Class Notes

Alice Leeth Adamson '67 and husband, Dr. Doug Adamson, from Tucson, were traveling though Maryville for a family reunion and to meet up with some old friends! Alice used to live in Willard House with other female students and Dean Frances Massey, the Dean of Women from 1953-1968. Alice enjoyed looking around the house and remembering how it used to look when she lived here. Interesting fact: Alice and Doug met in Ethiopia as Peace Corps Volunteers!

Reverend Donna Cieply was born in Utica, N.Y., and was an active youth member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Utica. Donna attended Maryville College (Presbyterian) in TN. After College graduation in 1967, Donna attended Andover-Newton Theological School in Newton Center, MA, and graduated in 1970 with her Master’s in Religious Education degree. She returned to Seminary (ANTS) and graduated in 1980 with a Masters of Divinity degree. Ordained in August 1982, Donna served two Presbyterian Churches in the Adirondacks of upstate N.Y; Mineville and Port Henry. In 1986, Rev. Cieply began 25+ years of service as Chaplain/Case Manager at Center City Ministries (later re-named Victory House) in Bethlehem, PA. This Ministry began as the combined efforts of 8 communities of faith to help the homeless. Pre-deceased by those who raised her (her mother Edna Cieply and her aunt Edith Wilson) Rev. Cieply is survived by her life-partner of 39 years (and spouse of 1 year), The Rev. Nancy P. Adams, and her cousin Michael Wilson, as well as numerous cousins. In lieu of flowers, a donation to The Soup Kitchen of Trinity Episcopal Church at the address listed above would be deeply appreciated. Published in Morning Call on Nov. 12, 2017.

Frank M. Eggers, 78, of Memphis, TN, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2023.
A celebration of Life service celebrating Frank’s life will be conducted by Dr. George Roberton on Thursday May 18 at 11:30am at Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to The American Heart Association or to Second Presbyterian Church.

Frank was born on February 17, 1945, in Maryville, TN to Fontella and Frank Eggers. He married Sandy (Johnson) Eggers on June 16, 1968. Frank obtained his undergraduate degree from Maryville College and was a Justin Potter scholarship student at Vanderbilt College of Medicine. He was a flight surgeon in the navy for 2 ½ years. He completed radiology residency and neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati; he was a practicing neuroradiologist for 45 years, serving both on Vanderbilt’s faculty and at Midsouth Imaging and Therapeutics in Memphis. He loved to travel and loved cheering on his favorite sports teams, especially those on which his children and grandchildren played.

Surviving are his loving wife Sandy Eggers of Memphis, TN, daughter Leann (Matt) Linam of Atlanta, GA and son Hamilton (Ashley) Eggers of Rossville, TN, beloved granddaughters Grace Caroline Linam, Lilli Eggers, and grandsons Drew Linam, Sam Linam, and Hamilton Eggers. Frank was preceded in death by his parents.

is founder and artistic director of an outreach children’s theatre in Tuscaloosa, AL. Kristin also received the “Druid Arts Award” Theater Educator of the year 2013. She is the artist and director of the “Canterbury Gallery” and has been restoring a 200 year old home on Greek Island. Kristin is also a Adjunct Professor / Human Growth and Development at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Born on Sep 9, 1945, Nancy passed from this life on Dec 28, 2016. Also known as Nancy G. Paxton-Bigorne, Nan, a resident of Berkeley, CA and aged 71 years, passed peacefully at home after battling cancer. Nan was daughter of the late Edward C. Gillingham and Doris M. Gillingham. She was a brilliant artist, passionate writer, and beautiful friend to all. Nan will be missed by friends, her brother, Bruce Gillingham, and daughter, Heather Paxton Couch and five grandchildren.

age 70 of Knoxville, TN, formerly of Forsyth, GA passed away Monday, February 23, 2015 after an extended illness. Mr. Goodwyne was a graduate of Maryville College and attended both Vanderbilt and the University of Kentucky for his Graduate studies. Walter was dedicated to the exploration of foreign language and had a love of the English language. He was preceded in death by his parents, Shi and Antoinette Goodwyne; grandmother, Agnes Cochran Bramblett and niece, Laura Antoinette (Taylor) Weinand. Walter is survived by his sister, Georganne Goodwyne Wood and brother-in-law, Jeffrey P. Wood; nephew, George P. Taylor V of Greenwich, CT; aunt, Mary G. Owen of Virginia; cousins, Karen B. Cromer of Forsyth and Susan O. Utt of Virginia; 5 great-nephews and a great-niece. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Marietta Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Private interment will be with his parents in Forsyth, GA.

