1956 HeiskeliteYear Book
Our Deceased Classmates
Photo Album Class of '56
35th Reunion
40th Reunion
45th Reunion
50th Reunion
55th  Reunion
60th Birthday celebration
70th Birthday Celebration
75th Birthday Celebration
1953 Heiskelite Yearbook
1954 Heiskelite Yearbook

 

Welcome to the Hagerstown High School Class of 1956 Web site! (Please visit links on left side of page)

 

                                                                           In memory of Richard A. Wade 1938 - 2001     (click)  

 The Class of '56 welcomes all, but especially our classmates to share events, news, and information of the graduating class of June, 1956.

This is a very active high school class that has reunions every 5 years and "special" events, such as class "Zero & 5th" Birthday Celebrations, Luncheons and picnics held in the Hagerstown, Maryland area, and participation in the Annual HHS Florida Gathering.
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Mark Your Calendars!
85th Birthday Celebration
August 18-19, 2023

Friday at the Bowmans' "Barn" 3-7 PM

Saturday at the Redmen  3-7 PM
 

 Delores Juanita (Crabtree) Swartz, 84,

   Obituaries in Hagerstown, MD | The Herald-Mail

Delores Juanita (Swartz) Crabtree, 84, of Hagerstown, Maryland, passed away peacefully at Doey’s House in Hagerstown on Monday, March 20, 2023.Born on July 8, 1938 in Hagerstown, she was the only child of Charles J. Swartz and Myrtle Irene Alder Swartz. Delores was a 1956 graduate of Hagerstown High School. She worked for Washington County Department of Social Services from 1976 until her retirement in 2004. She was a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church where she was baptized on March 25, 1951. She was very active with the church her entire life, serving as the Sunday School Secretary, assisting with the church’s REACH program, and participated for many years with the Sunday School bowling league. She volunteered at Coffman Nursing Home helping with bingo. She enjoyed aerobics at HCC until she was 75. She and her cousin/travel companion Kathy Brashears took every opportunity to hop on a bus to Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Cape Cod; however, she was sure to never miss a single sporting event of her grandson, Ryan.

She is survived by her two sons, Brian Crabtree and wife, Carol and Steven Crabtree and wife, Emily; grandson, Ryan Crabtree and wife, Miranda and great-grandson, Ryker Ardel Crabtree.

The family will receive friends from 10-11am on Friday, March 24, 2023 at Rest Haven Funeral Home, 1601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742. Her funeral service will begin at 11am and interment will follow in the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 712 W. Church Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740 or to Doey’s Hospice House, 11370 Caring Pathway Lane, Hagerstown, MD 21742. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.rsthvn.com

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 Margaret C. Longnecker, Gardenhour, Martin, 84

      Obituaries in Hagerstown, MD | The Herald-Mail

Margaret C. Longnecker, Gardenhour, Martin, passed away, Friday, February 24, 2023 at her home. Margaret was born and lived in Chewsville, Md. in her early life. Margaret was the daughter of the late Lewis H. Longnecker & Barbara Hartle Longnecker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Phillip A. Longnecker (Jan. 2018) and her sister Connie Jean Wiles (Nov. 2009). She graduated from Hagerstown High School with the class of 1956. She served on the class reunion committee for many years, attended Columbia Business School, and Wharton Business School. Margaret's first marriage was lived in Smithsburg, Md. and was associated with Gardenhour Orchards, Inc. for 22 years. She was sales manager of radio station WRCV for 1-1/2 years before becoming V.P. and General Manager of VerStandig Broadcasting from 1981-2003. After semi-retirement, she remained at VerStandig Broadcasting as a consultant 1/2004 until 12-31-2006, she then worked part time at The Jewlery Shop in Greencastle from 3/2007-12/2014. She is survived by children; son Bill Gardenhour (Julia) Smithsburg, daughter Susan Gardenhour Mackert (Jack) Florida, son Mitch Gardehhour (Michele) Smithsburg; grandchildren: Sawyer Gardenhour, Zane Gardenhour, Garrett Gardenhour and Kenedy Gardenhour; and a special niece Barbara Dagenhart and other nieces and nephews. Margaret served as V.P. and President of The Womens Auxilary to the Md. Horticultural Society, was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Smithsburg, where she had, in her early life, served as Primary Sunday School Superintendent & teacher, past member of American Business Women's Assoc, served on the board of RAB in N.Y., the American Red Cross and the PAB. She was named to "Who's Who in American Bus." Women in 2003. At her request, there will be no viewing, and in lieu of flowers, please make contributions to The Antietam Humane Society, 8513 Lyons Road, Waynesboro, PA 17268. She had a great love for animals all of her life. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 North Main St., Smithsburg, MD. A visitation will be held from 2pm to 3pm with a service to follow. Arrangements have been entrusted to Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com

