Category: Memorial post

Mark Slade ~ Class of 1975

Departed ~ 03/15/2015

Septic Shock/Cerebral Hemorrhage

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Jim Whitcomb ~ Class of 1959

Departed ~ 3/16/2021

My name is Jane Whitcomb, widow of Jim Whitcomb. I am writing to tell you Jim Whitcomb deceased 3-16-21.

Jimmie Whitcomb

May 2, 1940 – March 16, 2021

Jimmie grew up as an Army brat, traveling so much he never stayed in one school for over a year. When his father gave him a Brownie camera he turned to photography as his best friend. Photography became his hobby when he found himself in Bangkok, Thailand where he graduated from high school. He had freedom to explore a beautiful tropical wonderland and the opportunity to travel deep into the jungle to meet Dr. Doolittle at his hospital. After high school when his father returned to the USA he joined the Army. His hobby became his vocation as he documented the Vietnam war for Stars and Stripes publication. After Vietnam he worked for OSHA Ariel mapping the US. That led to a job at Zinkgraft Photography in San Antonio, TX as a commercial photographer. He had the great honor to be the photographer at Hemisphere World Fair meeting and documenting in photos major events, dignitaries and super stars.

That led to a job at KLRN TV Station Austin, TX which at that time was owned by Lady Bird Johnson. He was frequently at LBJ Ranch photographing world dignitaries and State Department events alongside Lyndon Baines Johnson and his family. At the time he was commuting from San Antonio to Austin and that was hard on a young and growing family. He found it necessary to move closer to Austin.

About the time of the move he was offered a position with Texas Parks and Wildlife as Photo Editor. Traveling and photo documenting flora and fauna alongside biologists and naturalists was his dream job. He traveled the State of Texas exploring every wonder of nature the State offered. But again he was away from his family so when an opportunity to open his own studio and lab, Image House and Whitcomb Photography, in Austin, TX that became a reality.

In the 1980’s the Austin economy took a downward turn. He was forced to close his business and relocate to Houston, TX as the Director of Photography for United Jewelers. When they closed their doors he moved his business to a well established printer in Houston, TX. About that time digital photography was coming into age. He self-taught himself in the early days of digital and was asked by SONY Corporation to test market their new LEAF commercial digital cameras. He was the US product tester for digital cameras and was first in his field again. He became the LEAF camera consultant and trainer for major companies including Lucky Grocery Stores in California and Kroger in Houston, TX.

During the 1990’s and until his death he owned and operated, Image House, WhitWeb Hosting and Studio Houston, a premier commercial photography studio in Houston, TX and Conroe, TX. His many clients included NASA, Wing Stop, All Star Rod and Reels, Miller Hats, Bill Lewis Lures, Stanley Lures, Hartz Chicken, Chantel Cookware, Borne Saddles as well as design architectural photography.

One of his major personal projects was ‘PAINTED CHURCHES OF TEXAS’ exhibit that ran November 19, 2016 through March 5, 2017 at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures which showcased Jimmie’s photography of more than two dozen intricately painted 19th century churches built by immigrants from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Poland, France, Spain, Mexico and beyond. Using technology developed for NASA’S Mars Land Rovers, large-scale Gigapan photography, of the painted churches of Texas which revealed astonishing details of Texas’s rich history of immigrant artistry.

Jimmie has published ‘A GUIDE TO PAINTED CHURCHES OF TEXAS,’ A Photographers Journey, Volume #1 with 10 Churches by Jim ‘Whit’ Whitcomb and Jane Fanick Whitcomb.

Jimmie Humphries Whitcomb is survived by Jane Fanick Whitcomb, spouse, four children, son, Guy and Elaine Rosinbaum, three grandchildren, Emily Rosinbaum, Ariel Rosinbaum and Elizabeth Rosinbaum; daughter, Darleen Pooler and Jerry Coesens, three grandchildren, Adam and Liza Sneitzer, Brittany Wagner and Adam Christensen, one great grandchild, and Braxton Pooler; and daughter, Janeece Kessler and Big Dog Ed Talamantez, three grandchildren, Jacob Kessler, James Sandefur, Kyndahl Sandefer and Frankie Ayala; and daughter, Kimberlee and Andrew Dedmon, two children, Tyler and Jaynee Dedmon and Olivia Dedmon.

A service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, TX. 78209. The service will be held on May 3rd, 2021 at 2:15pm.

