On June 15, 2019, Robert “Bobby” Spiers (C ’69) and his wife, Betty Ann, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at the Reveille United Methodist Church Chapel in Richmond, Virginia. (Pictured to the right.)

On June 14, 2019, Paul Nolan (C ’74) performed with Stevie and the Bluescasters at the Philadelphia Folksong Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On June 8, 2019, lutenist Ronn McFarlane (C ’75) performed for Northern Arizona University’s School of Music Horizons Concert Series, “The Prince of Instruments” in Flagstaff, Arizona.

In June, the Winchester Youth Development Center performed “Matilda: The Musical” with alumna Dolly Stevens (C ’77) serving as director of the show.

Theresa LaPlaca (C ’81) was elected as a new member for the Board of Directors of Eagle Bancorp.

On July 5, 2019, John Milleson (B ’86) retired from his position as Bank of Clarke County’s president and CEO, after serving the bank for more than 30 years. To honor Milleson, the Clarke County Education Foundation recently announced the formation of an endowed scholarship in his name, which will be awarded to graduating seniors from Clarke County High School who are the first in their family to attend college.

On June 14, Eric Bowman (C ’02) performed a concert on one of the largest pipe organs in the world at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. The main organ console has five keyboards and a pedal board, and boasts 141 ranks and more than 7,500 pipes, making it the 39th largest pipe organ in the world.

Kyle Weary (C ’05, C ’08) accepted the position of director of choirs at Boiling Springs High School in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

Adam Drake (AS ’06, HP ’09) and his wife, Jessica welcomed their son Felix James Drake into the world on June 10, 2019, at 11:51 p.m. Baby Felix weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces, and was 21 inches long.

In July, Erica Gionfriddo (C ’06) was part of the “Dance Artist Talk” series at Hollins University’s Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center in Hollins, Virginia.

Karen Sanborn (EL ’11) was appointed as executive assistant to the principal at Rappahannock County High School in Washington, Virginia, for the 2019-2020 school year.

Jennifer Simpson Smith (AS ’13, HP ’15) and Matthew Smith (AS ’13) welcomed their daughter Harper Grace Smith into the world on Sept. 25, 2018. Harper took her first trip to her parents’ alma mater during the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in May 2019. (Pictured to the left.)

Jordan Hoile (HP ’14), Kim Owen Funkhouser (HP ’14), Abby Guyer Barden (HP ’13), and Kayla Buechner Thompson (AS ’15, HP ’18) all work for Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. (Pictured to the right.)

On Nov. 09, 2018, Samantha Wichtendahl Sheroda (AS ’14, HP ’16) and her husband, Brian, welcomed their daughter Ellie Marlene Sheroda into the world. (Pictured to the left.)

In June, Kelani Bailey Lawrence (B ’16) won the women’s national championship in racquetball, and will head to Peru to compete in the Pan American Games, which run from July 26 to August 11.

On June 22, 2019, Dot Kelly (C ’18) was named first runner-up for the 2019 Miss Virginia pageant on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

On Jan. 30, 2019, Miranda Shelton Aubrey (AS ’18) and her husband, Kevin, welcomed their daughter Emilia Jane Aubrey into the world. (Pictured to the right.)

Martijn Goossens (AS ’19) was accepted into the television management master’s program at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The program is extremely well-regarded in the industry and is a known management track feeder to Comcast and NFL Films.

Shamyra Wilkerson (AS ’19) was selected as an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.

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In Memoriam

Ruby Baggerly Beck (HP ’72, HP ’90) of White Post, Virginia, passed away on June 25, 2019. Beck was a registered nurse at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia, for 27 years. She was a member of the American Nurses Association and the United Methodist Women’s group. Beck loved all genres of music and was in a singing group, The Valley Chanters. She was also a member of Burnt Factory United Methodist Church. Beck is survived by her daughter, Meta Lee Platt; son, William W. Beck Jr.; grandchildren, Hannah Beck and Lacey Beck; sisters, Mary Ann Himelwright, Nancy O’Neal, Sandy Anderson, Arlene Hill; brother, Thomas R. Baggerly; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Julie Allison Crosby (HP ’94) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on June 25, 2019. Crosby was a registered nurse at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Virginia for 18 years. She also had other jobs in the healthcare field, including working for nursing homes. Crosby enjoyed visiting her grandparents in Berryville, going on family vacations and taking trips with her partner to Deep Creek Lake. She also loved to cook, explore new restaurants and visit coffee shops with her brother. She is survived by her mother, Allison Crosby; her brother, Andrew Crosby; and her grandmother, Olive Williams.

Joseph J. Urban, Jr. (P ’01) of Richboro, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 25, 2019. Urban worked as a pharmaceutical consultant for 20 years and was a practicing registered pharmacist for 47 years, as well as a research pharmacist. He loved his career and passed on his passion for pharmacy as an adjunct professor at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania. In his free time, Urban enjoyed fishing, cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies, playing basketball, and riding bikes on the Ocean City boardwalk with his grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Joan, Urban is survived by his children: Catherine M. Mattia, Joseph J. Urban III, and Christopher J. Urban; his sister, Elmira “Kim” Kline; his brothers, Eugene Urban and Marty Urban; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by ten dear grandchildren, Jessica, Julia, Alyssa, Joseph IV, Matthew, John, Mallory, Andrew, CJ and Sophia.