Jim Charlton

I graduated from Stonewall Jackson HS in ‘73, but have never attended any reunions there.   My wife and I did attend a FCHS73 Ice Breaker in I believe 2013 after being invited by Theresa Tiller Holloway.  (Maybe it was the 35th in 2008?)

After graduating High School, I began attending NVCC with the goal of earning at least an Associates Degree in Electronics.   But that same quarter I was presented with an opportunity to join IBM full-time and jumped on board.   After 2 months training in NYC, I serviced IBM Data Processing equipment for numerous customers in Northern Virginia.   Half of these customers were DOD and I spent a lot of time in The Pentagon and other local military installations.   All of this was fascinating to me as an 18 year old.   By 1976 I was assigned full-time to support IBM Mainframe operations at the HQ for the CIA in Langley, VA.   I spent a total of 10 years there and enjoyed it immensely, leaving as the IBM Account Rep for Service.

During the Reagan Presidency, IBM was very busy at CIA rebuilding the Data Processing infrastructure and expanding it up greatly after the bombing of the Beirut Marine Barracks.  During this time I got married to my 1st wife and we had a daughter Ashley in 1983.  Also during this time I earned my Private Pilots License.  Later, I managed the IBM Field Engineers at HQ NSA Ft. Meade, MD. Another interesting and rewarding position.

After 16 years with IBM, family needs dictated a need for change and I worked for a smaller company (Telos Corp) for 15 years doing basically the same technical and supervisory work, but also traveled to many DOD locations across the US and Germany.   On several occasions I rented planes and piloted myself to customers.  I was in the air over NoVA heading to Westminster, MD on the morning of Sept 11, 2001.   After taking off from Manassas, AA Flight 77 was way too close to my plane as it crossed above me on it’s way to the Pentagon, casting me in it’s shadow as it went!  I still remember the cold, freaky feeling that came over me as my plane was momentarily cast into darkness.  Fortunately, I had a rental car waiting for me when my plane was grounded on arrival to Westminster.

In 2006 I moved to yet another IT company and worked there for 16 years.   I had remarried in 1991 to my current wife, Terry, whom I met in the garbage dumps of Mexico City while serving on a short term medical/evangelical mission trip.  I adopted her 2 fatherless daughters Christina and Kay soon after and we all lived in Manassas, VA until 2014.   During this time I assisted my wife as the “back office” help (payroll, tax, legal, fixit guy) for her very successful Christian Childcare known as God’s Wonderful Masterpieces.  I retired last January after 46 years in IT (Data Processing as it was called way back when).   Praise God my wife and I are healthy empty nesters and we now live in Martinsburg, WV.

Regards,
Jim Charlton

             Katie Flynn Mahrenholz

I've been in Virginia Beach for 20+ years now and still loving it.   Retired recently (see her recent picture) after having several different jobs over the last 10+ years... NOAA contractor, ODU grant administrator, Norfolk asst city auditor.   Quite a change from 35 years in marketing.

Retirement (see retired) has been a bit awkward as I haven't found my routine yet, but I will get there.  Art class has been wonderful and this will continue.   Traveling has been great too.  My husband Scott and I plan one big trip each year - Alaska in September, Scotland next July.

My son, Graham, is a musician living in Nashville; it's a very competitive career but one that he loves.  Sister Shelley and I are very close.   She lives in Maryland, and we talk almost every day and see each other as much as possible.

All in all, life is good, and I wish that for everyone.

                         Jean Epling

I've continued to live in Gainesville, FL since graduating from the University of Florida.   I plan to retire in March of 2024 following a nearly 40 years long career as a dietitian with the state of Florida.   In addition, I've worked as an instructor in a Certified Dietary Manager certificate program at the University of Florida since late 2010.

My ex-husband and I have four children and 10 grandchildren.   I stay (relatively) healthy and happy dancing whenever I can:   Dance Attack and Zumba at my gym, Contra dancing and Irish dancing.   I like to joke that I'm a professional dancer because of the handful of times I've been paid small sums to perform with an Irish dance troupe.   This photo (click here to see it) isn't recent; I have more gray hair and wrinkles, which you can see for yourself at the 50th reunion!