Class Notes

Joel Jordan Arrendale, M.D., age 95 ½, died May 3, 2012. He was born in Rabun County, Georgia on October 30, 1916 to the late John V. Sr. and Tallulah Edwards Arrendale. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Catherine Thompson Arrendale, his brother John V. Arrendale, Jr.; sisters, Clyde A. Pleasants English and Ruth A. Ezzard, nephews, Jim Pleasants, Henry Ezzard, and Bill Ezzard. He is survived by his son, Bruce Arrendale; his daughter, Suzanne A. Strickland, and her husband Ricky; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Gwen Arrendale; and numerous nieces and nephews including Janie P. Taylor, Jeanne N. Pleasants, Peggy P. Thrasher, Joanne E. Barksdale, John Ezzard, M.D., Lucy E. Bartlett, Betty Ezzard, and Elizabeth E. Powell. He was a graduate of the Young Harris Academy, Maryville College, TN; and the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Arrendale served in World War II as a Captain in the Army Medical Corps. He was assigned as a surgeon on a hospital ship. For over 40 years he practiced medicine in Hayesville, NC; Cornelia, GA; the Alto and Reidsville state prisons, and in Douglasville, GA. He was a member of the Douglasville First United Methodist Church, a Mason, a member of Scottish Rite 32nd degree, a Shriner, and a member of the University of Georgia Gridiron Honorary Society. He excelled in his hobby of creating fine furniture, wooden trays, bowls and boxes, and whimsical items. His body was donated for medical studies.

– age 99, of Dandridge, died Tuesday, July 15, after a long and fruitful life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Wallace and Eva Blackburn McMurray, her husband of 61 years, Edward Stanley Felknor, and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Mil

Leola Halsey Blackwood Lightowler passed away peacefully on June 8, 2015. After graduating from MC in 1936 she continued her studies at Tennent College of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, receiving her second Bachelors Degree and Certificate in Religious Education in 1937. She worked as a Director of Religious Education at a Presbyterian church in White Plains, NY before her marriage to Melville Blackwood in 1941. She and her husband moved from Connecticut to New Hampshire in 1964, where Leola received her Certificate in Public School Education at Plymouth State College in 1969. She taught third grade at Central School, Sanbornton, NH for ten years, receiving her Masters Degree in Education during this time in 1973. Leola and her husband Melville were active in the Sanbornton Historical Society. After Melville’s death in 1987 Leola continued her community activities, chairing a Historical Society Committee to place a Veterans Memorial at the Town Square in 1999. She also led a hospital sponsored senor citizens exercise group during her retirement years. She was well known and will be remembered with affection by the residents of Sanbornton. In 2003, following the death of her second husband, Joseph Lightowler, Leola moved to Walnut Creek, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, to live with her daughter Barbara Blake. On May 18, a few weeks before her death, she had celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her daughter, two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. Another granddaughter and two great-grandchildren live in Ft. Myers, Florida. Survived by two daughters, Barbara Blake of Walnut Creek, CA, and Patricia Blackwood of New Hampton, NH, three granddaughers, and six great-grandchildren. A son, William Blackwood ’68 deceased in June 2013.

J. Esther Montgomery, 103, born March, 1913, near Greenback, TN departed life here on earth to dwell in the Kingdom of God forever on June 3, 2016. Esther was a college professor and retired from Tennessee Technological University in 1975 after teaching Home Economics since 1951. She also taught at Howard School in Blount County and worked in the P.T. lab during World War II. Since retirement, she was an avid genealogist. Esther received her undergraduate degree from Maryville College and her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. Education and continuing education, whether formal or informal, was always very important to her. An active member and teacher of Oakland United Methodist Church in Greenback, she also attended St. John UMC, in Maryville, and Cookeville UMC in Cookeville when she could not be at Oakland. She was a devoted daughter of James Calvin Montgomery, deceased 5/11/1965, and Johnnie McInturff Montgomery, deceased 8/4/1936. She was preceded in death by siblings, Nellie Montgomery, Calvin Chester Montgomery, Caralee Montgomery and Mildred Montgomery Janeway. Surviving family members are nieces and nephews: Mike Janeway (Ella Kline); Helen Janeway Stanley (Tom); Stanley Janeway (Brenda); and Mary Janeway Hawkins (Gregg). And 5 great-nephews: Stephen and David Stanley, Alex Janeway, Ray and Mark Janeway. Special, devoted friends, Fran (Ron) Kemp and Mark Bennett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakland UMC building or cemetery fund, or to the Holston Children’s Home.