Robert K. Hitch, 74, of Neptune Beach, died December 1, 2019.

69, of Richmond, returned to the Lord January 21, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 5, 1945 in Alliance, Ohio to Garnett S. and Virginia B. Goode. She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa., LeRoy, N.Y. and Bethesda, Md. She attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She married Kenneth Hitchens on March 23, 1968; they were married for 47 years. During that time they lived in Charleston, S.C., Medford Lakes, N.J., Acton, Mass., Atlanta, Ga. and Richmond, Va. Mrs. Hitchens was an educator and dedicated to her church. She taught elementary school, was the director of Christian Education in Acton, Mass., founded two church study groups, was active in mission programs and was president of Presbyterian Woman’s group at the River Road Presbyterian Church, where she was an elder. She was also active in the Micha program in the Richmond public school system. She served as a volunteer at St. Mary’s hospital gift shop for 10 years. Mrs. Hitchens was an avid traveler and along with her husband, visited over 40 countries and enjoyed sailing with friends throughout the Caribbean. She was predeceased by her parents, Garnett and Virginia Goode of Washington, Pa. She is survived by daughter, Jennifer (Dom) Ronga of Richmond; and son, Brian (Helen) Hitchens of San Diego; grandchildren, Blake and Hayden Ronga and Emma and Claire Hitchens. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Blake; brother, Richard (MaryAnn) Goode; and uncles, William and Donald Butler.

Thomas McCoy Llewellyn, BA1967, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 in Dallas, TX. He was a graduate of Maryville College (TN) and SMU (TX). He was an accomplished musician and organist, and worked as a bank loan officer for 25 years in Dallas. He is survived by his mother, Billie Llewellyn, of Hudson, FL and two brothers, Robert, of Memphis, TN and John, of Port Richey, FL.

Margaret Bembower Manrod joined the church triumphant on February 27, 2016. Margaret will be missed and is survived by her loving family: two sons, William Ehren Manrod and wife Colleen, Matthew Philip Manrod and wife Jennifer; five grandchildren, Sophia, Robert, William, Frank, and Katherine; and sister, Hope Sibson and husband Steve; and brother, Paul Bembower, and his wife, Margaret. She was preceded in death by her father, the Reverend Doctor Phillip Bembower; and mother, Catherine “Bonnie”. Margaret’s service as a Registered Nurse blessed many lives. She made friends everywhere she went. Her joy of life and love were a source of strength for those who knew her. She delighted in her family and friends. Their presence in her life brought great peace and love to her heart. Margaret felt and expressed great love for them and received the same. A celebration of Margaret’s life was conducted on Friday, March 11, 2016, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN. In memorium donations may be made to Knox Area Rescue Ministries.

This information was acquired from a recent press release from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. The article is from BamaOnline (BOL). https://247sports.com/college/alabama/

BamaOnline’s Kirk McNair among Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 50 Legends
By BOL STAFF – Mar 15, 2022, 4:15 PM

With the 50-year anniversary of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, the organization is announcing its 50 Legends over the course of March.

Each was selected at the end of an extensive process, which began with nominations from the ASWA membership, and numerous rounds of voting by the selection committee, which was primarily made up of the sitting executive council.

The 50 [were] honored during the 2022 ASWA Awards Banquet on June 12 in Birmingham.

[This] honoree is BamaOnLine staff writer Kirk McNair. [Maryville College, Class of ‘69]

McNair has twice served as president of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and been inducted into its Hall of Fame.
He joined the Birmingham Post-Herald in 1967 and was named assistant sports editor in 1969. In 1970, McNair left to join the Alabama sports information department and in 1974 was named sports information director.
He left Alabama following the 1978 season to start ’BAMA Magazine and later BamaMag.com. He sold both in 2002 but continued to work both for various owners including BamaOnLine. He’s covered over 600 Alabama football games. His books include “What It Means To Be Crimson Tide” and “Gamechangers: The Greatest Plays in Alabama Football History.”

