After graduation from Oakland High School, I traveled to Stockton, attended and graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1963 then from graduate school at  UOP in 1964 with a General Secondary Teaching Credential. 



From Stockton I relocated to Pomona, CA, teaching in the secondary school system.  It was in Pomona where I met my future husband, Bill.  We were married 5 years later, moved to our home in Claremont, and were blessed with two sons. 



At the time of the approaching birth of our first son, I 'temporarily' gave up teaching.  During this time I caught the 'bug' of my husbands passion for flying.  I never intended to pursue anything past a Private Pilots License but somehow it just happened.  I ended up back in the teaching profession only this time teaching Aeronautics at Mt. San Antonio Community College.  (They have quite a large Aviation program.)  At the same time I was a Flight Instructor at one of our local airports.  (This all took place beginning in 1981.) 



I retired from MSAC after 25 years of teaching and in 1996, I was asked by the FAA's Los Angeles office to become a Designated Pilot Examiner.  I am still working full time in this capacity.  (I oral test and flight test individuals and issue licenses for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor Airplane and Flight Instructor Instrument.)  I love my job!  I  am able to work on my own schedule which gives us the time to travel. 



Bill is retired from the textile industry and we try to do a couple of trips a year.  With our sons both grown we only have Abbey, our Golden Retriever, at home.  In our spare time we enjoy family activities with our sons, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters.  (5years & 7years.)  I feel I have been blessed with a full and wonderful life.



I would like to continue to live a blessed life.



Update;

I am still working as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner.  I would like to continue to fly for at least another two years.  The word "retired" doesn't seem to be part of my vocabulary.

My husband passed away on January 1st., 2011, but I have managed to continue to live a very fulfilling life.  

1) After graduation from Oakland I attended Chapman College [now university] where I met my husband, Vaughan.  We have no children.  I became a preschool teacher and later an administrator of programs funded by the department of education.  Over the years I worked for LAUSD, Fresno unified and Rancho Santiago Community College District.  For three years I worked in Detroit’s inner city.  At one point I taught classes in child development part time at the community college level.

We’ve lived in a number of places: Norwalk, Fresno, West Los Angeles, Detroit, Orange County and now Beaumont. We are still adjusting to the weather and the smaller town atmosphere but enjoy the blue, blue sky with the mountains in the background. We enjoy our home and being a mile away from Lakeview elementary alum, Diane Gladson.

We’ve traveled extensively and have developed a love of cruising. My favorite spots have been Mexico, Maine, Maui, Greece and London. Our travels have been curtailed for the last year except for trips to City of Hope Hospital where my husband is undergoing treatment for stage 4 lung Cancer.

I’ve been active in alumni activities at Chapman and assisted my husband in his rotary work; especially when he served as a district governor. I’m active in P.E.O, a sorority which supports women’s education. Since my retirement in 2001 I’ve volunteered extensively at a state preschool, and now volunteer at a nonprofit art gallery in Banning.

Vaughan and I were honored to receive Chapman’s Life Time Service Award in 2005. We also established an endowed scholarship in theatre arts at Chapman in 2005.

For the most part my passion revolved around my work. I gave a lot but gained so much in working closely with children, parents and staff.

My Oakland High experience was great. We had some excellent teachers from whom I learned not only facts but, more importantly, more about myself, others and life in general. It certainly helped prepare me for these last 50 years.

My regret at this time is being unable to attend the reunion and not having the chance to reconnect with classmates I’ve not seen in 45 to 50 years.

2)My plans changed this last year when my husband was found to have stage 4 lung cancer[inoperable]. For someone who seemed so healthy this surprise has really changed our lives. I plan to continue to look for the good and hang on to my sense of humor.