Margaret Naomi Whitehead Rhyne passed away April 14, 2011 and joined her husband of 54 years, Fred L. Rhyne, in heaven. There to greet her were her parents, Burl and Melvina Lucinda (Mellie) Tipton Whitehead and her paternal grandparents James Alford and Lucinda Hall Whitehead along with her maternal grandparents Noah Harrison and Nancy Susannah LeQuire Tipton. Margaret was born at Chilhowee, Tennessee on December 13, 1914. Shortly after her birth the family moved to Alcoa (now known as Calderwood). Her father snaked logs for the building of the company dams in the area. The family made several moves after work ran out at Alcoa. They moved to Prospect and Hubbard where Mr. Whitehead was a furrier and blacksmith. The final move was to Union Community when Margaret and her siblings attended Everett High School. She graduated from Everett and then from Maryville College in 1936 where her major subjects were English and French. Walking to school each day, she worked in the college Maid Shop to help pay expenses. Teaching was a pleasure to her and she taught at Walland, Chilhowee View, and Bungalow. Her husband Fred L. Rhyne co-owned Rhyne Bros. Supermarket on Morganton road with his brother Joe. After retirement, she and Fred loved to jump in their motor home and travel, visiting all fifty states, some Canadian Provinces, Mexico, Guatemala, and England. A local genealogist, she wrote two books; Rhyne Families of East Tennessee and Whitehead and Related Families. She is the last surviving member of her family of six children who were: Earl, Georgia, Evelyn (married George Rutherford), Clyde (married Carleen Whitehead), and Don Whitehead. She has four children: Reba Carolyn Rhyne Meiller; Fred David Rhyne and spouse Vicki Breneman Rhyne; Clyde Thomas Rhyne and spouse Elizabeth Geren Rhyne, and Burl Timothy Rhyne and spouse Marsha Smith Rhyne. Four grandchildren survive her: Melissa Meiller Belandres and husband, Dennis; Anna Rhyne; Samuel Rhyne, and Margaret (Meg) Rhyne along with one great-grandson, Benjamin Belandres. Interment was at Grandview Cemetery.

Robert E. Roberts passed away December 11, 2002. He resided in Greenville, Tennessee.

Shufelt, Evelyn Lucile Johnson (Coddington) Our wonderful mother passed away in her daughters’ arms February 26, 2020, at Suncoast Hospice, at the age of 104. She was a resident of Lake Seminole Square Retirement Community in Seminole, Florida. She was born in Wabash, Indiana, March 12, 1915, to Amanda Charlotte Allen and Ross Leroy Coddington. She was predeceased by her parents and her husbands, Clayton Ellison Johnson Jr. (the father of her two daughters and a WWII Pacific veteran) and Russell Leroy Shufelt. She is survived by daughters, Sharlene Carrell and her husband, Ron and Diane Steen Toole (fur-baby, Fluffy); grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sean and Melissa Lloyd, fur-kids, Tobi and GeorgE, Brett and Amy Lloyd, Stella and Connor, William and Lindsey Steen III, Donovan and Shaya, Allison Steen Napior, Colleen, Keaton, Cowen, and Cooper. We would like to thank Marilyn Angwin for the loving care and friendship you provided Evelyn. Evelyn arrived in Bradenton, FL, December 1918. She attended local public schools and graduated from Bradenton High School in 1932. She graduated in 1936 from Maryville College, a Presbyterian college in Tennessee, with a degree in Music (Piano) and Elementary Education and minored in Mathematics and Castilian Spanish. That summer, she attended the University of Florida to earn her Florida teaching certificate. She often told one of her favorite stories about when she came home from Maryville College during Christmas breaks, she always made sure to go swimming in the Gulf then go back and brag to her classmates about Florida’s great weather. She was a wonderful teacher for 31 years, 1st grade was her forte. In 1955, she was selected to be one of the teachers to open Anderson Elementary School in Tampa, FL. She taught 1st grade and played the piano for almost every school play and event. Then in Nov. 1970, she retired from teaching and married Russ. She moved to Miami Shores where she would live for 37 years in the home her grandchildren loved to visit and to go on many adventures in the area. She was a Steel Magnolia, albeit a transplanted one. She was unique, strong-willed, and kind. These traits served her well as the family matriarch who provided unconditional love and support. This was also evident in the relationships that she maintained with many people all her life, including one of her 1st-grade students, a local Tampa attorney, whom she stayed in touch with through the years. She was an active member of the community, serving the Northeast Miami Federated Women’s Club and Miami Shores Women’s Club. She was a charter member of the Friendly Villagers Club (welcomed new people to Miami Shores), Kappa Kappa Iota (Eta Conclave), North Miami Garden Club, Charter member of the 39ers (a social club), Barry University Women’s Auxiliary, the United Methodist Church of Miami (served as Secretary of United Methodist Women and was member of the Circle), and The Birthday Girls, a fun dinner group. She served as an officer and committee chairperson many times. She also played the piano before many club luncheons. In Tampa, she was a member of Palma Ceia Methodist Church where she also taught Sunday school. Please donate to Suncoast Hospice or LifePath Hospice in lieu of flowers. A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 22, 2020, 2:30 pm, at Lake Seminole Square, 8333 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL.

