Author: Jim F

Charles E. Pyle (Deceased)

After completing high school in Enid, I enrolled at OU, sure of becoming an Electrical Engineer. Like other curriculums, the first two years were quite similar with all Engineering. Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics gave me as many problems as they did other new college students. I was fortunate to be a member of the OU band and enjoyed the activities through my OU career. After deciding that EE was not where I belonged, I changed to Music Education for a semester. I found there were so many natural musicians who were much better than I was with long hours of practicing. So once again I changed majors to Industrial Engineering, and stayed there and graduated in 1962. Along the way, I was married in 1959, and our first daughter, Susan, was born in November of 1961. This naturally emphasized the need to decide on a major, to finish, and get a job.

I was hired by a great company, Caterpillar Tractor Company, and went to work in Peoria, Illinois three days after OU graduation. After training, they moved me to Milwaukee for my first, real, full time job. During the stay in Milwaukee, our second daughter, Elizabeth, and our son, Robert were born. After transferring back to Peoria area in 1968, I enjoyed different assignments through the years in either the Industrial Engineering field or in manufacturing supervision. I worked for Cat until retiring after 36 years to enjoy life, grandkids, traveling, and to play more golf.

Susan graduated from University of Illinois in Music education and now is teaching in Lake Bluff, IL. Betsy wanted a family, and retired early from Illinois State University. Bob joined the Air Force and served with them for 8 years, before the USAF cut back, and gave him a nice separation check. He now works for a contract company with assignments within Caterpillar at Peoria. Each of them has four children of their own, seven girls and five boys.

I divorced after 24 years, and was fortunate to meet a wonderful lady who decided to become (as she puts it) “the last Mrs. Pyle”. So now Kathryn and I have the pleasure of a blended family of six children and fourteen grandchildren. Her daughter, Anne, lives in Vail, Colorado, after graduating from CU – Colorado Springs. Her son, Chris, graduated from Truman University in Missouri, received his commission in the Army, and experienced a tour of duty in Iraq. He now works for an employer in an assignment for the State Department in Washington, D.C.

The youngest of Kathryn’s children, Sarah, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, and was eventually stationed near us in New Orleans, LA., one month before hurricane Katrina. She and our two young grandsons, who were then three and one years old evacuated with us from our Gulf Coast homes to avoid Katrina’s rage. This gave us a month of close bonding before we were able to return home.

Kathryn and I decided that cleaning up after three hurricanes in a period of six years after we built our retirement home in Diamondhead, MS was sort of a waste of our precious retirement time together. Katrina did a pretty good job of destroying the way of life we had enjoyed there. We sold our home and found a new home on the Elm Lake Golf Course in Columbus, MS. We are now about 200 miles North of the Coast, but warm enough that we can still enjoy our pursuits of golf, travel, and grandkids.

Through all of these years, I have continued playing music for fun and pleasure. I still play the clarinet that I bought in 1956, and have picked up bass guitar and keyboard skills. I noticed that Gerald Hemphill was listed as a favorite teacher by many EHS graduates. I would also echo that and say that I was privileged to have one of the most complete and exciting musical educations in Enid that anyone could hope for. I will always be grateful for those years and the pleasures they brought to so many of us.

Charles E. Pyle, 81, of Peoria, passed away Monday, July 19, 2021 at Reflections in Morton.

Carolyn Scheffe-Anderson   (Passed away in April 14, 2017)
This biography is dated January 14, 2007.

June 1957 I went to Beetch’s Beauty College, operators, advanced, and instructors courses. I worked in a couple of small shops (can’t remember the names). I worked for Ruth’s Beauty shop in the Wallace Shopping center for a couple of years. I moved to Wichita Kansas (for 2 years) where I passed the Kansas State Board Of Cosmetology. I worked at the Lassen Hotel beauty salon at the same time I was an instructor at the Douglas Beauty academy. I had bleached my hair blonde and wore it shoulder length. What started out just going to a Hair Stylist convention ended with me modeling hairstyles in competition. Lot of sitting, boring, times but it was very interesting in learning a lot of different techniques which I taught to my students at the Beauty academy.

I met my husband Bobby Anderson while living in Wichita. We were married at Calvary Baptist Church in Enid on 12/22/62. We moved to California (San Fernando area) arriving Christmas day 1962. I went back to beauty school, passed the California Cosmetology Board and worked in a large salon in California. It was all nights and weekends which I didn’t like so I quit and became a mother to a girl, Laurie, and 2 boys Daryl and Andy.

