Alumni Sandstorm ~ 10/19/16
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3 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber Memorial today:
Dick EPLER ('52)
Van VanDUSEN ('52)
Norma LOESCHER ('53)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jeanie TURNER ('61)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ray RICHARDSON ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Larry DAVIS ('80)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kelly MONTGOMERY ('87) 

BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
    Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Dick EPLER ('52)

Re: Remembering Lu IVERS Portch ('52-RIP)

I knew Lu mostly through my wife, Madelyn "Lynn" HINSON Epler
('52). They were best friends in high school and for several
years afterwards. They were a mischievous pair, playing
tricks on the boys mostly. In fact, one of their capers was
responsible for the first meeting between Lynn and I. It was
in Viola Ellis' 1950 art class when the two girls conspired
to steal and hide an oil painting I was working on. Shortly
thereafter, I found it in my locker. How did that happen? No
one had my combination... but for some reason Lynn was known
forever-after as 'safecracker Hinson.' And that was my
introduction to the pair.

There was little interaction between the girls and I for the
rest of our HS years, but after graduation a lot of us wound
up working for General Electric in Ruth Tattu's 703 Central
Mail Room, where the two girls continued to bedevil the
boys... more sophisticated now... and perhaps a bit more
targeted, at least in my case... necessarily so, as I was
reluctant to become involved knowing that military service
was imminent. I think, however, it was Lu who made sure that
whenever there was an office get together that Lynn and I
would wind up together.

Gosh, that was some 65 years ago and I don't remember them
all, but one event in particular stands out - a bonfire party
under the stars out at the 'slab' (the old Columbia POW camp
on the Yakima... the buildings were gone, but some of the
concrete slabs remained. Lu and Lynn rode out there with me
in my ol' '41 Willy's Americar (front bench seat only). That
was when I first became seriously interested in Lynn to
eventually result in a marriage of almost 62 years now.

Sadly, Lynn didn't ride back with me that night (she went
with another guy) so it was just Lu and I... and we talked a
lot. But that was a situation that Lu never allowed to happen
again. After that, I most remember us double-dating to see
movies at the Y-drivein. And of course there were other
private parties... but it all ended in Feb '53 when I left
for the Air Force.

We drifted apart in later years, but since Lynn and I still
have family in the Tri-Cities, we'd get back from time to
time and Lu would always make a special effort to get
together to catch-up. She was like that. As Don LYALL ('52)
implied, she was a facilitator extraordinaire, who kept track
of most of the members of class '52, and Lu was responsible
for much of the success for our class reunions. I think Em ('52)
was part of that too, but I'm not sure... we were only able
to attend one reunion.

I think the last time we saw Lu was the spring of 2013 when
she came to see us at our son's house in Richland. We're
going to miss getting her Christmas Cards with her family
photos. Indeed, Lu will be greatly missed by all who knew
her. My sincere condolences to Bill, Terri & Scott, Karissa,
Serena... and any greatgrandkids?

-Dick EPLER ('52)
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>>From: Van VanDUSEN ('52)

Re: Luana IVERS Portch ('52-RIP)

To: The class of '52

I am not a very good note writer or letter writer and I will
try. 

To the people who read the Sandstorm, then you have read the
note from Marilyn "Em" DeVINE ('52). I hope that those who
have read it will pass it on to those who do not have the
Sandstorm. 

This is a little bit of Luana that I know about. She had many
friends including me. She was truly a good friend. She was
one of the people who started the '52ers noon lunch at
Starlings on GWWay in Richland. She also was one of people
who worked on our class reunion for many years. She also has
a lot of other things to do. She always went to her
granddaughters' soccer meets, plus going to hockey games,
plus helping people. There are a lot of things that I could
talk about her. I lost a very good friend with her.

May the good Lord bless her!!!!!!!! Van

-Van VanDUSEN ('52)
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>>From: Norma LOESCHER Boswell ('53) 

Re: Luana IVERS Portch ('52-RIP)

To her family and all who loved Luana, my sincere sympathy!
What a loss to all of us! 

Luana was a lively teen in the West Side United Protestant
Church. She would take a bunch of us girls in her car after
Fellowship meetings. We would go to drive-ins for burgers, hot
dogs, French fries, sodas, milk shakes - and even to a place
that offered timber floats (toothpicks floated in water) with
their food.

Luana ('52, one year ahead of me) and I became active in Club
40 as soon as we were eligible. I always admired her high
spirits, derring-do and positive attitude. She was the kind of
person who drew friends to her like a magnet. I liked the way
she kept active in family activities. I will miss her very
much!

Bomber tears, 
-Norma LOESCHER Boswell ('53) ~ in Richland, where it's cool
       again
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Bomber Memorial

>Betty GIER Hartcorn ~ Class of 1948 ~ 1922 - 2016 

 Bomber Memorials
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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