Elmer Tamanini
Robert Taylor
Arthur Tenenholz
Kenneth Thompson
William Timmins
James Tooher
Joe Toven
Bill Trost
Howard Troy
Sven Valeur-Jensen

William Tait
Thomas Turner
Eugene Valleroy
Bruce Van Dyke
Peter Vasiliadis
Louis Vidal
William Vuono
Robert Wagner
Thomas Walker
Arthur Webster

DECEASED -  T, U, V, W, X, Y & Z

March 2007:  Hi Bill,  The attached news article was in today's Newsday 3/31/07 showing that Ken Thomson is missing after working on his boat.  I know  this is  our classmate.  We both started work together at Sperry Gyroscope as aerospace engineers.  He also came from Chester, PA.  I also know he was an Army Lt. before starting Lehigh.  I read your listing of a Ken Thomson deceased in 2000 in our class internet site and I don't know him.  Hope to see you at the reunion. I have my Comfort Inn reservation made already.--Your classmate, Dick Barba

December 4th, 2000 - Some personal thanks from Gus Magistro to Ken for getting him through "Dynamics" at Lehigh.

Joseph R. Toven Jr.   He was a retired owner and president of Catskill Specialties Inc. and a member of Alpha Chi Rho . He received the B.A. and M.B.A. from Pace university and was an Air Force veteran.  Surviving are two sisters.

He was the retired owner of Trost Real Estate in Southampton.  He was a brother of Phi Kappa Theta.  Three of his children are Lehigh graduates: Sharon M. Trost '78, William J. Trost IV '82, and Mary Trost Byrne '83.

Supervisor for E. I. Dupont.  Howard received a master's degree in history from Lehigh in 1959, and served as assistant to the dean of students in the early sixties.

Mentioned briefly in Dick Evan's note of August, 2001

William Van Tuyl
6/28/1998

He was a retired U.S. Army department director of intelligence and security.  He was a brother of Sigma Chi. Survivors: Wife, Marlene; son.

From Winter 2009 Alumni Bulletin:  In mid‑2008, I received a call from Bill Carson '51 telling me that one of his Sigma Chi brothers, John W Walker, had passed away.

The more I researched John, the more remarkable I found his life.  Born in New Jersey, he lived on the Jersey shore for many years before moving to Versailles, Ky.  After Lehigh, he received a master's degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.  His career path included Transcontinental Gas and the Institute of Exploratory Research in Fort Monmouth, N.J.  He published more than 100 papers on the geophysics of the Earth.  From there, he took over management of the U.S. Army Arctic Research Program, where his team developed the first computerized airborne ice‑depth measurement system.  Advanced versions are being used today to monitor climate change.  John also designed antenna systems vital to a nuclear alert system.  In 1975, he volunteered for service as a foreign intelligence officer and worked closely with the U.S. Customs, the FBI, and the Secret Service.  In retirement, John became an expert woodcarver of wildlife, ducks, birds, and fish; he received recognition for his work at several shows.  God bless you, John, you had a full life.

James was a member of Delta Tau Delta.  A daughter survives.

Wil's Nephew, J Phillip Harris, reported that Wil died January 13th, 2008.

Wilmer Linwood Wilbern, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.

Mr. Wilbern was born on Feb. 14, 1920, at Blount Point in Warwick County, the son of Edwin V. and Benna Walters Wilbern.  He lived in Warwick County, now Newport News, for the first 27 years of his life.

During WWII he served in the Army Air Corps.  After his military service, he attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  Following this, he began working for The Electro Metallurgical Co., a division of Union Carbide Corp., as a production engineer at Marietta, Ohio.

During the next 31 years, he served in a number of management assignments in the company's ferroalloys smelting plants at Marietta and Ashtabula, Ohio, and Sheffield, Ala., and for its successor company, Elkem Metals Co. in Niagara Falls and Christiansand, Norway.  He spent time on assignments for the company in Brazil, Germany, England, Canada and South Africa, and spoke five languages.

Beginning in 1966 he led a group in the successful development of the first application of the technology for computer control of large electric smelting furnaces for which a patent was granted in the U.S. and several other countries.  As a result of this development, he became known throughout the industrialized world as the father of process computer control of electric smelting furnaces and traveled extensively in the promotion and installation of the process.  In 1983, he retired from Elkem as manager of computer technology.

Mr. Wilbern was a charter member of the Optimist Club of Newport News and a charter member and Past Commander of Warwick Post 255 of the American Legion.  He was currently a trustee of the House Corporation of Beta Lambda chapter of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Lehigh University.  He was an ardent golfer and a gourmet cook.

He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, in Peninsula Memorial Park with Dr. Thurman Hayes officiating.

I have been corresponding regularly with Wil for the past few years while he was at Morningside Assisted Living in Newport News, Virginia even though in recent months he was unable to respond.  However, my most recent letter was "returned to sender".  I called Morningside to inquire about Wil's status but all I could learn was that he no longer lived there. Apparently, "Privacy Acts" prevent them from divulging any information, therefore since I have no knowledge about his family, I don't know how to learn more.  I plan to contact Lehigh - perhaps they can give me info about a family member.  I'm really upset about it.

Ralph Fortney, May 2007

Summer 2007 Alumni Bulletin - I've been trying to reach Wil Wilbern through the telephone number I have on file, but without success.  If anyone in the class has spoken to him recently, please let me know.  I don't want to lose contact with him.

