65 and counting:
Our august class of 1954 is observing our 65^th year since graduating with two lunches. The first was April 11^th and the second will be in early October.

So what is special about 1954 and 2019? Checking the Chinese zodiac, 1954 was the year of the Horse and 2019 is the year of the Pig. While the zodiac predicts for those born in 1954 and 2019, I am thinking maybe they apply to our special events as well.

The horse-1954—lucky and unlucky things. The zodiac says number 2, 3, and 7 are lucky as well as combination of those numbers. Unlucky are 1, 5, and 6. Lucky colors are green and yellow. Our class colors were green and bronze.

The pig—2019—Lucky numbers are 2, 5, and 8, so maybe 2 is double lucky to be in both years. Unlucky are 1 and 7, so maybe 1 is doubly bad to be in both years. Who wants to be number 1 anyway? Number 7 is perhaps bipolar.

There is a lot more to report about each sign, but enough for now.

The Lunch–Sixty-four classmates and friends lunched together, with repeated comments that it was the best gathering yet. Some of the regulars missed and were missed. But it was a treat to see Heinz Loth, who drove from Canada to visit twin sister, Helga, and to come to the lunch. It was also good to have Bobby Hunt
and Sylvia de la Garza
Cueva join us for the first time. Sue Settles
arrived all the way from Bulverde. Last time we heard from her, she was living in Arizona, but she confessed that she moved back last November.

David Segura, Jeff Class of ’67 joined us. David is writing a history of Jeff, covering the first fifty years, 1932-82, to be published later this year. David’s intent is to set the record straight about myths that have sprung up over the years. I mentioned a couple of those in the last blog. From David, I learned that Miss Brewer sponsored The Swastika Club in the early years. It was a girls’ group to manage the social affairs of the ROTC. I wonder who managed their other affairs. The name was changed in 1936, as Hitler rose to power.

Smiling faces from the lunch

Danny Sciaraffa Bobby Hunt Sue Elo Heinz & Marlene Loth

Another passing…

Charles W. Gabehart

November 4, 1935 – April 5, 2019

[Note: to leave a message for Gerry and family, go to https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/charles-gabehart-obituary?pid=192145260&page=2]

On Friday, April 5, 2019, Charles Wayne Gabehart of Natalia, loving husband and father of three sons, passed away at the age of 83 in San Antonio, Texas.

Wayne was born on November 4, 1935 in Alice, Texas to Wes and Alice Gabehart. He grew up in San Antonio and attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he met the love of his life in 9th grade, Gerry Guly, after asking to borrow a pencil which he never returned. On August 19, 1955 they were married (63 years this past year) and raised three sons, Charles, Tom and Bill.

He worked for Humble Oil (later renamed to Exxon) for 33 years starting off driving a truck delivering gas to service stations and worked his way up to a senior sales marketer. This resulted in moves from San Antonio to Kingsville, Corpus Christi, McAllen and finally to Austin before retiring in 1988. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing with his sons and many friends, but his true talent was playing the piano. He never really learned to read music, so he learned to play by ear and became a master at it. Growing up and all through adulthood, friends would often ask him to play a good old country and western song for them, he would grin and act shy for a minute saying he really doesn’t know any but would quickly sit down and entertain them for hours. After moving to the Devine area, he was invited to join the band “Country Swing” and played with them for many joyful years, playing dance halls and for special events all across the area. He also enjoyed playing his keyboards for the residents of various nursing homes in San Antonio and around Medina County, he would play any request to brighten someone’s day. He was known by all to be a good man and even a better friend by always helping those in need and greeting everyone with a smile, hand shake and doing his best to place a smile on your face with his quick wit.

Wayne was preceded in death by his father Wes, his mother Alice, sister Joyce and eldest son Charles. He is survived by his wife Gerry, sons Tom and Bill, daughters-in-law Mary and Cheryl, granddaughters Kristen, Sarah and Caitlin, great-granddaughter Savannah, sister Doris Stahl and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

A service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, April 14th at Hurley Funeral Home in Devine at 3:00pm. Family and friends are all welcome. In lieu of flowers the family asks of those who would like can make a charitable donation to Alzheimer’s Texas at WWW.TXALZ.ORG or a charity of your choice in memory of Wayne.