Karl W. Miller (1967), previously of Dover, New Jersey, and currently of Hayes, Virginia, passed away on September 10, 2023, after a brief illness. He was a member of the band at Maryville and an alumnus with an active interest in his alma mater.

Karl Wallace Miller of Hayes died on Sunday, September 10th, 2023, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. Karl grew up the son of a Presbyterian minister, between Dover, New Jersey, and Slaughter Beach, Delaware. He graduated from Maryville College and remained a lifelong supporter of the institution, with a particular zeal for reinstating the marching band there. He was also passionate about spending time on the water, fishing and crabbing. He taught children, grandchildren, and neighborhood kids to catch fish and crabs, water ski, navigate waterways, read a compass, carry out “cushion rescues”, and treat rivers, bays, and oceans with respect. 

Karl was married to his high school sweetheart, Ginny, for 55 years. Through this long, loving and loyal union, Karl and Ginny served as dedicated members of the many Methodist churches that they attended, made true and lasting friendships in every state in which they lived, and gave their children, grandchildren and community a beautiful example of a long-lasting marriage full of struggles and redemption. Through their many years, Karl and Ginny always prioritized a stable home life; the first step they took upon moving was setting up the dining room table so that the family could eat dinner together and the next was to find their church. 

Christmases with their three children and seven grandchildren were raucous, joyous affairs, and Karl took great pleasure in reciting his annual Christmas tome and delivering a comical, dramatic, and sometimes inappropriate reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Christmas Day was an epic event filled with scavenger hunts, lottery tickets, forced marches, and other inexplicable traditions which were all required before presents could be opened. 

Many people knew Karl in his later years from his epic bike travels all over Gloucester County. On travels through Gloucester County, you may have seen him pedaling his bike along local roads, in some cases lying on the side of the road, or even catching a ride in an ambulance after a spill along Route 17. Despite continuous cuts, scrapes, and bruises as a result of his biking hobby, he rode daily clad in an orange vest, aiming to cover at least 300 miles a month.  

When not on his bike, Karl could be found in his garage workshop, listening to NPR News and muzak while handcrafting wooden puzzles. Although his custom name puzzles were highly sought after by toddlers and newborns alike, he also created more complicated puzzles of maps, biblical parables, and brainteasers. His license plate, PUZLMAN, advertised his small business and occasionally drew questions (and those questions ALWAYS led to a puzzle sale).    

Karl was an elder in the community of Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities over 28 years of membership. Among his many roles was as adult Sunday school teacher, shepherding his flock through a rigorous study of the Bible; correct answers to obscure Bible trivia were rewarded with chocolate and, if someone in the class were to get the extra-hard bonus question, the whole class got ice cream. With his wife by his side managing the technology, he managed to persist even throughout COVID in this community study of “the God book”. Karl was also a strong supporter of the church’s Fred Meyer Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to those pursuing education beyond high school.  

In his younger years, Karl served in the US Navy for 26 years, retiring as a Captain in 1994. His career took him on multiple deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, as he served on the USS Shadwell, USS Casa Grande, USS Vulcan, and the USS Forrestall. The Navy moved him and his family coast to coast every two to three years, and he did tours of duty in Norfolk, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Mayport, Florida; Newport, Rhode Island; San Francisco, California; Baltimore, Maryland; San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Williamsburg, Virginia. His three children went to a collective 21 schools during their elementary and high school careers. Over the years, his children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren were thrilled and terrified by the ghost stories he shared of serving on a haunted ship and fascinated by campfire tales of his time on aircraft carriers and in foreign ports during the Cold War.

During their many cross-country moves, Karl and Ginny road tripped with whatever children and pets were part of the family at that time and used trucker-style CB radios to communicate back and forth between the family’s two cars. Each day, they would put in a full day of driving, and each night they would camp (for many years in tents). In later years, Karl and Ginny upgraded to a pull behind camper and enjoyed many family reunions with grandchildren, often staying in state or national parks around the country, or traveling on their own enjoying time together.  

