"It was just like old home week", said Marion Dolton Tomlinson, 94, old timer and elementary teacher from Warminster. Oh! what a glorious day. The Northampton Valley Country Club was the scene of a most unusual gathering on Friday, May 25, 2001 when over 210 people gathered to share memories of their youth spent at the old Richboro school. Richboro's last graduating class was in 1946, but many attending were those who were attending Richboro at that time but graduated from Council Rock High School.

The oldest graduate attending the affair was Bess Cornell Ivins, 97, of Dublin, who graduated in 1923. Rosanna Slack of Hatboro, 92, graduated in 1924. There were three classmates from the class of 1925, all 92 years of age, they were Ruth Opitz Crane of Doylestown, Clara Yerkes Finney, Levittown and George Traub of Feasterville. Other old timers attending were Horace Carter, class of 1931 and Donald Null, class of 1933.

Five teachers attending were Mary Ann Gilbert, 89, Marion Dolton Tomlinson, Edith Burrage Wilson, Emily Hallowell Johnson and Elizabeth Dakay.

Mistress of Ceremony was Emma Walker Worthington of Levittown, Greetings were offered by Mrs. Raymond Gilbert, Churchville and the opening prayer given by Ruth Osmond Wright, Yardley. A patriotic prayer was given by Ret. Maj. William Walker USMC of North Carolina. Soloist who accompanied herself at the keyboard was Miss Sharon Kimmel of Yardley.

The family with the largest attendance was the Walker family including Mary Walker Stemme, Emma Walker Worthington, William Walker, Thelma Walker Tanner, Betsy Walker Cushman and Kathryn Walker Kepner.

Four from the Solis family attending were Arthur from Alaska, Joan Solis Vassaras, New Jersey, Peter and Elizabeth, William any' Beryl from Holland. Other families well represented were David luff and sisters Ella Backus and Ethel Lownes; Frank Hallowell and sisters Emily Johnson end Regina Peasley. Also the three Wilson sisters, Helen McKendry, Marjorie Shelmire and Doris Reese and Kenneth Jones and sisters Norma Cutting and Roberta Schneider.

Classes competing for the best attendance were 1942 and 1943. 1943's attendees were William Allen, Harry Atkinson, Jayne Buckley Cornell, George and Doris Clayton Harter, Ted Daniels, Owen Diehle, Alfred George, John Horn, Jean Lightkep Daniels, David Luff, Doris McKinney Fox and Morrell Solly. Twelve attending from the class of 1942 were Doris Awckland Hartigan, Fill Brudon, Ben Cornell, Betty Cornell Luff, Dorothy Deihl Drechsel, Jutta Glass Fisele, Ruth Osmond Wright, John Sauer, Marjorie Wilson Shelmire, J.Beavis Jackson, Regina Hallowell Peasley and Harry Tomlinson.

The class of 1940 had members coming from far and wide including, Mary Davis Lobley, British columbia, Orlando Long, Texas, Horace Englehardt and Louis Leitenberger both from Florida, Russell Daniels, Sellersville, Norma Jones Putting, Glenside and Mary Walker Stemma from Penndel.

Mothers and daughters attending were Mrs. Gilbert and daughters Beth Ann Gilbert and Mary Jana Dolton, Clara Finney and Daughter Anna Mae Fretz and Bess Ivins and Charlotte Walter.

States represented but not mentioned above were Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire and New York.

A most enjoyable afternoon won spent reminiscing with old classmates, teachers and friends.

Enjoy the pictures from the reunion!

Betty Cornell Luff

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