Bio

Dear Classmates,

I apologize for being so late in sending this information. Due to a family medical emergency, I don't know how many of the festivities I will be able to attend; I'll just have to see how the next couple of weeks go.

After graduation, and a couple months of R & R, I began my first job with the Keller, Wilbert & Palmer Law Firm in Pittsburg. A few years later I met my future husband, Bob, who was attending Pittsburg State College, now affectionately referred to as "Pitt State". But, Uncle Sam had a different idea, and he was drafted into the Army. In fact, he didn't even get to attend his own college graduation! After boot camp and AIT, he came home on leave, and we were married in July, l967. We will be celebrating our 36th anniversary this year.

He was moved around a lot, being stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, then to Viet Nam, where his tour was cut short by an injury. Each time, I remained in Girard, feeling an obligation to look after my mother. In June of 1968 we moved to Wilmington, Ohio (my ONLY time away from Girard). In a few short months, "Uncle" decided he needed to be somewhere else, so he was on his way to Germany to finish out his tour of duty. Once again, I ended up back in Girard, since it was a short tour, and he would be stationed at the only isolated post in Germany. When he was discharged, having already set roots in this area, and having a job to go back to at the Ford dealership, we settled in Girard.

I had begun working for the Federal Government and worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for 20 (plus) years, at various stages. The Bureau was closed and moved from Pittsburg in 1991. I then worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a (substitute) rural mail carrier for 8 years, and for the Census Bureau in intermittent phases. Right now, I'm "coasting".

We have numerous nieces and nephews, and now...nearly as many great-nieces and nephews, so there is always something happening--somewhere!

We enjoy living in the country (in spite of the dust and/or mud) on our small acreage. In the summer, I devote time to a vegetable garden and LOTS of flowers (I want mine while I'm still alive!!). We raise registered quarter horses...on a very small scale. And, thanks in large part to a lot of effort on the part of my brother John, who owns a champion buckskin stallion, we have produced some fine foals. One fillly placed second in the Kansas Futurity, and in 1999 one of our "offspring" (even though we didn't own her anymore) earned the title of World Champion in the ABRA World Show. We were especially elated when, a few years earlier, our mares and foals appeared on the Hallmark calendars....a case of happenstance, of being in the right place at the right time!

I've enjoyed reading the bio's and seeing how busy everyone has been. Oh, where have these 40 years gone? My best to all.....

Esther Murnane Behrend