Schoolmates still meeting up 70 years later
As we enjoy Canada’s 150th anniversary, our local Kelowna pioneers celebrate their 70th high school graduation.
A dozen members of the 1947 Kelowna High School (KHS) graduating class met at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club on April 19.
The first meeting of the group since graduation was in 1977, a large weekend reunion celebrating their 40th anniversary. Subsequent reunions were held in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2005 and 2006. 2007 marked their 60th anniversary with another large weekend event.
Since that time, the locals meet at least twice a year for lunch, making sure to include memories of those who live elsewhere or have died.
After graduation, many class members remained in Kelowna, married and raised their families here. Some who moved away continued to come “home” to gather with their friends and reminisce. Others retired here and volunteered in the community. This class never had recognition in the form of a large framed class photo, and so in 2002, when the “new” Kelowna Secondary School (KSS) opened off Raymer Avenue, members of the group presented the school with a plaque of photos from their class yearbook.
In recognition of Kelowna’s 100th anniversary in 2005, the group presented a $1,000 bursary to a KSS student.
Lorainne McLarty and Dorothy Zoellner have been arranging these luncheon reunions since 2007. They say,“we had fun growing up together, and we still have fun together.” Many of the members are still very active and enjoying retirement with their friends and family.
Members of the group attending the lunch included: RJ Bennett, Bob Kerr, Al Galbraith, Ron Gee, Bill Greenwood, Joy Lambrick, Harold Magel, Gordon Marshall, Lorainne McLarty, Art Perry, Betty Runacres and Dorothy Zoellner. Attending with these graduates were Betty Ann Greenwood, Ruth Magel, Anne Marshall, Ruth Stirling, Eileen Chappell and Terry Onions.
Lois Marshall is the Kelowna Branch President, of the Okanagan Historical Society.