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ASSEMBLY,
November / December 2008
1954
CLASS NOTES
LTC
Chester J.S. Piolunek
7429 Westwood Park Lane
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-573-7352
Subscribers: 279
Folks, please be advised that
this is a notably sad column. We regret that space
considerations forced us to tighter editing.
We learned from D-1’s Lou
Ginn, in Richmond, that his wife Button
died on 7 Nov 07 of pulmonary problems. A memorial
service was conducted on 10 Nov at St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church with interment in the
church memorial garden. Kathleen Button Ginn was
born in Charlottesville to the late Robert Young
Button, Attorney General of Virginia from 1962–70,
and Antoinette Cheape Button of Culpepper, who died
at 100, four weeks after Button. Button attended
Sweet Briar College before marrying Lou in 1954. She
served on the boards of the William Byrd Community
Center, Historic Richmond, the Junior League, the
Women’s Club, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Council, and the Women of St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Church. In addition to Lou, Button is survived by
their daughter Kathleen Scott Ginn, son Louis H.
Ginn IV (who, as an Army major, commanded a Black
Hawk helicopter company during Desert Storm), and
two grandchildren, 2LT Louis H. Ginn V of Ft. Knox,
and Virginia Ginn of Richmond.
President Jack Miller
reported that Bill Baldwin died at his home
in Fairfax, VA, on 28 Jul 08. He had COPD for
many years and was under home hospice care for
several months. William Robert Baldwin came from
Bloomfield, NJ, and was appointed from the Army
where he was in the Military Police. Baldy was in
K-2, excelled at swimming, and coached the C Squad
team. He entered the Field Artillery and, after
branch school, was assigned to the FA battalion of
the 278th RCT at Ft. Devens with nine other
classmates, including his roommate, Ernie Marvin,
in the Heavy Mortar Company. Bill taught in the math
department at USMA and the A&M School, attended
CGSC, did a tour with USARV, and retired in 1982 as
an O-5. A service was scheduled at the Ft. Myer
Chapel for 29 October, followed by interment at
Arlington National Cemetery. Bill is survived by his
wife Shirley, son Billie, and daughter Kim.
Jack Miller e-mailed the class
that Brad Honholt passed away on 6 Jul 08 in
Portland, OR, after suffering a stroke three days
earlier. He was buried in Los Gatos, CA. In recent
years, he & wife June traveled extensively in
their RV. Bradley John Honholt was born in Illinois,
appointed from Batavia, in L-2, and entered the
Engineers. He left the Army in 1957, earned an MSCE
from Univ. of Illinois, and formed his own
consulting company. One of his notable achievements
was the design and construction in Felton, CA, of
the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad, a popular
tourist attraction. A plaque in Brad’s honor is
being placed in the station on the rail line. The
class will make a donation to this project. Besides
June, Brad leaves their three children and three
grandchildren.
On 17 Jul 08, Jack Miller
learned from Ed Moses that John Bard’s
widow, Marge, passed away on 16 Jul 08 at the
Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA, of a stroke.
She lived in The Fairfax, a retirement community at
Ft. Belvoir, VA. Marjorie Jackson Bard was born in
Cambridge, MA, graduated from the Milton Academy and
from Smith College in 1954. She was a long-time
member of the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria
and played golf, tennis, and bridge. She is survived
by two sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren.
John died in Richmond in 2005.
In a 30 Jul 08 e-mail, Jack
Miller reported the death of Bud Passmore
at his home in Storrs Mansfield, CT, on 28 Jul 08,
of Lewy body disease, a neurological disorder. Edwin
Eric Passmore was born at Schofield Barracks,
HI, appointed from Storrs, in E-1, and commissioned
in Infantry. He earned an MPA from
Shippensburg State and graduated from the Army War
College and the Superior War College of Spain. He
spent 16 years overseas in Germany, Belgium, Spain,
Paraguay, and three tours in Viet Nam with two
assignments as a battalion CO. After retiring in
1984 as an O-6, Bud served in a number of volunteer
civic and political groups from the police and fire
departments to the town council. A memorial service
was held on 2 August at the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints in Ashford. Burial is to be in
Arlington National Cemetery. His great
great-grandfather, William Bloodgood, Class of 1824,
and his brother Hunter ’50 also served in the
Infantry. Bud is survived by his wife Joyce, two
sons (one, COL Edwin W. Passmore is serving in
Argentina), a daughter, and a grandson.
