry Center Board, Blair acted as its first chair. He was known as “Mr. Egg” and played a pivotal role in enhancing the teaching and research of poultry science.

He was also a member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council. In 2020, he was given the highest honor through the ISU Alumni Association to individuals who are not graduates of Iowa State University but who have made significant contributions to Iowa State’s reputation and pursuit of excellence. Blair was named Urner Barry’s Egg Person of the Year in 2016 and was inducted into the Iowa Poultry Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy; three sons; and three grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister.

Larry Washburn “The Duke” Devaney ’69 (Company C)

died on Jan. 24, 2021, in Saratoga Springs, New York. He graduated with honors from Culver in 1969 and then attended Valparaiso University. He had a long-distinguished career that spanned more than 30 years with Met Life Auto & Home. Larry retired in 2012 as a full vice president and executive officer of the firm. He was a mentor to many in the field and remembered and respected for his business intellect and leadership skills.

After retiring Larry and his wife, Joan, pursued their love of travel and spent winters in their second home in Las Vegas. After moving to Saratoga Springs in 1991, he found a love of horse racing at the historic Saratoga Flat Track.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Joan; three children, Jamie, Heather, and Randall; a stepdaughter Cassandra; four grandchildren; two brothers and his former wife, Bridget.

Murray Malcolm Sommer Jr.

’69 (Company A) W’65 died on March 9, 2021. His career was focused on sales of industrial and specialty steel wire, plus wire rod and bar products in the southeastern U.S., in all states east of the Mississippi River including Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Florida. He was also responsible for sales in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico from the wire mill in Whiteville, North Carolina, and the wire mills in eastern France. His father, Murray

Sommer ’43 (Company A)

W’38 attended both the summer and boarding schools.

William Alexander Adair ’69

(Company B) W’64 of Topeka, Kansas, died unexpectedly on May 15, 2021, at the Stormont Vail Hospital. He earned a B.S. in accounting from Southern Methodist University in Texas and was close to earning a master’s degree in accounting. William was self-employed, a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, and enjoyed baseball and NASCAR racing. Survivors include one brother, three nephews, and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, stepmother, and stepsister.

Robertson Delos Ward N’71

died on Jan. 13, 2021, in Provo, Utah, after a hardfought battle with ALS. He

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IN MEMORIAM

graduated from Glenbard West High School in 1973 and earned a B.S. at Iowa State University in an individualized major, Community Medicine Cultural Perspectives, the focus of which was seeing medicine through an anthropological lens, curious about the cultural connections between community and health. He then attended medical school at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he completed his medical residency at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, and was awarded the Resident of the Year in 1984. During this time, Rob attended a program called Lend-a-Hand, where he was influenced by a man named Finley Sizemore, who changed the trajectory of his medical career and influenced him to practice rural medicine.

Rob set up a solo practice in Butler, Kentucky. In addition to being the town physician, he worked a 27-acre family farm raising chickens, horses, and cattle. Rob’s 38-year career as a physician was packed full of accomplishments. He spent more than a decade serving a rural community as the town’s family physician and started a community-focused addiction practice called Project Reach. He launched several functional medicine clinics that specialized in neurobiology balance, including Utah Bio Balance in Provo, Utah. In his final years he returned to family practice at the Central Valley Medical Center, where he was the beloved physician of many. Rob was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 24, 2011, at the age of 56. He is survived by his wife, Diane; three sons, two daughters; and seven grandchildren.

Joseph Victor Swales ’72

(Company A), died on March 29, 2021. Throughout Joe’s childhood, he and his family lived in various countries, ultimately settling in Findlay, Ohio, which he always fondly referred to as home. He attended the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was on the swim team and a member of Phi Gamma Delta.

Upon graduation, Joe worked in the oil and gas industry, spending 17 years in London/Scotland, where he met and married his wife, Wendy. They had two children, James W.E. “Jamie” and Olivia M.E. “Olive.” In 1993 he and the family moved to Sugar Land, Texas where Joe married his second wife, Waukita, in 2008. He loved mentoring young industry professionals, and his expert negotiation skills were respected worldwide. Joe is survived by one son, one daughter, one sister, and one brother.

John Andrew Blum ’74

(Company A) died on May 22, 2021 near Jasper, Alabama. After Culver, he attended the University of Cincinnati and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1979. He was assigned to VMA(AW)533 as an A6 Intruder Bombardier/ Navigator, serving primarily in Cherry Point, North Carolina, Iwakuni, Japan, and Bahrain, where he flew 28 combat missions over Iraq in support of Desert Storm. He also served as a tactics instructor at the Naval Strike Warfare Center in Fallon, Nevada, and completed carrier tours in the Mediterranean on the USS Saratoga and the USS Roosevelt. He later transitioned to F/A18 weapons systems officer in El Toro, California.

John was a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting in Quantico. He served as the commanding officer of the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron in Cherry Point, North Carolina. His final tour of duty was as the operations officer for Marine Aircraft Group 12 in Iwakuni.

He received many awards over his career, including the Marine Flight Officer of the Year award in 1990. “Blackjack” retired from the Marine Corps to Birmingham, Alabama, where he enjoyed spending time with his wife and two sons, as well as pursuing his many interests which included flying vintage airplanes, hobby beekeeping, gardening, boating, and fishing.

Stephen Laurence Gatzke ’75

(Battery C) of Fort Pierce, Florida, died on May 13, 2020, at Indian River Hospital, Vero Beach, Florida. After Culver, he graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, then moved to Vero Beach, where he founded Gatzke Insurance Company. He married Ana L. Arana in 1997. He loved tennis and was ranked No. 2 in the state for his age group. He also enjoyed golfing, fishing, fly tying, and being with his son. He is survived by his wife Ana, son, Ethan, two brothers and his father.

