Monongah High reunion in The Villages, Florida

Pat Meredith Wills, Don Wills, son Barry Wills

The annual West Virginia Day Picnic Sunday, March 1 in The Villages, Florida, was another Monongah High alumni reunion.

Among the 350 gathered in the Savannah Recreation Center were Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950, who lives on Crescent Beach just south of St. Augustine Beach, Florida with husband Don Wills, a Fairmont West graduate and former athlete, accompanied by their son, Barry.

And Jean Piggott, widow of World War II flight instructor George Piggott, who with former Monongah High teacher Mary Weis' husband trained U.S. and European pilots how to fly near and over Germany. Jean lives in the On Top of the World community near Ocala, Florida.

And John Olesky, Class of 1950, of Tallmadge, Ohio, who is vacationing for three months in The Villages.

Jean Piggott with John Olesky

Larry Dan Eates, visiting his sister in Florida, was to be there, too, with 3 others but the flu bug scotched that plan. Larry and his wife will be heading back north on Wednesday.

Larry’s parents were Dominick Eates (passed in 2000), Class of 1946, and Mary Larry Eates from Carolina (passed in 1993). 

Since it was West Virginia Day the crowd sang “West Virginia Hills” and “Country Roads.”

Pat Meredith Wills & John Olesky

There will be another reunion of Monongah High alumni on March 23 in Melbourne, Florida. John will be reunited with Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, who lives in Melbourne. John and Paula will be in Melbourn to meet Paula’s cousin, who lives on the Atlantic Ocean side of Florida.

In February there was a reunion of Monongah High alumni at the home of Bill Meredith, Class of 1957. Attending were Bob Arnett, Class of 1957, and Barb Enoch Arnett, Class of 1960, who live in Scherr, West Virginia, but were vacationing in Florida; Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958, and husband Len, who live in Elkins; Sandy Weils Shaffer Cook, Class of 1959, and husband Bob, who live in Fort Myers, Florida; Joe Martin, Class of 1957, and wife Arlene Kitchin Martin, who live on Treasure Island, Florida; Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, and Roleta Meredith, the hosts; and John Olesky, Class of 1950, and Paula Stone Tucker.

Even if you didn’t make it for West Virginia Day, Paula and I will be in The Villages through March. If you’re near The Villages call John at (330) 388-4466 and we’ll arrange a Monongah High mini-reunion of former Lions. 

By the way, Paula was so busy taking the photos that you see that she's not in any of them.