Nick and Jane Suddarth. We were both born and grew up on farms. After graduation from Wardell High School, Nick joined the Navy and fought in the Pacific in WW II. He served on the U.S. S. Honolulu CL-48. His ship was hit by an aerial torpedo on October 20, 1944 and Nick was seriously wounded. He received the Purple Heart Medal while he was still in the hospital in the Admiralty Islands. Jane was still in Wardell High School during the war. Nick came home from the war and we dated another year before getting married in 1947. We tried the farm life but could not make a living since we had no equipment or land to farm. Nick decided to use the G.I. Bill and attend college. Smart decision. Jane decided to attend college along with Nick so we drew our belts in and did the two for one deal and went to college on his G.I. Bill. It was not the easiest way to attend college but well worth it.
Upon graduating from college we returned to Wardell as teachers. Jane was the Home Economics teacher and Nick was a Business teacher. Nick then became Principal before we left Wardell in 1956.
In 1956, we moved to Phoenix, Arizona, bought a home which we still live in and taught school. Dr. Suddarth retired as the Assistant Superintendent but has continued to work as a consulant and Expert Witness. Jane taught for two more years and then it was decided that we should start our family. In 1959 our daughter, Katherine Lee, was born. She is the mother of two daughters. In 1961 our son, John Irvin, was born and he is the father of three sons. I stayed home until John started to school and then did substitute work for several years. Before our daughter was born Jane earned her master’s degree and was qualified to work for the Phoenix High School System in a special program for students that had problems in the regular school system. I wrote a program on how to teach Home Economics to girls with multiple problems and taught English to boys and girls in the program. The government cut all the program from the school which disturbed me so much that I never taught in public schools again. I changed professions and became a Pharmacy Technician in the largest hospital in Phoenix. I retired from there in 1991 after 13 years of teaching Pharmacy Technicians. Loved my teaching years.
Our health has remained good. We have a few problems but have been able to manage them. As a result of this we have traveled all over the world and hope to do more traveling in the future. We were fortunate enough to spend thirty days traveling all over Europe back in the ‘70. Jane did some trips with friends since Nick was not able to get off work the time of the year the trips were offered. She went to the Holy Land twice. On her first trip to the Holy Land she went on to Egypt and climbed up into the largest Pyramids, sailed the Nile River, and continued on to Germany to see the Passion Play. The second trip over to the Holy Land she saw the Passion Play again and went to Holland.
Our trips together have included: China, Thailand, Loas, Burma, Philippines for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf reenactment on October 20, 1994 , Italy, Normandy D-day tour, Canada and Poland-Czech Republic-Hungary.
Nick is very active in the Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter in Arizona. He attends his ship, U. S. S. Honolulu, reunion every year. After the Honolulu was blown up he served on an AOG (Ancillary-Oil-Gas) transport until the end of the war and we attend their reunion every year. We attend the Navy League and Asiatic Fleet reunions every year and have a wonderful time at each one.
We are thrilled to be able to attend your 50th Class Reunion and Thank You for having us.