California Holiday 2024-2025: Day 4

 

California Holiday 2024-2025: Day 3

 

California Holiday 2024-2025: Day 2

 

California Holiday 2024-2025: Getting There

We were amazed to realize we were flying right over Alabama's Mount Cheaha and my brother David's house! His house is on the lake above. His lot appears as a lighter colored protrusion into the upper lake -- to the right of the dam. 

 

I missed a shot little farther west of the Alabama section of Coosa valley --a significant portion of its water had flowed right past our house a hundred miles (as the water flows) upstream. But a little farther west these Alabama farms molded around meandering creeks make for a picaresque crazy quilt from 30,000 feet.

We didn't miss the Mississippi River. Here it is just south of Greenville, Mississippi near the Arkansas/Louisiana border.

The eastern suburbs of Dallas bump up against these hills.

Desert and hills south of Phoenix.

Another river easy to find: the Colorado just a few miles north of Yuma and the Mexican border.

Desert in southern California.

Farmland fed by irrigation grows into the desert east of the Salton Sea.

Brannon met us at the airport and drove us to Carlsbad where ---

We met-up with John and the girls at the Carlsbad In-N-Out --- we were greeted by three loving and wildly excited little girls! I had asked Suz how much she loved me when Clem decided to stick her head into the picture.

All three girls are enthusiastic hat-thieves

We drove directly from to the Carsons' house where we visited for a while before the Carlins headed home and we began our house sitting.

Milton Chung 1947-2024

 In the summer of 1967 after my sophomore year at Asbury College I attended "summer school" partly, I think, to try to repair my academic standing which started so poorly my first quarter that it never went down in four years. I really enjoyed that summer and learned a lot. The academic atmosphere was more relaxed. Class numbers were low and professors had more time for us. Also there was a high school group on campus (National Science Foundation special program???) and we college sophomores had a temporary exalted social position. 

Just for that summer I arranged to room with a student I had not known well, Milton Chung. He was a great guy and I enjoyed knowing him for those few weeks. He left Asbury after that summer and transferred to another school, I presume Ohio Northern, since that is mentioned as his alma mater in his obituary. Milton had been the roommate of Solomon Lasoi the previous year. Since Solomon and I had both had roommates transfer we decided to room together our last two years at Asbury. This was a great boost to my academics. Solomon was a dedicated student and influenced me to become more dedicated to my studies. 

Today I thought of Milton because I noticed the picture below in an old album and thought I'd see if I could find him online. Once again I was too late. Milton died just a few months ago. I would have enjoyed talking with him again. 

He ended up a college professor in Spanish. Despite his Chinese heritage Milton had grown up in Uraquay so he was fluent in Spanish. 

It saddens me to know he is gone. 

This is the third time in the last week that I have learned of the death of a friend from the sixties. In all three cases it had been a long time since I had had any contact with the friend. 

I don't know how I happened to have this childhood picture of Milton. I suppose it was left in our room when he transferred. I never knew where he went or saw him again after that summer. 

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Milton Chung Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home on Jun. 19, 2024.

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Milton Chung, 76, from Tega Cay, SC passed away on June 13, 2024. He was formerly from Coram, NY.He was born October 16, 1947 in Canton, China. He was the son of the late George Chung and Lucila Chung. Milton grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador and graduated from Homer High School in upstate New York, class of '65. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio. He also received his Masters of Arts degree in Spanish from Bowling Green State University, Ohio in 1973. Milton was so proud to become an American citizen and served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. Milton had many different jobs in his life but his greatest satisfaction, besides the Air Force, was being a Spanish professor at Suffolk County Community College, Selden, NY, where he worked for approximately 20 years. His hobbies included soccer, cooking, traveling, aviation and watching the history channel and World War II and Vietnam movies. Milton is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Donna Chung, his son George M. Chung and his wife Danyeale and his grandchildren Landon, James and Allison Chung. He is also survived by his brothers Robert Au and his wife Hilda and Richard Tang and his wife Ada and his brother-in-law, James Hiatrides and all his beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Graveside services will take place at 11 am, Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Boulevard, Salisbury, NC 28144 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnel to Towers or Folds of Honor. Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com
Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home

Gary Veale 1949-2024

Gary Veale has died. 

Today's mail brought us the Asbury Ambassador (alumni) magazine, and there was Gary on the page of memorials. 

Gary was a good friend to me and to Sheila during our college years, worked with us on the college newspaper staff (the Collegian) and was our friend Bob Gipson's roommate. In 1971 Gary served as one of the groomsmen first at Bob and Sharlee's wedding, then at mine and Sheila's.at our wedding.

Being Bob's roommate could be a challenge, Gary said. Bob worked UPS at night and tried to sleep in the afternoons after classes until time to head to Lexington and work. Gary was charged with waking Bob in time for the job. Gary said he had to be careful because Bob sometimes woke swinging at him!

At our wedding, August 8, 1971. Gary is third from the left.

Gary in the Collegian office 

Gary, Bob Gipson, Sharlee Caister at the Cincinnati Zoo.

At Bob & Sharlee's wedding, May 1971

Gary at Asbury graduation 1971

Sheila, Gary, Sharlee at Asbury graduation 1971

Sheila and Gary May 1970

Sheila and Gary May 1970

Gary in the Collegian office

Bob and Sharlee's wedding May 1971

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OBITUARY

Gary Veale

NOVEMBER 8, 1949 – JUNE 21, 2024

 Gary was born in Owosso, MI on Nov. 8, 1949 to Otto and Dorothy Veale.

He grew up in Owosso and graduated in 1967 from Owosso High School. He graduated in 1971 from Asbury College in Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

After college, Gary worked in the newspaper business, including in Grand Ledge and Three Rivers. He worked at J-Ad Graphics in Battle Creek, and then in Hastings, as a darkroom technician from 1977 to 1984. There he met and married Candy McLeod on Oct. 16, 1981.

He became interested in beekeeping around 1980. In 1984 it became his vocation and lifelong passion.

Gary enjoyed many hobbies. He was an avid genealogist. He enjoyed history, and especially liked Civil War history. He was a member of the former Clarksville/Campbell Historical Society. He loved gardening and watching movies with Candy, and petting his cats.

Gary was such a kind person and was always willing to give of his time.

He is survived by his wife, Candy; nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews, cousins; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Otto Veale, Sr. and Dorothy Veale; three half-brothers, Otto Veale, Jr., Harley Veale, and Kenneth Veale.

Gary's life will be celebrated privately at a future date. Cremation arrangements by Koops Funeral Chapel in Lake Odessa.