In Memory
We are grateful to Toni Heathman for doing the research and providing us with the following information:
Death Notice from The Olympian (Olympia, Washington) April 26, 2005, p. B2
Meeks, Ricky Lyn, 59, Olympia, died Friday, April 22, 2005 at Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia. Forest Funeral Home, Olympia.
We belive he lived in Olympia, WA from at least 1989 to 2004. He worked for DOT (Department of Transportation) as a reports-training manager.
Marriage records show the following:
1) Ricky Lynn Meeks and Monica Shirley Vigliotti on 13 June 1971, Seattle, King Co., Washington
Marriage Cert. says he was from Muncie, Indiana but newspaper notice (Seattle) says he was from Bloomington, Indiana and she was at University of Washington (Seattle). He probably went to college there also; probably divorced.
2) Ricky Lynn Meeks and Kathleen McGranahan on 20 July 1996, Olympia, Thurston Co., Washington; probably divorced.
The funeral home that handled arrangements indicated that Ricky was cremated, and his cremains were returned to his sister, Dianna S. Gable who lives in Fishers, IN. Rick was divorced and had served in the armed forces (branch not listed).
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We have been looking for Ricky ever since the 40th Reunion in 2004. This confirmation of his death saddens many who grew up with Ricky in Indian Village. His father Jim worked at Dana with Joe McKibbon's Dad. His mother's name was Phobe. Ricky had a sister, Dianna, and a Brother Dean ( DJ). Our attempts to contact his Sister have been unseccussful.
In addition to our memories of Indian Village, we know Ricky was in our class at Harrison Hill, he is in the '61 Totem, as a Freshman. In '62, he participated on the Cross Country team with Charlie Golden, and Mike Williams.
He was also our Class President our Sophmore year in '62.
He was again our Class President our Junior year in "63. That year he played on the Tennis team with Jim McMahon, Bill Hankee, Jim Lantz, and Gil Haynie.
Then he seems to have disappeared: He is not listed in the'64 Totem, nor is he on the Commencement Program for our Graduation.
It seems odd that Ricky was our Class President two years running, then he just seems to have disappeared our Senior year.
If anyone has a memory of Ricky Meeks, please we encourage you to remember him to the rest of the Class.
John E. Stewart
Charlie said it well. I also remember those basketball games. Ricky was fast and could drive the lane and shoot the long shot too. He was fun to be around.
Judith A. Rogers (Smith)
Julie, I also thought he dated Patti N ..did he get struck by lightening?
Susan K. Smith (Terry)
Judy, no that wasn't Ricky.
Judith A. Rogers (Smith)
I thanks Sue I wasn’t sure..
Jennifer A. Hammerstein (Sorg)
I may be wrong but wasn’t Patty N.’s husband hit by lightning?
Phillip S. Waldrop
I, too, remember Rick and echo Julie Rinehart's comments, along with the other good memories of him expressed by our classmates.
Somethimes when I think about having plodded through life I stop to consider that I have had so much more of life than some of our old friends who passed way too soon. Our not knowing much about Rick's life reminds me of thoughts I had after attending the SSHS Distinguished Alumni awards function in October. It is great to see the substantial successes of some of our fellow grads, but we all need to appreciate the hard work and personal successes of that very large portion of our alumni who have managed to have a good life, working perhaps right out of high school to establish and support homes and families and perhaps contribute to their community on a less grand scale. Few of us become media personalities, political leaders or fashion designers, and we need to remember to celebrate the solid, 'regular' lives that most people manage to achieve. And it is an achievement.
Charles E. Golden
In answer to Jenni’s question, Patty is married to Dave Mueller who had a horrific accident when in Elmhurst High School. He was working on a farm I believe loading hay onto a wagon and brushed an overhead electrical wire with his head. A person would be lucky to survive something like this but Dave did and is still in good shape. When not at their home in Northern Michigan, they live near us in Georgetown, SC— small world!!
Jennifer A. Hammerstein (Sorg)
Thanks Charlie for clarifying....did not mean to misinform but remembered he had had some sort of electrical accident and survived. Good to know he is doing so well. Hope all is well with you and yours! Happy Holidays!
Julie R. Rhinehart (Waterfield)
Appreciate your sentiments, Phil and Charlie
Nancy L. Liby (Stark)
It's a small world! I just recently was talking to a lady from my church with the last name of Meeks. After much discussion I discovered that Ricky Meeks was her brother-in-law. We shared some information about Ricky but really not much more than in the above article. Ricky had no children.