Carolyn Nelson Staples, 84, died March 18, 2000, in the excellent care of the staff at Bennington Health and Rehab Center in Bennington, Vermont. Formerly of Stamford, CT, and Fort Myers, FL, she was the widow of the late Thomas Galati and Frederick Staples. Born in Stamford, CT, on March 28, 1916, she was the daughter of Bernard Nelson and Caroline Swan Nelson. In addition, she is survived by three daughters, Alice McGovern of No. Bennington, VT, Faith Selmer of Stamford, CT, and Candace Morris of Salem, NY; a son, Donald Staples of Southbury, CT; a sister, Mildred Frost of Salem, NY; a sister-in-law, Muriel Nelson of Bradenton, FL; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A daughter, Nan Galati; two brothers, Ernest and George Nelson; and a sister, Dorothy Campbell, predeceased her. Mrs. Staples received her teaching certification from Maryville College in Tennessee and her nursing diploma from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim award. She was employed throughout her life as a registered nurse. She continued providing health care to the elderly, even in retirement as a volunteer at the Senior Friendship Center in Fort Myers, FL. She was a member of the Daughters of the Nile, the Eastern Star, and the Vasa Star. Well loved by her neighbors, friends and colleagues, Mrs. Staples will be remembered for her openhearted generosity and service to others.

passed away on Friday March 21, 2014 at her daughters home in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN where she resided for 2 years. Julia was born in New Jersey and raised in Erie, PA. She meet her Husband, Robert H. Toms in 1932 when she entered Maryville College, Maryville, TN as a freshman and he was a junior. Post-graduation, Julia trained to teach the deaf (oral method) at Clark School for the deaf, Northampton, MA ad then taught at Mystic School for the Deaf in Mystic Conn. In 1942 Julia and Robert were married and lived in Oak Ridge Tennessee during WWII. In 1945 the couple moved to Chattanooga. Julia taught Speech and Hearing for Chattanooga City Schools from 1961-1981. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert; parents, Warren and Martha Hilditch; sister, Barbara Dougan; and brothers Warren and Hugh (Hugh was killed in World War II) She is survived by her daughters Martha Toms (Morris Hudgins) and Barbara Toms Craig (David); Grandchildren: Julia Robertson (Phil), Jennifer Sanders (Bill Gupton), Jane Peavy (Derrick), Jonathan Craig (Melanie Jordan), Great grandchildren, Patrick Sanders, Hannah Robertson, Caleb Robertson, Seth Robertson, Elizabeth Peavy and Desmond Craig.

Raymond Wilbar ’36 of Newton on Jan. 25, 2013. Husband of the late Doris (Finn) Wilbar. Father of Raymond M. of CA, Nancy Whooley of West Newton, Susan Holm of Newton, and Stephen of KY and also survived by 7 grandchildren. Brother of the late Elizabeth LaTona. Interment in Newton Cemetery.