Bobby Jean Fulkerson Render.
Above picture is of Bobby Jean and her husband, Charlie Ralph.
Bobby Jean Fulkerson Render went to Murray State University, soon after her graduation, to become a Nurse. After graduation, from Murray State with a degree in nursing, she got a job at the Owensboro Daviess County Hospital (Now Owensboro Medical Health Center) as a Respiratory Therapist. While working in Owensboro she married Charlie Ralph and they made their home in Owensboro.
The country has called a lot of former residents home and after retirement, Bobby and Charlie built a new home in the Echols Community not far from her old home place. Bobby has a son and three daughters and from those children, she now has ten grandchildren. Bobby enjoyed most of her retirement years as she loved all things pertaining to nature and the outdoors. She enjoyed working in her flower garden and Bird Watching. Failing health has necessitated a move to the Wellington Park Home in Owensboro where she continues to be a resident.Charlie Ralph died several years ago.
6/7/08 Bobby J. Ralph, 76, of Owensboro, passed away Monday, June 2, 2008 at Wellington Park in Owensboro.
She was born March 26, 1932, in Echols to the late Paul and Elizabeth Wydick Fulkerson. She was a retired respiratory therapist for Owensboro Daviess Country Hospital, a graduate of Murray State University and a member of Pond Run Baptist Church in Echols.
Survivors include a son, Jeff Ralph of Tampa, Fla.; three daughters, Jeanie Ling and Beth Taylor, both of Owensboro, and Teresia Harris of Reynolds Station; two sisters, Bonnie Robinson of St. Louis, Mo, and Paulette Paxton of Rockport; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial services for Mrs. Ralph are pending. Arrangements will be handled by William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam.
Anna Frances Benton.
Current picture above of Anna Benton.
Anna Frances, like a lot of her Classmates, moved to Louisville soon after graduation from High School. She met a local man by the name of Will Auxier and they were soon married. The marriage produced a set of twins and two other children. At this time, she has four grandchildren. Anna worked for the Louisville Board of Education and retired from there after 27 years of service. Anna enjoys her children and grandchildren and spends a lot of enjoyable time helping at the local Rest Homes. She is quick to tell you that her health is good, and like a the rest of us, she is somewhat slower. Aren't we all. Sounds like a winner to me!
Anna Christine Goodall.
In the space above is an older picture of Christine Goodall.
After graduation from Rockport High School, Christine enrolled at the University Of Louisville. She entered the field of Nursing and got a job with a Louisville Hospital. She married Joseph Porter and they made their home in Louisville. They raised one son and one daughter. She passed away in 1982.
Harold Gordon Robinson.
Picture of Dr. Harold Robinson.
Harold Robinson left Rockport High School attending a Medical School. After college and an internship, Harold settled in Florida where he set up a Family practice in Lakeland, Florida. His wife Bonnie died several years ago. From what I have been told, Harold has two daughters and a son. There is one grandchild..
Harold fought cancer for several years. During this time, he still tried to take care of his patients and would keep his office open. Today, Harold seems to be free of the cancer.
Ellen Lee Geary.
Above picture supplied by Ellen. Thanks Ellen.
Ellen L. Geary, like many of the Rockport female graduates, found work with the General Electric Company in Owensboro, Kentucky. After three years, at GE, she found a job with the Montpelier Glove Co. Inc, in Hartford, Kentucky. It was much closer to home and she would not have to make that long drive twice daily. She worked for Montpelier Glove Company, as a bookkeeper, for 17 years. From there, Paxton and Ball was becoming established and she became the Office Manager and held that job for 20 years, until retirement.
Ellen married Vernon Ball soon after graduation, and working together, they help establish "Paxton And Ball Oil Company". The marriage produced one son and two daughters and from that Ellen now has 7 Grandchildren and 6 Great Grandchildren. Vernon died in 1988 and since then Ellen has been involved in many local benefit causes and clubs. She has helped organize the Rockport Reunion since 1990. She was in a Travel Club for many years and has enjoyed meeting and making new friends along the way of her travels. Of course, she has found great joy with grandchildren.
12/21/06-It is with great sorrow that I need to report the death of Ellen Ball. She died on this date after suffering a heart attack. May Ellen always be remembered for what she has meant to the Rockport/Echols area and for all of Ohio County. She will certainly be missed by all.
Glendon Dale Maple.
Glen Dale is pictured above with three of his classmates. Hilma Stewart is on the left and Anna is on the right in a white top. To the right of Anna is Ellen Ball.
Glen Dale went to Louisville to find work after High School Graduation. I think that he started out with G. E., but don't know if he retired from G. E. or if he worked for other companies. After retirement, he and his wife made several moves, trying to find their special nook. They lived in Florida for awhile and then tried Hartford. They ended back up in Louisville where they are living at the time of this writing. There were no children.
Harry Brown.
Harry Brown and his wife are picture in the above space.
Harry Brown enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Rockport High School. His service to his country was for a few months over four years. Pondering between a Navy career and a civilian, Harry decided to go to Ohio to work. (I do not know at what). The cold and harsh winters in Ohio were not to Harry's liking and he found his way back to the Sunshine State. While in the Navy, he had spent some time in Florida and the weather was more to his liking. He now found employment in Florida as well as a wife. There are some children, but I am not aware of the number.
A few month earlier, Harry made a return visit back to Ohio County and the State of Kentucky. While here visiting, he called on Ellen G. Ball, a former classmate. Then he made a trip to Rockport for a nice visit with me. Our visit was a pleasant one and we talked about many things, especially subjects that only classmates would know about. For the past several years, Harry has had some very critical health problems, however at this visit, he looked well. We discussed this current project, concerning Rockport Graduates, and he promised to send a picture and some info.