After nine years living in the San Fernando Valley, we bought our first home in 1971 in Simi Valley CA. Then, 5 years later we moved to a larger house where we lived for 30 years. Pop Warner style football, youth baseball and girls softball kept us busy for a number of years. Bob graduated from Pepperdine University with a BS degree in Adminstration. Bob worked for Rocketdyne the whole time we lived out here. The company changed hands three times (North American, Rockwell and Boeing). Bob worked on space shuttle and space station programs. Bob retired Jan 99. We took advantage of all the sights and the warm climate for camping. When Andy was 14 I decided to go back to work. Building computers. I also had a chance to return to school and learn to read blue prints, schematics, in addition to soldering and mechanical assembly. I got a job at ITT Gilfillian and worked for 2 years as an Electro/Mechanical Assembler. Applied for inspection and worked as an inspector for 8 years. (Much easier work than hair dressing). In Jan 1994 I took temporary layoff. I was injured in the Jan 17, 1994 Earthquake and began the worst year of my life. I don’t remember much of it.

My youngest son Andy (age 24) was murdered March 3, 1994 in a car jacking while on a fishing trip. (Andy was shot in the back from 144 ft.) The scum bag who killed him is serving life in prison without possibility of parole. At the trial I realized how few rights the victim’s parents and relatives have. I joined Parents of Murdered Children which helped me keep my remaining sanity. I have been working with Collene (Thompson) Campbell on an amendment to the constitution for victim’ rights. When it was voted down, we tried again. We did get a victims rights bill which was passed and took effect right away. We are now enjoying retirement, motor home camping and traveling. We spent a month each summer from 1998 to 2005 camping and fishing with my brother and sister-in-law, plus my sister and brother-in-law at the Lake of the Arbuckles in Sulphur OK… (now we have too many health issues to continue doing that). So we just get out and wander around the Western United States lodging in Thousand Trails campsites. They have full hook ups. Lots to do. We have two grand daughters who keep us busy. The youngest is 2 and really keeps us on our toes. The older is 11, sings with the Los Robles Children’s choir.(3 years). We are busy taking her to practices and concerts. She is in her third year of piano and voice lessons. Her goal is to go to Berkley School of Music in Massachusetts.

Carolyn Campbell-Roller

I attended Enid schools all twelve years … McKinley Grade school, Emerson Junior high, and Enid High school. After high school graduation, I attended Oklahoma State University four years, graduating in May, 1961 with a degree in Sociology. Richard (Dick) Roller and I were married the Sunday after my graduation. We celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary this year.

Dick received his degree from OSU and his ROTC Army Commission as an infantry officer. We were sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia and Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. We loved living in the South. Dick ultimately decided against a military career and returned to OSU in 1964 for graduate School. We have spent Dick’s CPA career in Oklahoma and Kansas, living in Topeka, Kansas the past 29 years.

We have two daughters. Tamara is single and an RN in ICU at a Topeka hospital. We are blessed to have her living in the same town with us. Our daughter, Tracie is married to Mike and they have three daughters, a son, and a baby due the end of November! They live in Kansas City, about an hour from us. Their 3 1/2 year old son, Gideon was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) which is a very severe heart defect….born with half a heart. He has had three open heart surgeries (the last on July 17) and will eventually need a heart transplant.

Since graduating from OSU, my main job has been wife and Mother. When I was employed, my jobs had a lot of flexibility. I spent 10+ years working for the Santa Fe Railway, many of those years on a call-in basis. I would receive the call and have an hour to be there ready to do whatever clerical job they assigned that day. I spent another 10+ years working part-time for a local hospital in administration.

Our volunteer activities have revolved around our church and politics. We currently sing in the choir and are on the Mission’s Committee at our church. We both retired in March, 2001 and have enjoyed quite a bit of travel since then. Dick surprised me with a two week trip to Paris to celebrate our retirement and our 40th anniversary. Since then we have been on several mission trips to print shops in Belgium and France where Bibles and other Christian literature are produced and distributed to the French speaking world, much of it going to Africa. Last fall we spent seven weeks in Marpent, France, serving as the host couple for mission teams coming from the US to work in the print shop. We were responsible for meals, transportation and the day-to-day needs of teams of eight persons for twelve-day periods. We had ample time to explore the area using the car from the mission. We also took the train to Paris and made trips to Rouen and Chartrez.