To send a flower arrangement to the family of Jimmie Whitcomb, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com

 Claudia Cooper ~ Class of 1972

Arrived ~ 4/20/1954

Departed ~ 7/29/2013

John Cooper

Beautiful. Such memories from long ago. My sister Claudia Cooper passed away in 2013. She fought Lupus for years and finally made the choice on her terms to depart. She spent 4 years with ISB, two of those in high school. Had we remained in Bangkok Claudia would have graduated with the class of 1972. She knew Mike Daly, Paul Horgan and many others. I was two years younger, however I fondly remember Mike Daly and Paul Horgan. Thank you for keeping their memories alive.

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Phyllis Turbyfill  ~ Class of 1965

Departed ~ 2015

Reported by Bob Meisenhelder, ISB Class of ’67

Phyllis T Lilley ~ Deceased in 2015 at age 67

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Priscilla Miller ~ Class of 1965

Departed ~ 6/4/2019

Obituary

Priscilla Miller Abbott, 72, of Lansing, died, Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at her home. She was born March 25, 1947, in Holyoke, Mass., the daughter of Daniel and Helen (Huyck) Miller.

She is survived by two sons, Timothy R. Crawford of Leavenworth, and Christopher J. Crawford of Spring Hill, Kan.; a daughter, Cynthia Cook of Beaverton, Ore.; a sister, Cynthia Montague of Meriden, Kan.; six grandchildren; and her close friend, Mary Pat Scheurich. Priscilla loved spending time with her family.

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Albert Cheung ~ Class of 1972

Departed ~ 8/14/2021

Ann Elizabeth Marsden ~ Class of 1974/1975

Departed ~ 8/6/2021

As Posted by Pete Crittenden:

Ann was a close friend of many of our ISB family. She graduated Class of ’74 – she had been at ISB since around 1965, coming from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). She was well known and loved amongst the ISB crowd of Washington DC and Northern Virginia, and she will be missed by many.

Ann went on to earn a Certificate in French language & translation at l’Ecole Moderne du Commerce et des Langues in Lausanne, Switzerland. She then studied Liberal arts at the American College of Barcelona, Spain, earning her Associate degree. Later Ann earned a Bachelor degree in Latin American Studies and Business Administration at Flagler College, and more recently Ann achieved her Master’s of Business Administration at the George Washington University School of Business, with studies in Finland and Turkey. A true International kid, Ann spoke French and Spanish, fluently.

Ann is survived by her daughter Julia and her son Don. Ann was a Christian but she observed and respected the ways of Judaism, seeking to understand and practice Christianity in the ways of the first generation of Christians. Ann’s work on this plane is done, she is now in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“May her memory be a blessing.”

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Mary Lou Kuehn ~ Class of 1967

Departed ~ 7/25/2021

Mary Lou Kuehn

Mary Lou Kuehn was 72 years young when she passed away on July 25, 2021, from acute myeloid leukemia. Diagnosed in March, Mary Lou spent 5 months fighting with every fiber of her being to stay with us–a testament to her iron will and fierce love. While her loss will resonate timelessly with her loving network of family and friends, we will remember her unending curiosity, enduring passion, and selfless commitment to her loved ones. We take solace in Mary Lou spending her final days in comfort and surrounded by love.

Mary Lou was born on March 15, 1949, in Yakima, Washington to Colonel Robert John Kuehn and Mary Salatino Kuehn. Her father’s career in the Air Force took Mary Lou and her five siblings all over the world. Mary Lou spent portions of her youth in San Antonio, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; Boston, MA; Wiesbaden, Germany; and Bangkok, Thailand—where she graduated from the International School of Bangkok. She then attended the University of Washington where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and later a Certificate in Intellectual Property Management. In the 1980’s she had three children, Matthew, Rosemarie and Christopher. While her selfless, dedicated parenting flowed from her grace and patience, her career path was emblematic of her curiosity and adaptability. She worked many jobs, including running a home daycare, before entering the legal field as a paralegal–most notably for firms Lane Powell and Mills, Meyers, Swartling—working for the latter in several capacities for 14 years.

Retirement did nothing to slow Mary Lou down. After her parents’ deaths, she assumed the mantle of family matriarch and planned everything from reunions to weddings, baby showers, and family Zoom calls, always doing her best to hold everyone together. She spent her golden years pursuing a myriad of interests: she extended her role as organizer in chief through part time positions at several nonprofits; volunteered with Moms Demand Action; took up birdwatching; and mastered the arts of gardening, needlework and baking-most notably her famous pecan pie. At the age of sixty-eight, she decided that she would hike the Wonderland Trail at Mt. Rainier, coaxing her sister Liz and other family along on a series of rigorous backpacking trips. While she was unable to complete the trail in her lifetime, those that were fortunate enough to accompany her on these adventures treasure their time with her in the wilderness.