Karl is predeceased by his parents, Hugh and Minerva Miller, and his elder brother, Byard Miller.  He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Ginny Miller, three children, and seven grandchildren ranging in age from 9 to 22. They are daughter Rachel Schiera (Tony), son Ian Miller (Christine), and daughter Abi Healey,and grandchildren Tian, Silas, Tehva, Levi, McHenry, Emmett and Theodore. Karl was one of seven children and is survived by sisters Cathy Roth and Dixie Johnson, brothers James (Rose), Tim (Barbara), and Sam (Lisa) Miller, sister-in-law Lynn and many nieces and nephews.  

Karl had a stroke days before his death and was tenderly cared for by the competent and compassionate staff at Riverside Hospital in Newport News. His children and grandchildren gathered around him during his last days, sharing stories, singing songs, and laughing together.

On April 17, at the 2016 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Joyce Pigge will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in the category of Meritorious Service. Dr. Joyce Pigge, Bethany College, Meritorious Service. On the staff of Bethany College, Joyce has been involved in intercollegiate athletics on the institutional, conference, and national levels for over 45 years. She began her career at Bethany when she pioneered the inception of women’s athletics in the 1970s. Joyce has served Bethany as professor of political science and took on the title of Faculty Athletic Representative in 1979, a position which she has held since. On the conference level, Joyce has been the Eligibility Chair of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference since 1994 and the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference since 2007. She has served as the Eligibility Chair and Faculty Athletics Representative for the KCAC since 1996. Joyce has also been active in her participation with the NAIA, by serving on the National Executive Committee and the National Coordinating Committee.

writes in to share that this week she learned that she has been selected as a “Distinguished Graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School”. The recognition will occur on November 11, 2017, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Joyce accompanied the Bethany College Choir on their tour of Germany and Sweden May 24-June 4, 2018. Upon returning she served as a volunteer at the USGA Men’s Senior Open at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs.

69, of Springhouse Lane, New Wilmington, Pa., passed away at her residence on Sunday, March 9, 2014. Mary was born on March 9, 1945, in Bristol, Va., to the late Berkley P. and Laura ‘Dulaney’ Rucker of Bristol, Tenn. She was a granddaughter of the Dulaney family of Medical Grove in Blountville, Tenn., and a niece of the late Mary R. and Frank L. Marney of Bristol. Mary was a 1963 graduate of Dobyns-Bennet High School in Kingsport, Tenn. She earned a B.A. in Music from Maryville College, Tenn. She was awarded a Masters in Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Indiana University School of Music in 1969, as a student of Menahem Pressler. Dr. Rucker taught at Otterbein College in Ohio, then completed her DMA in piano performance at West Virginia University in 1979. She joined the faculty at Marshall University (WV) in 1980, and later taught at Clarion University and Westminster College in Pa. Upon retirement, Dr. Rucker became fiercely involved in the welfare of feral cats. Most recently she supported Trap, Neuter and Return (TNP) programs locally and nationally. Mary is survived by two very individual and remarkable nephews, Paul Berkley Rucker of Minneapolis, Minn., and David Nathan Rucker of Berkeley, Calif. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her brother, William B. Rucker in 1988; and her partner, Thomas Lynn Fox in 2006. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Spiritualist Past Church, 2041 Moravia St. Ext., New Castle. Pa. There will be a private graveside service at the Blountville, Tenn. Cemetery at a later date.

Edward Dyal Smith, age 70, of Flat Rock died Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the Elizabeth House. He was born June 20, 1945 in Knoxville, TN; a son of the late, Marion Lee Smith and Emily Elizabeth Dyal Smith. Dr. Smith graduated from Alcoa High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Maryville College in Maryville, TN. He received his PhD in Chemistry from Auburn University and completed one year post-doctoral fellowship in Ames, IA. Ed retired from DuPont in Brevard, as the senior research chemist, was a member of the Hendersonville Country Club, and the Henderson County Zoning Board. He enjoyed fishing and custom fishing rod building. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ruth Morrill Smith; son, Michael Edward Smith of Stuart, FL; daughter, Monica Elizabeth Smith of Fletcher; sister, Marian Smith Rodgers and husband, Glenn of Beaver Creek, OH; grandson, Joshua Michael Smith of Hendersonville; two nephews, Thomas Rodgers and wife, Lauren and James Rodgers and wife, Laurie, and their children, Jaxon and Mason. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 27, 2016 in the Our Lady of Angels Chapel of Immaculate Conception Church. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Edward’s memory be directed to Maryville College, New Science Building Fund, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804; or to Free Clinics, 841 Case Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