I have enjoyed reading the biographies already submitted and look forward to seeing many of you at the 50th reunion!

 Carol Ross-Schenck

After graduating from high school, I worked in the banking industry for several years. I married Dick Wickline in 1959. I met him while he was stationed at Vance AFB. We have two daughters – Kelly (now 43) and Julie who is 39. Dick and I divorced in 1970, at which time I moved to Oklahoma City with the girls.

In 1974, while living in Oklahoma City, I met Leonard Schenck. He was recently divorced with two daughters about the same age as mine. We were married in 1975. Leonard and I have lived in Oklahoma City, Wichita, Phoenix, and now Colorado Springs. We have been self employed the entire 26 years we have lived in Colorado Springs.

We have 7 grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 18. We enjoy being entertained by the three who live close by. We also enjoying traveling, which we do a lot of in our business. I have much to be thankful for in our businesses, our family and our good health. I look forward to a great 50th reunion.

Addendum for Bob Zimmerman Biography – EHS Class of 1957

(Deceased)

I attended EHS my entire sophomore year (1954-1955). I was in the band that entire school year. My Mother, Sister and I left Enid in 1955 to join my step-father in Goose Bay, Labrador.

I met with Ray Zeisset Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 who had been a sophomore at EHS in 1955. We temporarily swapped his 1955 EHS Quill for my 1957 EHS quill. In looking at the 1955 quill, I discovered a group picture in the Junior section with me included.

I attended the 1955 EHS Junior class (probably just the first semester) before leaving for Labrador. I have distinct memories of going to Dallas on the band trip to play in the Cotton Bowl and visiting the Texas State fair. That trip was definitely in 1954. I came across a picture in my scrapbook of my Grandmother and myself standing on the front porch at 408 W. Oak in Enid (the house is no longer there), dated January 1955. This pretty much proves I hadn’t left for Labrador yet, but departure date must have been close.

We arrived in Goose Bay, Labrador (approx. Latitude is 53 deg. N and Longitude is 62 deg. W) where I finished my Junior year at the Canadian School on the Canadian side of the Air Base. Evidently, I didn’t have enough scholastic credits from my first half year at EHS. I had been in the band, taking Trade Printing, and only basic required class studies were required. What I picked up the 2nd half of 1955 at the Canadian school must have been insufficient. (They were teaching 12th grade classes at the time, and were very scholastically strict.) I think this is the school year I LOST, and they didn’t allow me to continue into my Senior year at Goose Bay because of my grades, so I had to repeat my Junior year again in 1955 and 1956.

We returned to the U.S. in August, 1956. I also found a picture of us at Rockefeller Center dated August 1956 – where we visited on our return trip to Enid. My stepfather had been reassigned to Lincoln AFB in Lincoln, NE. I didn’t want to change schools again, so I lived in a small apartment with my Grandmother at 502 W. Pine in Enid (the house is no longer there) and completed my Senior year at EHS. I studied Trade Printing and worked at the News and Eagle.

So, in closing, I was in the Junior class at EHS for 1/2 year but I graduated in 1957 with the 1955 Sophomore class. Had I stayed in Enid, I would have graduated in 1956….but that is water under the bridge now!

I think this case is solved. Our comings and goings to and from Goose Bay did not coincide with school years, and the school systems were vastly different.

Robert R. (Bob) Tyler

Mr. Tyler has enjoyed a successful career as an executive in the information industry. Along the way, he has also contributed his skills to the non-profit-sector and philanthropic causes. In addition, he has experience with Estate & Lifestyle management of special corporate assets – yachts, estates, staff and events.

Mr. Tyler began his career at Ford Motor Company while completing his college degree in Business Administration at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating he accepted the position of Marketing Director at Prakken Publications in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Later, Mr. Tyler joined Gale Research, a pioneering reference book publisher. As Vice-President of Marketing, he played a key role in the company’s rapid growth. He organized the marketing operations into an efficient unit that handled direct mail sales, telemarketing operations, order processing and fulfillment, customer service, corporate computer operations, warehousing, letter-shop operations and accounts receivable.