Mary Lou is survived by her three children: Matthew McCulloch, his wife Jessica and their children Aidan and Piper; Rosemarie Chartier, her husband Tim, and their newborn son Milo; and Christopher Chartier; her five siblings: Robert J. Kuehn Jr and his wife Elizabeth; Thomas J. Kuehn and his wife Sydney; Kathryn Kuehn O’Leary and her husband David; Stephen J. Kuehn and his wife Jean; and Elizabeth C. Kuehn; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children whom Mary Lou loved and who loved her in return.

To honor Mary Lou, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the organizations that allowed for her to have superlative care through her illness or one of the charitable organizations she supported through her life: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Bloodworks Northwest, Washington Trails Association, and Doctors Without Borders. A celebration of life will be held in the spring.
Published on October 3, 2021

Lovingly submitted by Marti Doggett Class of 1967

More sad news….I had an email from Kathryn Kuehn O’Leary ’68 that her sister, Mary Lou Kuehn ’67 (and my very close friend senior year at ISB)passed away last Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Kathy wrote: “Mary Lou was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, but we thought she had a good chance of survival. We were pretty shocked when the doctors told us it was time to move her to “comfort care” which was the result of complications from the disease……Rosie (Mary Lou’s daughter) is about to deliver Mary Lou’s first grandchild. It was heart wrenching that Mary Lou did not survive to see this precious little gift that she was so thrilled about and anxiously awaiting.”

I’ve had several email exchanges with Kathy…a memorial service will be held but it may be a while as Rosie settles into motherhood and has a chance to plan the service.

Kathy knows that I’m sharing this news with you.

Marti Doggett Class of 1967

William Bill Clarke wrote:

So very sad to hear about the passing of ISBer Mary Lou Kuehn, Class of 1967, we were friends at ISB in 1967, and we keep in touch after Bangkok, I only have one letter I could find of her life and feelings in 1968, she was a good student, carrying a 3.333 QPA, and for a freshman, that was quite an undertaking by the academic standards then, she had a really cute sense of humor, and we laughed a lot together at ISB, in Bangkok, my condolences to the entire Kuehn family, I had seen Kathy Kuehn at the San Diego reunion, God Bless Mary Lou Kuehn

 

 

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Judith “Jude” Benson ~ Class of 1966

Departed ~ 5/2/2018

Judith K. Benson 1948 ~ 2018

It is with heavy hearts we announce that our sister, Judith Kathleen Benson passed on to join our Lord on May 2, 2018, after a short illness.

Judy arrived into the world in Ft. Lewis, WA, in 1948. Born as an U.S. Army dependent, Judy lived all around the country, from Washington state, Leavenworth, KS, Long Branch, NJ, Florida and northern Virginia. In the early 1960s, upon her father’s retirement from the Army, the family moved to Djakarta, Indonesia. That tour was followed by several years in Bangkok, Thailand, where she graduated with honors from the International School Bangkok in 1966. She was inducted into the National Honor Society that same year. While in Bangkok, Judy hosted an English language easy-listening music program on a Thai FM radio station for two years.

Judy returned to the States to attend Sarah Lawrence College, graduating magna cum laude in 1970 with a degree in drama. After graduation, she spent the next few years involved with New York’s off-Broadway theater scene, acting in several productions presented at the La Mama Experimental Theatre Club. She consistently received good reviews.

In 1973, Judy relocated to Washington, D.C. where she continued to pursue her interest in the dramatic arts with the local theatre scene, performing in productions at Arena Stage. She also worked as a researcher at the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Smithsonian Institution. Other research positions included work at an FM radio station in Silver Spring.

Judy struggled with mental illness since 1973, receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In 1974, she entered into a pioneering experimental treatment program at the National Institute for Mental Health in Bethesda, MD. The experimental drugs she was treated with helped establish today’s modern mental health drug protocols. Judy’s original diagnosis eventually changed into what is presently referred to as bi-polar disorder.

Judy also struggled with the social isolation that is all too common for those with chronic mental illness. She constantly sought to overcome the stigma associated with the disease. It was a long fight.

Judy relocated to the Philadelphia area, in 2010, eventually ending up in Chester, PA. She was just recently diagnosed with lung cancer which had quickly spread to other organs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph W. and Nancy (Friel) Benson, along with a brother, Joe, and sister, Samantha. She is survived by her sister, Joanne Carr (Paul), brother John (Marynell), nieces Christine and Lucy, step-nephew Jeff DeLong and nephew Sam. Mental health affects everyone. Please send a donation in Judy’s memory to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org. A memorial service and reception will be scheduled at a future time and place.

Thank you, Joanne and John

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