EATON — Members of the 1979 class of Eaton High School donated a park bench to the high school on Nov. 25 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their graduation.
The park bench was placed at the entrance of Eaton High School in coordination with Principal Scott Couch, Director of Operations Matt Robbins, and Board of Education President Lisa Noble, who were present for the dedication of the bench.
The class had more than 160 graduates, including many who live in Eaton, elsewhere in Preble County and other surrounding counties and communities.
About 50 members of the class, along with many spouses, attended a reunion held at Becker Blacktop on June 22, where donations for the bench were collected. Organizers of the event were Suzi (Ingram) Becker, Pam (Cullers) Boyd, Julie (Simpson) Cottingim, Connie Frizzell, Gretel (Wikle) Johnston, Karen (Parks) Kist, Rebecca (Duggins) Marker, Rick McKee, Jane (Hayes) Mobley, Jackie (Turpin) Petty, Kerry Petty and Greg Taylor.
Traveling the farthest to attend the reunion was Timo Rima, who was an exchange student and came to the reunion from his native Finland. Class president Todd Tobias travelled from Colorado for the reunion and addressed the class at the event, thanking Connie (Sherriff) Hakes for her role in organizing past reunions marking 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years and 35 years.
The class also held a reception on June 23 for teachers from Eaton community schools who taught during years when the class was in school.