His influence extended into strategic planning, product development and pricing with special knowledge and skill in subscription and membership development. www.galegroup.com. As Executive Vice-President – Associate Publisher, of Omnigraphics, Inc., Mr. Tyler participated in corporate acquisitions, product development and technology planning. He promoted the concept of an “editorial knowledge base”, using Omnigraphics’ business database to rapidly conceive, produce, and market new information products. He also developed corporate internet, intranet, and extranet strategies and directed the creation of three web sites powered by directory data and a proprietary corporate web site: i.e. www.omnigraphics.com.

Lifestyle and Estate Management is an unique area of experience of Mr. Tyler. Because of a special relationship with the founder and family of Gale Research, he acted as confidant and advisor in business and personal lifestyle environments. Excellent negotiation, mediation, collaboration and management skills combined with dedication and loyalty created a history of valued service.

In addition, Mr. Tyler has been President of “Gold Coast” magazine, an upscale lifestyle City publication serving southeast Florida including Jupiter, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Ft Lauderdale and Miami. He has provided leadership in non-profit organizations such as: Member of the Carmel Public Library Foundation Board, more recently a contributor and advisor to the Veterans Transition Center at Fort Ord, Seaside and active with the Pacific Grove Art Center, Monterey, CA Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Tyler was President of the Greenfield Business District Association in Detroit

Bob has been a member of the World Futurist Society, the International Society for General Semantics and American Library Association. He has also served as a Commissioner of Economic Development on the Economic Development Commission for the city of Westland, MI. He is the founder of the Peace Research Foundation: i.e. www.peaceresearchfoundation.org. Most recently he founded and published a web site regarding information for Elder Care, “http://www.eldercareusa.info”. He is currently working on projects forthcoming from Advanced Futures Research Lab which he founded.

Bob Linderer (Deceased)
{Bob is pictured with wife Joyce.}

I tell all the guys I play golf with here in Perry Park that I am Bobby Ray Linderer from Enid, Oklahoma. That pretty much is the whole story. I was smart enough to leave Oklahoma! Asthma all my life did not make it a good choice as a healthy place to live.

Joyce Roberts (one of the twins) and I were married in Enid a long, long time ago and still enjoy each others company (I think). We were married when I was 21 and I am now about 67, so it has been a long time ago. We moved to Albuquerque to go to the University of New Mexico and get in a better area for my asthma. Son Carey Mark Linderer came along about a year later and we are very proud of him, what a great son and father to our three grandchildren.

From Albuquerque we moved to Tucumcari, New Mexico as I was transferred with my job at Davis Brothers Wholesale Drugs. Because I only had every other Sunday off we right away got my resume’ up to date and found a job with CIBA, a Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer, in Denver, Colorado. So in 1965 we packed up and moved to Northglenn, Colorado. Our second son Eric Scot was borne that year. We built our first dream house in Littleton, Colorado some years latter. Eric was killed as a passenger in a car accident in 1984. The most devastating thing that can happen to any parent. A great kid that was everything that his dad was not: handsome and smart and a good athlete. I cry about this to this day. Living in that house was not an option, just too many memories that hurt too much.

We built our second dream house in Morrison, Colorado overlooking the golf course and downtown Denver. Was sure that I would leave that house in a box. However at the age of 54 I had a five-way bypass done on my heart. Heart attack is the same thing that had killed my father at age 54 when I was three. At the age of 55 with all of this behind us I had the opportunity to retire early from my job as National Account Manager Managed Health Care Division of CIBA-GEIGY. I guess the more letters in the title the more important the position. NOT.

We decided to sell our dream home and move to Arizona. Had it sold but then 9/11 happened and the deal fell through. Sold a year latter and moved to Rio Verde, Arizona, one of the best and most beautiful golf areas ever. We bought our third dream home on the golf course with a fantastic view of the mountains. Spent to upgrade because I thought that once again I would leave in a box. Carey’s family moved to Arizona also. Two years latter he got promoted back to Denver. One day latter we decided that grand kids are more important than golf and put our dream house on the market.

Ah, at last we bought the final dream home in Perry Park, Colorado views of red rocks and trees. Life is good. NOT. I discover that living at 6800 feet elevation is not good for old asthmatics. So come look at it, it’s for sale and we will have to find another house in Arizona for me to be carried out of in a box.

So Bobby Ray Linderer from Enid, Oklahoma still pretty much sums it up. Hope to see all of you old people at the reunion. Please call me Bob. Only my mother and wife called me Bobby Ray and with both I was in trouble when my whole name was used.

