Notification of the Death of Beckye Fricke Garrison's Daughter

Robbie Garrison Thielbar

June 14, 1972 - February 27, 2023

(Editor's Note: Several classmates contacted me this week asking that the following information be printed in this week's Traveller. Our normal policy is to highlight our classmates from 1964, 1965, and 1966, but we will honor requests such as these if space permits.)

Robbie Garrison Thielbar, 50, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away on February 27, 2023, with her family by her side.

  She is survived by her husband, Alan Thielbar; sons, Zack Smith (Sharon) and Max Smith (Chloe); daughters, Kristin Taylor (Jake) and Mikailan Thielbar; grandchildren, Amelia, Bella, and Bentley; mother, Becky Garrison; and sister, Kristi Norris (David).

 Robbie was proceeded in death by her father, Max Garrison; brother, Keith Garrison; grandparents, WT and Jerri Garrison, and Bill and Sarah Fricke.

 Just like her father, Robbie lived life courageously and vibrantly, giving her all to those whom she loved. It was her nature to work tirelessly caring for others, especially her family. She was incredibly proud of her two boys, who brought her life deep meaning and purpose. As a beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend, she boldly communicated her sincere love for each one. Most importantly, Robbie lived her life with unshakeable faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The light of joy and hope she carried on the inside encouraged and impacted countless lives. Having an interaction with Robbie was definitely a special experience because she unreservedly opened her heart to you. Seeing her beautiful smile and gorgeous face would instantly lift your spirits, and from there, her infectious laugh and humorous words would further embrace you. Soon, you’d both burst into laughter and be convinced she was as overjoyed as you for the encounter. It will be the first thing we hear when we meet again- the angels’ singing and Robbie’s laughter. Only then we will know we are in Heaven.

Visitation will be Friday, March 3, 2023 at Berryhill Funeral Home from 10:30 to 12:30. Services will follow in the chapel with Don Kraft officiating. Burial will be at Valhalla Cemetery.

Tuesday morning (Feb. 28) following breakfast I got some abdominal pains that kept getting worse as the day progressed. It was not any better on Wednesday so I made an appointment to see our doctor and see what was going on. 

The pain had centralized in my lower right side. It turned out to be a ruptured appendicitis and I was told to go to the Emergency Room and have my appendix removed immediately. 

Early Thursday morning (March 2nd) they performed an emergency appendectomy on me. The operation went well but they discovered the appendix had a small tear and had spread some of the bad stuff into the surrounding tissue, so they kept me in the hospital for a few days to monitor it. The doctors fear it may get really infected and are pumping me full of antibiotics. 

I came home Saturday afternoon with a ton of medicine and marching orders to take it easy. I have a mid-line in my arm and Sue will be giving me antibiotic IVs for the next two weeks. Still have the pain of course but infection is my greatest fear. If things get too bad they supplied me with a bottle of Oxycodone, but I will try to avoid that. Will keep you informed as things progress.

Instant Memories

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

We had such good results with last week's Song Memories I decided to continue it this week. I asked Alexa to play a Sixties Song planning to pick the first song selected to use as my mystery song. The song Alexa chose started out "And now the end is here, and so I face that final curtain. My friend I'll make it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full, I traveled each and every highway. And more, much more, I did it, I did it my way."

Considering me having just having major surgery (in my own mind) and still fighting off a major infection, that song did not offer any fun avenues of discussion, so I asked Alexa to skip to the next song.

My request was answered with the old familiar tune "Dum-de-ditty-ditty-dum...."

"My Girl" is a soul music song recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) record label. Written and produced by the Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, it became the Temptations' first U.S. number 1 single, and is currently their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing "My Girl" was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was included on the Temptations 1965 album The Temptations Sing Smokey. In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant"

"My Girl" climbed to the top of the U.S. pop charts on January 16, 1965, after its Christmas time 1964 release, making it the Temptations' first number 1 hit. Over time, "My Girl", with its signature introduction and unrestrained expression of joy, would become one of Motown's best-known and most successful singles. "My Girl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Cash Box described the single as "a pulsating, shuffle-wobble ballad" performed "in very tempting style" and with a "striking arrangement." In 2004, "My Girl" was ranked number 88 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

What memories does this song bring back for you?