June 2004 - Ralph Fortney writes:  My wife and I visited Wil at Morningside Assisted Living in Newport News, VA while enroute to our Granddaughter's graduation from North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC.  Wil is doing as well as can be expected following a stroke which resulted in partial paralysis of his left side.  He is mentally alert but confined to a wheel chair which fortunately is powered so he gets around quite easily - but no drag racing in the corridors.  The Assisted Living environment is very nice and the Staff is friendly and helpful.  He's forever a Lehigh supporter and would like very much to hear from classmates.  I have contacted the Alumni Office and gave them Wil's current address which is:
          Morningside Assisted Living
          655 Denbigh Blvd.
          Newport News, VA 23608
          (757)890-0905

Gordon Maxson updates us on Wil Wilbern's condition:  I stopped in to see Wil while I was in Virginia in February.  He now has a motorized wheelchair and had just gotten back from a shopping trip.  (No, he didn't ride the wheelchair to the stores.)  He still has considerable pain, but he felt there had been a slight improvement in the paralysis from the stroke.  I know he appreciates hearing from Lehigh folks. - March 2004

Gordon Maxson updates us on Wil Wilbern's condition.  Gordon visited Will in Newport News in August.  Will looked great, but his left arm and leg are paralyzed.  He is getting around in a wheelchair and his spirits are high.  Good luck, Will, you are in our thoughts.  Will's phone number is (757) 833-1128 and cell (716) 628-6530. - Winter 2004 Alumni Bulletin

November 2003 - From Pat Moran's column - "In my last column, I mentioned that Wil Wilbern had suffered a stroke and was interested in some contact (and comfort) from his friends in the class.  I am glad to report that Bill Erdman, Ralph Fortney, Bill Smith, Bill Murray and yours truly responded.  Wil sent a thank-you note to the class and said his therapy is ongoing, that he feels pretty good, and that he will come back full bore!  Good luck, Wil,"

From Gordon Maxson. August 2003: 
I stopped in to see Wil yesterday (Sunday the 3rd) at Morningside in Newport News.  He looked great, except for his left arm and left leg, which are pretty well paralyzed from the stroke.  I guess you could call it a mild stroke, since he has gotten his speech back very well, but it may take quite a time to rehabilitate the arm and leg. 

Wil does have quite a bit of pain, and is taking some pretty strong stuff.  Even with it, he was telling me that his leg feels like the bone is shattering.  Without the medicine, he says the pain is the worst you can imagine.

The assisted living home is very nice, and he has his room fixed up with his favorite artwork.  He is in Room 143, which may be a different room than when he first went there.  He has several pieces of his furniture and many of his cookbooks.  The computer is in place, but he hasn't gotten connected to the internet yet.  He will send a message when he gets on line.  (I think it was his grandnephew who went to Niagara Falls and brought all the nice things down.  He lives close by.)

Wil gets around quite well in his wheelchair using his right leg and right arm.  I know he will appreciate hearing from classmates.  Bob Heim lives in Williamsburg, and I think I'll give him a call and see if he will go by.  There are a couple others who live in Richmond.

Gordon Maxson

(Repeat Summer 2003) Wil Wilbern, one of the really good guys in our class, called me in March telling me that he had a slight stroke, and that his left arm and hand were improving with therapy.  Wil would like to hear from his pals at (757) 833-1128, or write c/o Crestwood Health Care Center, 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

 July 2003, Pat Moran writes: Will has been transferred from Niagara Falls to a care facility in Newport News, Va.  He is confined to a wheelchair as he cannot walk-- but his spirits are high and he says he will walk again and see us all at a Lehigh football game. This is one brave guy!

Will's new address is WW c/o Morningside Assisted Living, 655 Denbigh Blvd, Newport News, Va. 23608 - Phone (757) 833-1128 Cell (716) 628-6530.  His computer is in Niagara Falls so we cannot E-mail him.  Will would love to hear from any and all in the Class.

Pat Moran writes:  Wil Wilbern phoned me yesterday to say that he suffered a small stroke in January but that he is regaining movement in his left hand and arm through therapy.  Wil particularly wanted to hear from his classmate friends at phone 716 731-1213 or write c/o Crestwood Health Care Center, 2600 Niagra Falls Blvd, Niagra Falls, N.Y. 14304.

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - Immediately after graduation, went to work as a metallurgist / production engineer for the Metals Division of Union Carbide Corp. at Marietta, OH.  In 1955, promoted to Asst. to Supt. - Titanium Plant at Ashtabula, OH and then to Asst. Supt. - Alloys Div. at the same location.  Appointed Asst. Plant Manager at Sheffield, AL in 1962.  Transferred to Niagara Falls, NY in 1963 as Long-Range Design Planning Engineer.  In 1966, developed the first application of closed loop computer control to the operation of large electric smelting furnaces in the world and patented the technology.  Over the next 17 years, installed computers in all Division plants in the U.S., Canada, Norway, South Africa, as well as several customer plants in Canada, Brazil, Norway and Tazmania.  Lived and worked in 6 different foreign countries and did business in 20 others from Russia to Zimbabwe and most of Europe.  Learned to speak 6 different languages.  In 1981, the UCC Division was sold to Elkem A/S of Norway; and I went to Norway to live and work for the year 1982.  Retired from consulting in 1988.  Delivered technical papers at 6 different annual Electric Furnace Conferences of the AIME in the U.S. and Brazil.  Won the Charles W. Briggs Award for the outstanding paper at the 1980 AIME conference.

John S. Yard   He was a retired director of engineering with the American Meter Co.  He received the M.S. from Penn State University and was a member of Kappa Sigma.  Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen, three sons, and two grandchildren.

Winter, 1980:  A Liberty High School senior was crowned Northampton County Junior Miss for 1980 before a capacity audience at the Nazareth Area Junior High School auditorium.  Kathryn Zug, 17, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Zug III, not only took the top award but was presented with a silver plate as winner of the Youth Fitness Category.  Miss Zug plans to enter the medical field, possibly as a pediatrician.