July 28, 2007

Use the Find Function under EDIT (Windows toolbar) to look for NHS class members. You might try just the last or first name to be successful. The find function is case sensitive. I have posted obituaries, miscellaneous info, updates, teacher notes, old forum postings, and announcements for our classmates.


Edith “Edie” E. Dixon, 90, of Cross Lanes, died Friday June 29, 2007, at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston, of cardiac disease.
She was born March 1, 1917, the daughter of Olin and Annie Kincaid. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; three brothers; one sister; one granddaughter; and two sons-in-law.
She was known affectionately as “Two- Mommy” or “2-Me” by family and friends.
She is survived by two daughters and son-in-law, Helen and Jack Burkard and Nila Johnson; five grandchildren, Judy Thomas, Dr. John and Wendy Burkard, MSgt. Rob and Keta Johnson, MSgt. David and Ginny Johnson, and Elizabeth and Tim Stalnaker; 14 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Robert A. Leurant, 76, of Charleston passed away at his home on July 26, 2007, after an extended illness.
Born on May 21, 1931, in New Kensington, Pa., he was a son of the late Andrew Ernest Leurant and Helen Freeland Hefner. He moved to Charleston as an infant. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Almodie Elaine Leurant.
He attended Thomas Jefferson Junior High School and Charleston High School, where he played trumpet in the Charleston High Band. However, drums were his favorite. Bob began playing drums at 6 and professionally at age 9. He had to get a work permit in order to join the Musicians Union due to his young age. He played with Lloyd Neely's band at the American Legion post on Pennsylvania Avenue, where he was billed at “the world's youngest drummer.” While in high school, he began playing with Don Osborne band, playing at Edgewood Country Club, Daniel Boone Hotel, Casa Loma and The Greenbrier. He had an opportunity to audition for Ray Anthony's band, but was in college at the time and decided to complete his education. Also, while he was in high school, WCAW radio had a variety show and Bob was the disc jockey and master of ceremonies. People called in with music requests.
Bob majored in music at what is now the University of Charleston, received a master's degree in administration from Marshall University and spent one summer at Ohio State under the great Dr. Spahn.
Bob's teaching career started at Marmet Junior High in 1954. After one semester, the board transferred him to Roosevelt Junior High and Horace Mann Junior High and 10 feeder grade schools. He was the first traveling teacher. Next, he was at East Bank High School from 1958 to 1965. During this time, he took the band to the New York World's Fair. The next 23 years, Bob directed the Charleston High School Band, which participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade, went to Disney World twice, Hawaii three times, Macy's Parade and the Mardi Gras. He directed the half-time show for the North-South game for many years. Through the years, as he would meet former students, most would say that the band was their fondest memory. Bob's wonderful sense of humor was his forte with students, family and friends. He was a choir director for 43 years, beginning with Kanawha City Baptist Church and continuing to First Christian Church on Beauregard Street, the United Methodist Church in South Charleston and Boyd Memorial Christian Church on the West Side.
Bob was a member of the Baptist Temple. He was past president of the Kanawha County Band Directors Association and chairman of All-County Bands for several years. He was also on the Kanawha County Curriculum Development Committee. He and Al Frey originated the Charleston Metro Band. Bob was the charter president of the Greenbrier Lions Club. One of his biggest thrills in later life was in 2004 when he was selected to be the grand marshal for the Regatta Parade.
Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Harriet Smith Leurant; two children, daughter, Frenise Leurant Bowen and her husband, R. Kirby Bowen, of Summerville, S.C., and son, Robert A. “Bobby” Leurant II of Charleston; two grandchildren, Brooks Tyler Bowen and Mackenzie Grace Bowen; brother, William J. Leurant and wife, Betty J. Leurant, of Manchester, N.H.; and two nieces, Nanette Leurant and Elaine Grabowski.