Bob Bish

Here it is the Year of our Lord 2007 in the rainy month of June. My name is Robert Arthur Bish but most of you know me by the moniker Bob. I have been retired a little over five years from the Department of Human Services, where I worked 27 plus years as a social worker/eligibility worker at such sites as Enid State School, Child Support Enforcement, and the Oklahoma County Welfare Department. Before that I had desultory brief careers as a divinity student, graduate student in history, history instructor, historic site manager, YMCA health club director, and 9 months of hard labor of the non-prison variety.

Just a week after receiving a Masters Degree in American History from the University of Oklahoma in August 1966, I married Sharon Mechem of Okeene, OK. Out of this union came Amy Lea Bish born Nov 17, 1973. Sharon and I were pleased to be parents of an unusually gifted girl who went to graduate from Casady Prep School (in Oklahoma City) and Williams College in MA. While employed in Washington DC she met the love of her life, Lloyd Dugan and they were wed June 13, 1998. In March 2004 Breanna Gaylynn Dugan came along to enrich immeasurably the lives of the proud grandparents, who made at least three trips a year back to Alexandria ,VA to do her bidding as “Granny” and “Granddad”. My 35 year obsession with long distance running, highlighted by completion of two Boston Marathons in 1977 and 1980, is winding down to the status of neighborhood jogging (although I did manage to complete the Oklahoma City National Memorial half marathon this past April). I volunteer as a docent at the Oklahoma City Murrah Museum, as a research assistant at the Oklahoma History Center, and during the school year as an after school tutor.

Probably my most satisfying role as a volunteer consist of singing membership in the Canterbury Choral Society which also entails participating in their educational outreach and fundraising events. Also I serve on the board of the Civic Music Association, which promotes a recital series to enhance the communities opportunities to experience world class artists. Sharon makes this possible by working full time as a librarian at the downtown branch of the Metropolitan Library System. Last year we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by going to Austria with a group of singers to sing a Mozart mass in Salzburg and Vienna. From the photos you can see that I still am loyal to the EHS colors of blue and white in every attire and that I hang out with EHS grads like Livingston, Torbett and Skarky not to mention a cool cat named Fluffy. Oh yes I have kept a journal for some 30 years.

See you in October.
Bob

Allen, Richard

I am married, my wife’s name is Sarah. We have three daughters, all of whom have left the nest, and are living on their own. Only one is married, but we have been blessed with a wonderful grandson whose name is Chad. We have resided in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for about ten years. We came to this part of the United States seeking a good retirement climate. The Rock Hill area has lots of good golf courses for me plus a variety of shopping malls for Sarah. Parker is our only pet; a much spoiled but lovable golden retriever.

I retired from Alltel Communications as Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Business Development. I wasn’t comfortable with the new slower lifestyle, so recently a business associate I’ve known for many years and myself started a consulting company. We provide a large variety of telecommunication services to independent telephone companies around the United States. We currently employ eighteen associates. Our largest client is Innovative Telephone Company of the United States Virgin Islands. Innovative serves the islands of St.Croix, St.John and St. Thomas. (Yes, someone has to do it, and I’m glad it’s us, it’s a fantastic place to visit/work.) Our remaining client base is in either Texas or Indiana, but I am currently negotiating with additional prospective clients in Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Arkansas.

Sarah, Parker, and I really love the Carolinas. We have Charlotte for shopping and special events. We are just a short drive from the mountains of North Carolina. The mountains are very beautiful with plenty to explore. A short drive in the other direction takes us to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head in South Carolina. These sights have many things to offer. The year round weather here is unbelievable.

Lynne Easterly-Thielke
Lynne is pictured with husband Jim Thielke
(This biography current as of 19 August, 2007.)

I worked for Champlin Oil & Refining Co. after graduating from Enid High School. That is where I met Jim. We were married in 1959 and have lived in the Oklahoma City area ever since.

I did secretarial work for Champlin Oil (in Enid and then Oklahoma City); worked for Star Manufacturing Company about 10 years; and worked at the Oklahoma House of Representatives one session.

We have twins, David and Christi, who are now 37 years old. We also have three granddaughters, ages 6, 5 and 18 months. I love being a grandmother!

Jim is a Certified Public accountant and still does a little accounting work; otherwise, we are retired. We travel in our motor home at least one-third of the time…business and pleasure.