Harry, your classmates extend to you and yours our best wishes for a happy and fulfilled life.
Write-up on Harry Brown was done by Hilma A. Stewart. Thanks Hilma.
Hilma Lou Ashton.
Pictured above is Hilma taken at the 2006 Rockport Reunion.
Soon after graduating from High School,Hilma went to work for the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, in Owensboro. She started off as a Switchboard Operator and later transferred out of that department to the Traffic Department Office. In 1954 she married James I. Stewart and the new couple moved to Michigan for work. The two young people just could not get Rockport out of their head and they moved back to Rockport in 1956. In 1957 Hilma went back to work for the Telephone Company as a Switchboard Operator and later moved up to the Traffic Office as a clerk in charge of weekly schedules and payrolls. Hilma worked for the telephone company for fifteen more years while her husband worked construction jobs. One of the construction work locations was in New York City where Jim and his brother Glen help build the Time and Life Building in downtown New York City. After about thirteen years of construction work, Jim got a job with Peabody Coal Company and worked at Sinclair Mines until retirement in 1985. Both Hilma and Jim have been retired for twenty plus years and have enjoyed retirement years. They do not have any children and have lived in Rockport since returning from Michigan.
Kenneth Fay Curtis.
Kenneth is pictured above when he was in the service.
Kenneth F. Curtis, mostly know as "Tooter Bill", entered the Air Force soon after graduating from high school. He met his future wife Joan, in England. Kenneth and Joan moved around quite often while he was in service, and he retired after 20 years of service. After service, the Kenneth Curtis family, which now consisted of two sons and a daughter, came back to Ohio County to live in retirement years. From the three children, there are six grandchildren. A son and a daughter live in this area. Their other son lives in New York. They moved to the southern part of Beaver Dam in Stewart Acres. Kenneth was a fireman in the Air Force and it was relatively easy to get a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Paradise Steam Plant, as a Fireman. After several years of working with TVA, he retired once more. Kenneth's health is beginning to fail him, but life goes on.
Obituary from Tucker Funeral Home Web site on 5/4/09
Kenneth F. Curtis.
BEAVER DAM -- Kenneth F. Curtis, 77, of Beaver Dam died Friday, May 1, 2009, at his home. He was born on April 09, 1932 and retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority and was an Air Force veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Veronica Joan Curtis; two sons, Kenneth and Steve Curtis; a daughter, Vickie Abuonk; and three brothers, Norman West, Cecil Curtis and James Curtis.
Funeral services: 2 p.m. Monday at Tucker Funeral Home, Central City. Burial: Echols Cemetery. Visitation: After 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Pat Dawne Bastin.
Pat is pictured above, holding her birthday cake.
Pat Bastin enrolled in a Nursing School in Louisville after graduation from Rockport High School. She became a Registered Nurse and practiced that profession, working for Baptist Hospital in Louisville until retirement. Patricia is now a widow, retired from nursing and the mother of three children. Pat lost two of her children in their adult life and the lone daughter lives near her mother in Louisville. Patricia has seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Pat and her dog, Walter still reside in Louisville, Kentucky. She has fond memories of her high school years and sends her "Best Wishes" to all of her classmates.
Peggie Louise Fulkerson
Peggie F. and her husband, Doug Schrader.
Photo and write-up furnished by Peggie.
After I graduated from high school and one year of shorthand and typing, I lived in Alaska and California for 2 years.I moved back to Louisville where I worked for B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company in the Industrial Relations Department as a Benefits Coordinator. While there I met and married my husband of 45 years, Doug Schrader who was the Safety Engineer. After a total of 70 years employment there, 37 for Doug and 33 for me, we retired. Since retiring we enjoy playing golf and traveling. We're active in our Sunday School and church and together enjoy a family of 4 daughters, 1 son, 6 grandchildren, and expecting another in November, and 8 great-grandchildren including two sets of twins.
Robbye Nell Hert Maple.
Robbye Nell Hutchinson is pictured with her two daughters.
Robbie Nell married Durwood Maple before she graduated from High School. From that marriage there were two daughters. She and Durwood divorced and Robbie moved to Louisville. There she met Marshal Hutchinson and they were married and had one son. From her children, she now has ten grandchildren and from there, eight great-grandchildren. Robbie still lives in Louisville and she still watches over and runs a plumbing company.
Robbye wrote saying that with all of the family, she stays busy in her off time, constantly cooking and enjoying every minute of preparing food. She just celebrated another birthday and claims that she is slowing down just a little. Her off time with family is shared with church activities.
Picture and information was supplied by Robbye. Thanks Robbye.
Wendell Layton Maddox.
Picture of Wendell is from the 1950 RHS Year Book. Prefer a more recent picture and will replace if one becomes available.
Wendell and his wife of fifty three years, Katherine, live in Hartford, KY. There are no children from this marriage. Wendell retired from the Air Force after twenty years of service. He and Katherine returned to Hartford and Wendell worked for Paxton and Ball Oil Company for a short period of time. He also worked construction work and was involved with the building of the Rest Stop, at the Beaver Dam exit, on the Western Kentucky Parkway. Katherine worked as a City Clerk for the City of Hartford until she retired. Through their many travels, home and a small farm was always on their mind. The farm is the joy of Wendell's life and working on his farm, in every season, is not a chore, but an enjoyment to fulfill his every dream. Wendell will tell you that he is a "Country Boy" at heart and always will be. A visitor to his home in Hartford will relish in the enjoyment of sitting on the porch swing and reminiscing about high school times and of times long gone. With hay on the ground and a threat of rain, Wendell relished in conversing with a visitor and did not worry about the hay. Thanks to Wendell and Katherine for sharing this bit of their history.