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EDWARD L. PALMER , 84

       

Dr. Edward Leo Palmer, 84, of Davidson NC, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 16, 2022 at Greenville Inpatient Hospice House in Greenville, NC. Ed was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on August 11, 1938 to the late Ralph Leon Palmer and Eva Irene Brandenburg Palmer, and he was preceded in death by his sister, Dorotha, and his brother, William.
Ed attended public school in Hagerstown and graduated from Hagerstown High School in 1956. He later attended Gettysburg College, where he earned his B.A. in Business Administration, and Ohio University, where his studies culminated in a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Shortly after receiving his doctorate, Ed taught for two years at Western Maryland College in Westminster, Maryland.
In 1970 a serendipitous job offer brought Ed to Davidson College, where served the Psychology department as a professor for 41 years and as department chair for 16 years. Ed's research focused on televisual media and programming/advertising influences on children, and he served on the American Psychological Association Task Force for Advertising and Children, heading the report initiative on Advertising and Commercialism in Schools. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Psychological Association, a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and other professional organizations including Southeastern Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists. As a department chair, he was instrumental in the design and construction of the Watson Life Sciences building and he instilled a distinct culture of collegiality, mutual respect, and a thirst for excellence that continues to this day. Ed retired in 2011 as the Wayne M. and Carolyn A. Watson Professor of Psychology and Chair Emeritus.
Ed was a gifted literary and poetic writer, often gracing others with his gifts of creative expression. He dearly loved music, and he greatly enjoyed composing and recording his original works and regularly lending his vocal talents to a variety of local choral groups and to The Four Coursemen, an a cappella barbershop quartet at Davidson College. Ed was also a loyal member of the choir at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Mooresville for many years. In addition to his numerous professional and musical engagements, Ed adored nature and was an avid birdwatcher and hiker.
As a father, grandfather, professor and friend, Ed touched countless lives throughout his 84 years. He was an incredible listener, finding common ground with everyone he met, and he was an ever-present source of support, encouragement, and advocacy for friends and strangers alike. Ed cared deeply about others and he considered himself to be a friend to the weary and a voice for the silent. Although his life accomplishments were numerous, he will likely be remembered most by those whose paths he crossed for his genuine caring, his generosity of spirit, and his trademark phrase, "Travel gently." Although it feels as though a light has been dimmed in our world, we know that in many meaningful ways Ed's spirit will live on through those whose lives he brightened.
Ed is survived by his son Ed, and grandchildren Boomer (15) and Shay (11) of Savannah, GA; his daughter Jennifer (Mark) Bowler, and grandsons Mason (14), Mitchell (12), and Marshall (9) of Greenville, NC; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A memorial service to honor Ed's life will be held at Davidson College Presbyterian Church on February 25th at 1:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at the Congregation House. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Oakwood School at www.theoakwoodschool.org, where three of his grandchildren attend, or to the American Bird Conservancy at www.abcbirds.org.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Edward, please visit our floral store.

Published by Winterville Cremation & Funeral Services - Winterville on Jan. 31, 2023.