MISPRINT – In LAST FOCUS – Corrected Information Joseph E. Thomas, OD, age 66, of Manchester passed away on October 29, 2011. He was born in Birmingham, AL on March 29, 1945, the son of John W. and Barbera A. (Whitmore) Thomas. Joseph graduated from Maryville College, Maryville, TN, where he met his first love, Laurel Erskine. They were joined in marriage in 1968 in Manchester. He graduated from Yale Divinity School earning a Master of Divinity degree. The Reverend Joseph E. Thomas pastored for over 30 years in churches throughout New England, retiring from the First Congregational Church of Mont Vernon, NH. Joseph was an eternal student of religion and spirituality, and had just been accepted as a student at The University of Wales/St. David in Lampeter, Wales. While ministering Joseph completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the New England School of Optometry, Boston, MA. He pursued a dual calling as an optometrist and as a minister. Joseph loved the mountains, the ocean, traveling throughout Europe and music was a family tradition which he carried on as a long time member of the choir of Grace Episcopal Church. He was passionate about parenting, he and his wife Laurel raised three children. They enjoyed 34 years together until her passing in 2002. He was joined in marriage with Linda Garish in 2004 and joyfully embraced the role of step father to her son. He is survived by his loving wife of 7 years, Linda; 3 children, Evan Thomas of Santa Monica, CA, Barbera Thomas Dooley and her husband Jason and their son Seamus of Washington, DC, and Daniel Thomas and his wife Leila of Nashua, NH; a step son, Jonathan Garrish of Portland, ME; a brother Albert Thomas and his wife Cindy of Coco Beach, FL; sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; and their “sentient beings” the cats, Bowser and Princess.

William Gerald (Jerry) Weeks, age 69, died Friday, June 5, 2015, of a massive heart attack while attending the Southeastern Lutheran Synod Convention in Birmingham, Ala. Jerry was born Nov. 12, 1945, in Knoxville, the son of William Oscar and Mildred Haun Weeks, who preceded him in death. He married Marian McCauley Weeks '70 on Aug. 6, 1967, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville. Jerry graduated from Bearden High School in Knoxville in 1963, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from Maryville College, Master of Divinity from Yale University, and Master of Theology from Princeton University. Jerry was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1971 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville. He served churches in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas, and Virginia. He was currently serving the congregation at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Knoxville. He is survived in death by his wife of almost 48 years, Marian; his daughters, Tonja West '92 (Michael) of Wausau, Wis., and Stephanie Bunten (William) of Topeka, Kan.; his granddaughters, Meredith, Hillary, Elaine, and Suzanne; and his beloved dog, Prince. The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville. Visitation will be held in the Messiah Lutheran Church fellowship hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Maryville College, Advancement Office, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804.

John George Wolfe, III, of Kernersville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2022, under the watchful care of his family and a loving healthcare team.
He was born on September 23, 1945, in Winston-Salem, NC. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryville College, where he met and married the love of his life, Bobbie. He went on to receive a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University.
John was a licensed attorney for more than 50 years with a private practice in downtown Kernersville, NC, including service as the Town of Kernersville’s legal counsel for 43 years during that tenure. A fixture in Kernersville and pillar of the community, he played a substantial role in many successful initiatives to benefit the community he loved so much, often working behind the scenes.

John was the recipient of a multitude of awards, recognitions, and honors. These include the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the state of North Carolina and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. He was generous with his time and talents, serving in volunteer and board leadership capacities with many local, regional, and national organizations.
He loved the arts and history, was an accomplished photographer, and had a special love of music, especially folk and bluegrass music. He took in the wonders of the world that travel offered, always taking the road less traveled in search of unique experiences and adventure instead of the well-beaten paths in new places.

He is preceded in death by his father, John G. Wolfe, Jr. and his mother, Polly D. Wolfe. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Bobbie Wolfe, his sisters Pamela Browne and Patty Peeler (David), his sons J.G. Wolfe (Erin) and Cary Wolfe (Mindy), and his beloved grandchildren Bryan, Emma, Ashton, Grayson and Emerson, as well as a large extended family.