DIRECTIONS AND MAP: http://members.cox.net/premmaus/TrinityNN.htm

Mary Sue Nelson ('52) is the sister of Jack ('54), Lloyd ('61), and Doug ('64) Nelson; W. Kenneth Bradshaw is the father of Billy (HHS - '65) and Susan (HHS - ?) Bradshaw; and Esdras S. Gruver is the father of Bill ('62) and Susan Gruver

Mr. Gruver (03 Jan 1912 - 03 Aug 1989) is the father of Bill ('62) and Susan Gruver; Mr. Coulter is mentioned below

WOW!  Thanks, Dave!
I do not recall ever seeing this postcard before, but it certainly brightened my day!

...The brick chapel shown on the right side of the photo (in the last two images) was dedicated in mid 1966. 
The line drawing on the (note card in the fourth image) is currently used as the front image on the church bulletin. 
It also shows the chapel as it is today... 

- Jim Phillips (WHS - '73) of VA - and present member of Trinity - 06/27/04
Thanks so much, Jim, for your corrections!

FORMER MINISTER OF MUSIC:

Coulter, J. Richard,  (Dick) 15860 Poppy Lane, #9 Los Gatos, CA, 95030   -  (408) 395-0909  frandick@juno.com  -- 

Dick's involvement with handbells began in 1960 at Trinity Methodist Church, Newport News,  VA. 
He says he was privileged to attend the first national conference in St. Louis and later,
to be on the faculty of the first Directors Seminar--also in St. Louis: 

"I formed the St. John's Ringers, a high school group from St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, CA,
that made three European tours, several national tours, and one to Hawaii. 
The only person to be Chairman of two areas of AGEHR, Inc. without moving. 
I was Chairman of Area IX which later became Area XII. 
I have conducted massed choirs throughout the United States and as President of AGEHR, Inc.,
I was proud to be responsible for founding the first national children's festival/conferences.
It was during my tenure that the concept of a curriculum for directors was set in place. 
I was the founding director for the Bells Of The Cascades, a community choir in Portland, OR,
known for its success with sponsoring handbell cruises.  
I also served St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Salem, OR as Organist/Choirmaster
which had three handbell choirs
as well as an adult singing choir which made two tours of the United States and one to England. 
Although officially retired, I am the Organist/Choirmaster at St. Luke's Episcopal of Los Gatos, CA.
President of AGEHR, Inc.1989-91, Conductor, Clinician"
 

During the school year of 1960-61, worshipers at this service were startled by what awaited them: six little girls with very big voices.  We sang in three part harmony: Becky Goolsby ('64) and Brenda Smith (WHS, '65) on first soprano; Rose Woodard ('65) and I ('65) on second soprano; and Paulette Westphal (HHS, '64) and Bettyrene Cook (HHS, '64) on alto.

Our voices were strong and sure, and blended so well that parishioners often told us it was hard to believe that there were only six of us, as we were able to fill the sanctuary.

As we grew older and graduated into the Epworth Choir - tenth through twelfth grade boys and girls who sang twice a month -
we had more fun, of course, but I doubt we ever sounded
quite as good as we did that year.

A favorite memory of the Gruvers and Trinity: one lovely spring Sunday morning, Rev Gruver, Bill, and I were standing outside the church between Sunday School and the 11 AM service,
just chatting. We were standing directly beneath the bell tower,
and I was standing close to it with my back to it,
wearing a navy blue suit.

Of course, the inevitable happened: SPLAT!. A hug gob
of pigeon poop landed square on my left shoulder & ran down the front of my jacket. Instantly, out of reflex & without thinking,
I said SH** quite loudly, and of course immediately
embarrassed myself and started apologizing. Rev. Gruver actually doubled over with laughter! He managed
to stop laughing long enough to say: "Don't worry about that -- I probably would have said the same thing!"

I seriously doubt he would have -- but maybe just said that
to put me at ease. But, he wasn't faking the laughter!!

Just an interesting insight into the man.

Another VERY interesting note, in the "small world" department:  turns out my wife is related to the Gruvers -- therefore I am now also!  We just located the wife's family reunion in Winchester, VA about 3 years ago. We haven't got it all sorted out yet, but I believe it's her first cousin that married a Gruver, who was Esdras' first cousin. Esdras was born & raised in that area -- they live about a half mile from the house in which Esdras
grew up, and showed it to us.

So I may be Esdras' first cousin by marriage,
and Bill's second. Truly, it's a small world.

By the way -- I was at Trinity just this past Sunday, June 6!! I took Dad (age 91) back to visit Mom's gravesite.
She passed away 2 years ago. They would have been married 71 years this past Tuesday. He had some flowers placed on Trinity's altar in her memory, and after the service we
placed them on her grave.
It was an emotionally draining trip, needless to say,
but it was nice seeing some of the old stomping grounds, and familiar faces at Trinity.

- Parke Rouse, Jr., (The Good Old Days in Hampton and Newport News, 1986) , p. 195