The class extends its deep
sorrow to Lou Ginn, Shirley Baldwin,
June Honholt, the Bard family, and
Joyce Passmore at their tragic, untimely losses.
In July, Walt & Renate Evans
wrote from Fredericksburg, TX, that, with
FEMA/Department of Homeland Security, he spent a
month cleaning up after the Parkersburg, IA,
tornado. He spoke with George Bennett who
lives in Oskaloosa, IA, and recently sold his
jewelry store. Evans’ granddaughter Hillary entered
USMA on 30 June with the Class of 2012. Walt also
reported that Treasurer Doug Stuart
participated in a Sons of the American Revolution
award ceremony at West Point honoring Cadet Matthew
Dembowski ’08 for demonstrating achievement and
excellence in U.S. history.
1954—Doug Stuart (left), Peter
Goebel ’81 (right) and SAR officers
honoring Mr. Matthew Dembowski
’07 at West Point, 2007. (Photo
by SAR Magazine.)
In June, George Calhoun
wrote that he returned from his third winter as a
volunteer in Afghanistan with the Partnership in
Academics and Development organization. He survived
the most severe winter in 50 years; 900 people in
his province of Herat perished from starvation or
freezing. George was program manager of projects
involving education, community development, and
lending and economic stimulus. A pet project was a
school for orphans that has grown from 60 to 150
students. Through the generosity of many
individuals, including some in Co. M-2, the children
receive shoes and coats every spring and winter.
George trained a local talent as Office & Facilities
Manager of the PAD in Herat who now has
responsibility for all province activity.
1954—George Calhoun (left) with
Herat facilities
manager, Afghanistan, June
2008.
Also in
June, Jerry & Peggy Lodge of New Jersey went
on an WPAOG–sponsored cruise in Europe. It began in
Milan, went to Switzerland Where they boarded a
river boat making several day stops, then through
the Lorelei Passage near Cologne, and ending in
Amsterdam. The scenic route included views of
ancient castles along the Rhine. This item and photo
were furnished by Denny Coll, ’65 Scribe, to whom we
extend our cautious thanks.
1954—Jerry & Peggy Lodge
enjoying their Rhine River
cruise, June 2008.
The information we reported on
the death of Don York’s widow Johannah
“Stevens” was incorrect. Don’s widow Johannah
“Stephens” is alive in Arizona. We regret the
error.
The Washington Post of 8
Jul 08 published a letter by Mark Reese
commenting on his experiences as a Survivor
Assistance Officer during the Viet Nam war. Your
scribe performed this sad function three times with
somber experiences.
On 13 August, author Dr. Joe
Heed of Northfield, VT, wrote that he published
another book, Kateri’s Journal, under his pen
name Ian X. Byrne. It’s a collection of short
stories, fables, parables, and music set in the
mythical days of the Iroquois. For information,
visit publisher’s website <www.bbotw.com> or Joe’s
<www.heedj.com>. Don’t reveal how it ends.
The last week of July, our
family spent its second vacation at Bethany Beach,
DE, where the coast was clear and, in some spots,
the water reached all the way to the bottom. We
asked one place if they served crabs, but they let
us in anyway.
We also heard from Dave
Macklin in Washington, Ernie & Gert Marvin
in Cornwall, Bob Mischak in Orinda, CA, and
Ed Pawlowski in Landsdowne, VA, awaiting
results of an MRI for a bad knee.
At press time, Jim Allison
e-mailed that Bob Lykens, K-1, died on 22 Aug
08 in Knoxville, TN, his hometown. May he rest in
peace. Continue to stay well, and I may have some
good news about a change of authorship of these
“Notes.”
—Chet
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