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Frances Lee Dilday Wiles
LHS '64
? - March 30, 2020
Frances Lee Dilday Wiles, 73, passed away on the morning of March 30, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Lee was the daughter of Ernest Dilday, Jr. and Ellen Frances Brown Dilday and was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on August 30, 1946. She married Frederick “Fred” Webb Wiles in 1968 in New Orleans. Lee was a devoted wife to Fred until his death in 1980. Fred and Lee had two children, Rachel Wiles Bradford and Brian Christopher Wiles.
After being a homemaker, she earned her Associates Degree from Dekalb Community College and worked as a mortgage loan officer for many years. In addition to working, she was a tireless volunteer for PTA and Girl Scouts. You could find her most weekends cheering and running on the sidelines of her son’s soccer games. Along with her quick wit, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading mysteries, and spending time with her family and friends. Her granddaughters were the light of her life. Lee was known for her generosity, loyalty, and undying devotion to her loved ones. She always placed others’ needs ahead of her own.
Lee is survived by her children, Brian Wiles of Augusta, Ga and Rachel Wiles Bradford, son-in-law, Wes Bradford, granddaughters, Cara Leeyanni Bradford and Sophia Marie Bradford of Charleston, SC. She is also survived by her brother, Ernest Dilday, III, and her sisters, Ellen Washington and Kay Dilday Johnson, as well as her nieces and nephews.
Lee will be missed dearly by her family and friends. A memorial service will be arranged at a later date.
Being Locked Up
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
I got through my teenage years without ever being locked up, and today I feel lucky for that. I once got into a friendship with a guy who could have easily led me to such a fate, but things happened which terminated my association with him before that happened. I also made it through college without getting into any serious trouble, even on Spring Break in Panama City. It was not until I was in the Air Force that I found myself behind bars – actually twice during my service. I found myself associated with other prisoners as we tried to avoid the armed guards and plotted a way to escape. Both times it was during my training at US Air Force Survival Schools when that happened.
In Basic Survival School we were immersed in training to show what it would be like to be a prisoner of war (POW) and have to survive the conditions under which we might expect to be treated. Part of the introduction included training in surviving solitary confinement and being locked inside a four by four wooden box cell for extended periods of time. Another part was existing in a World War II type prison camp with about another 100 or so fellow prisoners. A few years later I attended Special Survival School, again being locked up in solitary confinement but that time with exposure to advanced techniques on how to survive severe interrogation. Needless to say I survived both series of internment.
As a crew member of a B-52 nuclear bomber I was also subjected to being contained in a building at the end of the runway every third week pulling nuclear alert. We would check in on a Thursday morning and would be required to stay there until relieved by a new crew the following Thursday. We could only go places on the base from which we could return in 15 minutes if called. We were not allowed to leave the base under any circumstances including your house burning down or you wife having a child in the base hospital (which was outside the base gates.) Should the horn blow in a real war we had 15 minutes to respond to our aircraft, start engines, and get airborne. That was the time the military expected it would take the Russian missiles to completely destroy the base where we were stationed. Though we did not have to practice social distancing it might have been worse because we were normally housed inside a single cinder block house with 52 other bomber and tanker crew members.
Now I, like you, find myself basically in house arrest imposed by the government in a serious attempt to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Sue and I have adhered to the need for social distancing and have only been out of the house and among others twice in the last two weeks. Both of those times were quick (about10 minute) trips to the local grocery store to pick up needed food items. I have no problem in staying in as asked. It is the right and smart thing to do, especially since we are in the senior group which is being named as a high threat group.
In an odd moment my thoughts go back to the first time I found myself being quarantined from society. I was probably about 10 years old at the time and the reason for my isolation was the fear of spreading Mumps to my friends and family. I came down with the Mumps when I was attending church camp at the Presbyterian Camp Ovoca in Tullahoma, Tennessee. (See photo of the dining hall above) According to the Tennessee Pythians page, Ovoca was located about two miles from Tullahoma. It was about 400 acres and was purchased in 1908 by the Knights of Pythias for a Pythian home for widows and orphans. Many buildings were constructed there, including a home, barn, cottages, administration buildings, dormitories, dining hall, etc. It had a lake and 70 foot waterfall.
We were almost through with the scheduled week so I was put in a cabin by myself and cared for by someone who had already had the Mumps and therefore immune to catching them again. I worried about what would happen when I got home and would be in the same house as my brother Don. It turned out not to be a problem, because whoever I was exposed to who infected me had also infected Don and he had caught them the same day I did one state away.
I remember we were expected to be bed ridden during the time the Mumps were active. I vividly remember being told something would happen to my male parts if I got up too much. So, we were quarantined for about a week and not allowed to go out of the house. I do not know the dates, but since it was during the summer camp period of the year we did not have to miss school during the period. Home schooling was no problem, but I think Don missed the sporting activities in which he always participated in during the summer months. I actually do not believe it seemed like a punishment but more like a chance to sit around and do nothing while I napped and watched TV.
Now, over a half decade later I once again find myself in about the same situation of being house-bound in an imposed quarantine, only this time it is with my wife Sue and not my brother Don. As stated, we have been observing the rules for two weeks now, with no positive end in sight. This time the situation is basically a life or death situation so we choose to accept the option of staying home. For now it is still a time to nap and watch TV but soon I am sure more little projects which have been put off for lack of time will emerge into our lives.
Memphis, TN - You don't have anything else to do so you might as well enjoy Lee's Traveller. If you get really bored you could always take a few moments to share with us your thoughts about times in your life you were quarantined or locked up. Or just jot down a few thoughts on your times at Lee and the things your friends and you enjoyed.
Last Week's Name That Tune Group
Songs for Social Distancing
Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS '66, " I'm no good at remembering artists/groups. I hope you guys are staying safe!"
Tell Her No
Walk On By
Lonely Boy
Lonesome Town - Ricky Nelson
All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee
Jeffrey Fussell, LHS '66, got the first three right but stated, "This started out pretty easy for me, but hit a brick wall with Numbers 4 and 5. I just couldn’t pick out anything familiar."
This Week's Name That Tune Group
Songs for Social Distancing
Movie of the Week
Scene: A young woman is on a trip. It’s raining and late at night, so she decides to find a place for the night. She stops at a small motel and goes inside the office. “Do you have a vacancy?” she asks. The clerk says “We have 12 vacancies. 12 cabins, 12 vacancies.”
Question 1: What was the movie?
Question 2: Who was the actor who played the young woman?
Question 3: Who was the actor who played the clerk?
Question 4: Who was the director?
Question 5: Where did you see it?
Question 6: Who did you see it with?
From Our Mailbox
Subject: Teddy Bear Story
Dianne Hughey McClure
LHS '64
When I was probably 6 or so my Aunt Joyce came to visit from Michigan. She took me downtown with her. We went in Grants I believe it was. We went down big wide steps to the basement which was all kinds of toys. She let me pick what I wanted and I choose a grey furry bear that I named Teddy I still have him. He was my buddy and friend for many years. He is now 67 years old about the same number of years you and I have been friends. We always try to keep the "specials" in our life whether it's friends or toys.
Save the Date!
September 25 & 26, 2020
LHS Reunion
The Westin at Bridge Street
Huntsville, AL
More Information to Come Later
Reunion Contacts
Ann Wilson Redford (redforda@uah.edu)
Niles Prestage (napjr@me.com)
Sarajane Steigerwald Tarter (starter@hiwaay.net
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