Samuel Thomas Anderson ’77

died March 19, 2021, at his home at Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club in Hernando, Florida. Sam was a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in business administration and marketing. He served in the U.S. Army in the Big Red One as an armor specialist and drove the third M1A1 tank into Iraq during the first Gulf War, Desert Storm. The author John Richard Sacks was embedded with his unit and wrote the book “Company C: The Real War in Iraq” that featured Sam and other members of his unit.

He was employed at MTD Products Inc. as a sales representative for the Cub Cadet ATVs and then started his own ATV business. After his move to Florida, he took courses in day trading and became a trader for a time. Sam also obtained his real estate license.

Sam married Diana Lea Burton in 1994 and they lived in Medina, Ohio; Denton, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Hernando, Florida. Sam is survived by his wife, Diana; two sisters, two nephews, and one great-nephew.

Karl Manning Phares T ’78

of Kingston, Tennessee, died at home on May 6, 2020. He was a volunteer firefighter for the East Roane County Fire Department. He also served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Kentucky National

Guard. He is survived by his wife, Angela, one sister Patricia, one uncle, two nieces, and five nephews. Karl was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Alexander Lloyd Munroe ’84

(Troop A) died at his Indianapolis home on Jan. 16, 2021, surrounded by family. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of corporal. Alex returned to active duty in 1990 to serve in Operation Desert Storm.

He worked for the Stuart Anderson steakhouse chain, that led to him being named the head of operations at the New Orleans House, a legendary seafood buffet establishment. His growing reputation led him to be recruited to craft the menu for John and Nancy Hill’s Broad Ripple Brewpub in 1990, the state’s first brewpub. A year later, he helped Puccini’s Smiling Teeth launch its first store. A stint at Snax/Something Different helped him hone his gourmet cooking skills, which he put to good use at Peter’s in Fountain Square. This pioneering high-end gourmet restaurant preceded Indy’s foodie scene by two decades.

Alex’s life was upended in 1994 when he was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident, sustaining such severe injuries that he was unable to derive nutrition from food and required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the rest of his life.

He continued to consult in the food service industry, assisting a friend in opening a restaurant in Broad Ripple, the Village Idiot, that eventually became 3 Sisters Café.

Alex is survived by his longtime partner, Moira Sommers; three daughters, four sons, as well as his brother Grant ’87, and sister-in-law, Ginny Bess Munroe ’86. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his parents, Phyllis and Bruce ’54 Munroe, both of whom have died since this TAPS section was created (see earlier entry for Bruce).

Ernesto Pablo Uribe ’86

(Troop A) died March 5, 2021 in Bogota, Colombia at the age of 53. He was a two year senior who played varsity tennis for Culver. Ernesto was in the restaurant business in Colombia, and had recently started his home delivery restaurant. He is survived by his two teenage sons, Martin and Daniel, and his three sisters Nani, Patricia and Catalina Uribe, all residing in Bogota, Colombia.

OTHER PASSINGS

Between January 1 and June 30, 2021, we received notice of death for the following alumni.

Eric Christian Nielsen H’38 May 22, 2020 James Hunt Barker W’38 Oct. 10, 2020 Lucious McCutchen Butts Jr. N’41 May 10, 2019 Frank Wilkison Batsch W’42 Dec. 26, 2020 Otis Wilson Howe Jr. N ’44 Jan. 3, 2019 Jack Charles Luchtman N ’45 May 15, 2019 Robert John Bull N ’46 Sept. 30, 2019 William Howard Cammack NB ’46 Feb. 2, 2020 Frank Zinsmeister Riely N’46 Jan. 5, 2021 Richard Curtis McRoberts T ’47 Jan. 3, 2021 Ronald Norbert Lee ’51 (Company B) March 14, 2019 William Theodore Jefferies T’51 Oct. 5, 2019 Donald Brown French NB’51 March 22, 2020 Russell James Baxter Jr. N ’53 Feb. 2, 2021 Kent McCuskey Weeks N’54 July 30, 2020 George Myers Lewis, Sr. N’54 Jan. 9, 2021 Timothy Jeremiah Crowley N’56 May 11, 2021 Wilfredo Alberto Geigel Rodriguez H’57 March 22, 2017 Michael Butler Snite T’57 March 31, 2019 John Michael Burke W ’57 March 26, 2020 James Louis Small NB’57 Jan. 31, 2021 Ralph Woolling Coble W’58 Dec. 17, 2020 Craig William Hurley N’58 Dec. 27, 2020 Glen Howard Cannon N’59 July 12, 2019 Frank Bailey Rackley Jr. H’60 March 15, 2019 Phillip Alan Tate N’62 Dec. 22, 2019 Gary Alan Graham H ’62 Jan. 10, 2020 John Alan Campbell N ’62 June 3, 2020 James Chester Britt Jr. H’62 July 16, 2020 Isaac Cunningham Van Meter IV W’64 June 5, 2019 Duane Saunders ’64 (Battery C) Aug. 5, 2020 Robert Christian Johnston ’64 (Band) Feb. 5, 2021 Oscar Franklin Forester III ’65 (Company A) Jan. 21, 2019 Christopher Gilbert Chesley T’67 March 9, 2017 Richard Welker Clay ’71 (Battery B) March 19, 2019 Cameron Gene Hach ’81 (Company C) Aug. 4, 2020 Corey Sean Chakeen ’08 (Company C) Feb. 5, 2021