Last Week's Questions, Answers, and Comments

Janet James Holland,  LHS ‘67, "I am sitting here with my cat Shanti on my lap, cross stitching little items for the church Bazaar, playing the Tom Hanks series "The Sixties", and your newsletter comes up with what I am watching, The British Invasion. Being a classical lover, pop didn't faze me. But I do remember "Soldier Boy" in reference to a first love. And I do remember coming home after Sunday church to check out Ed Sullivan and this Beatle buzz my church friends were talking about. Still went back to Bach."

Andrea Gray Roberson, LHS ‘66, "Emily Hall Vandiver and I got to go to Atlanta to see the Beatles Live!  A trip that I will never forget! The tickets were $5.00 each!"

Dianne Hughey McClure, LHS ‘64, "The first thing that came to my mind was the senior picnic. I remember a concrete slab and seeing Tommy with a safari hat on dancing around the slab. This memory may be totally off, but this is what came to mind. I also remember the night at Vicky's apartment and listening to that album."

Cecilia LeVan Watson, LHS ‘68, "I had a pen pal from England and she sent  me a picture of these cute but strange-looking lads! I had never heard of them but she assured me I would.  I took the picture everywhere with me. I am proud of the fact I introduced my friends to the Beatles!  Soon we were all twisting and shouting."

Judith L Hubbard, LHS ‘65, "Love “Twist and Shout”! Makes me want to jump up and dance; do the Twist. Ala Chubby Checker. And that’s a big push on this day. Or maybe grab a hula hoop and ride the thing. Or maybe better said, it rode on me. Great core exercise both. And I need to move more! Energizing, memories of parties and sock hops galore. This is a bit of an experiment as my device is challenging me; getting so very complex for a relative novice to the digital age. Need a toddler in the house for assistance but have access to none. Encourage all my classmates and dear friends, to keep as active as possible every day. The world we knew and loved was so very innocent. It now needs whatever wisdom we can summon to carry on. Love to all; hope we meet again!

Mary Ann Bond Wallace, LHS ‘64, "Another good week of music and memories.  Thank you Tommy!"

Dink Hollingsworth, LHS ‘65, "Tommy over the years I have thanked you for your dedication to being "Our Editor" I am amazed at the items from your past that you still have, there are days I can't find my car keys.  I have contributed from time to time, Marty and I have so many memories from LHS and thousands after LHS and always concerned anyone would have an interest.  Like so many, the Beatles were among our favorites as were The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Monkeys etc.  Marty arrived at LHS in our Jr year moving from Birmingham.  It was during that era that WVOK hosted The Shower of Stars several times a year at the old Boutwell in Birmingham.  We had the good fortune to frequent an underground bomb shelter in Germany that had been a Wine Cellar, then Bomb Shelter then an underground Disco. There was a sign on a wall coming in off the street indicating the very early Beatles had performed there. I do not reply as often as I could but do read each week from top to bottom. Please accept our thanks and understand YOU ARE APPRECIATED. Regards, Dink and Marty Hollingsworth '65

Jim Bannister, LHS ‘66, "I haven't been able to check my email for a couple of weeks, finally catching up with the Traveller today. I have a story about pushing off a car. I had a 1956 Chevrolet and had just rebuilt the 265 ci engine. Having used over-sized rings, the starter would not turnover the engine. Danny Johnson had a 1960 Chevy and he offered to push my car with his. We didn't have enough room on Giles Dr because of a dip in the road and a stop sign at Oakwood. So, we pushed it down to Oakwood and made our run down toward the end of Oakwood. At that time Oakwood ended by the baseball field. The engine didn't fire on the first run, so we pushed the car back up the road about where Wynn's house was and tried again. Did this about three or four times until it finally fired and ran. I had rough set the timing and it still wanted to sputter and back fire. I had the exhaust system disconnected so there wouldn't be any back pressure. It was loud! We are by the ball field, I'm under the hood with a timing light adjusting the timing when two Huntsville Police officers showed up.  Someone had reported that we were drag racing. We explained what we were doing and they told us to get the exhaust on it and to be safe.