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Nancy Lee (Shilling) Linger, 84

  

Our beautiful mother, Nancy Lee (Shilling) Linger, passed away early Sunday morning, January 15, 2023. Born December 18, 1938 in Chambersburg, PA, she was the daughter of the late Howard Ray Shilling and Evelyn May Heckman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Ralph Linger. Nancy graduated from North Hagerstown High School in 1956. She attended Hagerstown Junior College where she studied accounting, and then worked for Smith Elliott Kearns & Company. After moving to Virginia Beach, VA in the early 1970s, she was employed by the City of Virginia Beach, Parks & Recreation Department and retired from there after 15 years. She was a member of Grace Brethren Church in Virginia Beach, VA, and also attended Chapel at Fahrney Keedy Memorial Home.

Nancy loved going to the beach and spending time with her family. She was a huge animal lover, and her cats, Amtrak, Tiger, and Boots, brought her much joy. She was a God-fearing woman with a kind, sweet soul, who never met a stranger, and would share God’s word with anyone who would listen. She resided at Fahrney Keedy Village for a few years before moving into the Assisted Living Facility and ultimately, second floor skilled nursing. The family would like to thank all the Fahrney Keedy staff for the many years of medical care and support they provided. A very special thank you to Charles and Theresa who mom loved very much. We’d also like to thank Mr. Jesse Hughes of Lynnhaven Masonic Lodge in Virginia Beach for his steadfast communication with mom after her husband passed away. We are grateful for Hospice of Washington County for overseeing mom’s care the last four weeks of her life, and especially her nurse, Tammy, who helped us advocate on mom’s behalf to ensure she passed with dignity and with comfortable measures. Nancy’s family is comforted by God’s promise that this is not our forever home, and we will see her again. Nancy is survived by and greatly loved by her two daughters and their husbands, Michele “Shelli” Hammer, husband, Douglas, of Leicester, NC, Cheryl Corbin, husband, John, of Virginia Beach, VA. Five grandchildren, Chris Whitman (Katie) of Lewiston, ID, Zachary Byrd of Virginia Beach, Justine Clark (William) of Wilmington, NC, Jessica Byrd of Virginia Beach, and Darienne Price (Chase) of Charlotte, NC. Eleven great grandchildren, Lexus, Porscia, and Adalyn Whitman, Tristyn, Zayden, and Jaxyn Byrd, Airlie, Adley, and Myers Clark, and Makayla and Savannah Ball. She was the oldest of 7 children and is survived by her four sisters, Meta Ann Swope (Marvin) of Waynesboro, PA, Cassandra Babineau (Paul) of Williamsport, MD, Susan Doub (Gary) of Hagerstown, MD, and Patricia Lushbaugh (Ray) of Hagerstown, MD; two brothers, Stanley Shilling (Magali) of Kentucky, and Michael Shilling (Cynthia) of Durham, NC; two brothers-in-law, James Linger (Marilyn) of Florida and Richard Linger (Janet) of Virginia. She also has many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held on Friday morning, January 27, 2023 from 10am to 11am at Minnich Funeral Home, 415 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown, MD. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11am, conducted by Fahrney Keedy’s Chaplain, Pastor Dana Merserrau. Then a procession to Cedar Lawn Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest. Pallbearers will be Douglas Hammer, John Corbin, Michael Shilling, Albert Deal, Zachary Byrd, and Charles Sulureh. Her daughters ask in advance that all in attendance please wear something blue to honor their mom with her favorite color. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either Hospice of Washington County, 11370 Caring Pathway Lane, Hagerstown, MD 21742, or Fahrney Keedy Memorial Home and Village, 8507 Mapleville Road, Boonsboro, MD 21713. Online condolences are accepted at www.minnichfh.com.

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Photos- Our 65th Reunion!!  August 27-29, 2021 (click)  

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80th Birthday Celebration - Hagerstown High Class of 1956
                                                            September 14-16, 2018

                                                   Photos  (click) ...
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PHOTOS-HHS Class of 1956 60th Reunion !!!
September 16-18, 2016

Here are some links to click on for photos from our 60th Class Reunion, September 16-18, 2016.
(recommend to choose "Slideshow" option toward top of page after photos come up- then you can go right or left if you choose )

Friday Evening at the Bowmans (click)

Saturday Afternoon at Redmen “Crabfest” (click)

Sunday Breakfast @ Redmen (click)

 

South Potomac JR High Classmates of HHS Class of 1956