Winter Time Bride – Miss Leona Lynch

Miss Leona Lynch of Hillsdale and Mr. Charles Vaughan Kessel of Ripley were united in marriage on Monday morning, December 14, 1953,  in Pearisburg, Virginia with the Rev. John Sherman performing the ceremony.  Mr. and Mrs. Kessel left immediately on a wedding trip to Florida.   Leona is a member of the faculty at Union High School and Charles is employed by the C & P Telephone Company at Ripley.  After the end of the 1954 school year, Mr. and Mrs. Kessel expect to make their home at Ripley.

     Mrs. Kessel Given a Bridal Shower by UHS Students in 1954

Mrs. Charles Vaughan Kessel, the former Leona Lynch, a member of the Union High School Faculty, was honored with a bridal shower in the Union High School gymnasium last Friday night. The bridal shower was given by the school Chapter of the Future Teachers of America, of which she is the sponsor.  Guests included students of the school, their parents and other friends of the guest of honor.

Guests were received by little Miss Barbara Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.William Walker and Don Sibold, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sibold.  They were dressed as a bride and groom.  Decorations in pink and white centered around two large pink hearts pierced with an arrow and framed pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Kessel.

Entertainment for the evening consisted of a “Formal Wedding” presented by students of the school under the direction of Mrs. H. L. Pritt.  The cast was composed of the following:      Bride-Mary Ann Campbell;  Bridegroom – Dewey Pritt;  Preacher – Donald Craft;  Best man – Jack Flouer;  Maid of honor – Marion Gaye Shumate;  Bridesmaids – Peggy Jane Dillon, Mary Lee Walker, Libby Cruise, Betty Vance, Mary Hylton and Shirley Crosier;  Ushers – Darrell Echols, Gene Baker, Jimmy McCoy, Johnny Rowan, Eddy Boothe and Francis Pence;  Ring Bearer – Don Sibold;  Flower girl – Barbara Walker;  Vocalist – Carolyn Ripley who sang “Because” and “If”;  Pianist – Robin McCoy;  Parents of the Bride – Delma Hoke and Johnny Tomlinson;  Parents of the Bridegroom – Barbara Wallace and Bobby Boyd.

Mrs. Kessel received many lovely gifts.  Refreshments of punch, cookies, mints and nuts were served to around 100 guests.

Submitted by  Peggy Dillon Flouer

Class of 1955