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November 26th, 2014

11/26/2014

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It is amazing how many different names we might answer to during our lives. My parents used their first and middle names, and I recall struggling with that as a boy. To me, they were Mom and Dad. 

My mother’s full name was Mary Elizabeth Shonk, and she was Elizabeth to most of her family. To many others, she was “Betty.” My dad’s name was Floyd Daniel Shonk, and his family always called him “Danny.” Because of his hair color, he was known to most of his friends as “Red.” They were known as Mr. and Mrs. Shonk by my pals and the friends of my sister, Kathy.


As a young boy and during most of my school years, I was called “Freddy.” I am still close with some of my former classmates from  Edgewood Grade School. We have breakfasts and lunches and just had our second reunion. I am called Freddy at those functions.


I remember being called “Gus” for a few years. The Wilcox girls (Donna, Nancy and Sandy) started calling me that, but it never caught on except at their house. 


A few years after we graduated from Southport High School, Freddy and Gus had been replaced by my Fred. In my last couple of years in the Indiana National Guard, I was promoted to platoon sergeant and motor Sergeant. I never got comfortable being addressed as Sgt. Shonk.


Our daughter, Michelle, and grandsons, Trevor, Tyler and Trey, have always called me “Pap,” just like my mom called my dad.  


As a school bus driver, especially during my years at Beech Grove Schools, I was known as “Mr. Fred.” The pupils, their parents and the school staff all addressed me as such. Students who started riding with me in kindergarten or first grade still call me Mr. Fred.


A couple of weeks ago I had a chat with a young lady who rode my bus when she was in the first grade. Ali Butler, now a freshman at Beech Grove High, had addressed me as Mr. Fred a couple of times before noticing that her mother, Amanda Upton, called me Fred. Ali then made the change, but she explained that she heard her mom do it first. At some point when we were talking, she said she still didn’t like bugs or spiders. That statement puzzled me for a minute.


She then reminded me that I had always told the students that any flying creature entering a bus window was probably a hornet, which was the mascot of Beech Grove Schools. And as such, the children should be nice to these insects. Riders were also frightened of spiders. Lots of screaming started shortly after a spider was spotted. I named any spider in the bus “Steve.” Sometimes Steve would be small, sometimes larger. I always tried to explain that Steve was a good friend and just enjoyed riding a bus. “Please don’t scream and frighten him,” I said.


I was amazed that Ali remembered the bugs, spiders and Mr. Fred. You know, by whatever name that I’m called, I’m lucky to have so many wonderful friends.

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November 19th, 2014

11/19/2014

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South Grove Intermediate in Beech Grove hosted a program last week to honor veterans. I spoke to the school’s administration about inviting my therapy dog, Stuart, who has made several trips with me to greet returning National Guard troops at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh.

We discovered that some of those soldiers found comfort in visiting with us and telling us about their family and special dogs that were going to reunite with in a few days. 


I spent six years in the Army National Guard, and with Stuart’s recent experiences, I thought he could be counted as a veteran also. So did the school’s staff, which welcomed Stuart. 


As Stuart and I were settling into our seats, I noticed that Deborah Stevens was seated in front of us. I drove the bus that transported her children to school. Then, Amanda Upton, another mom I had met while driving that route, approached. The two ladies started talking, and it appeared that Amanda was in tears. 


Amanda then noticed us and stepped back to talk with us. She explained that she had just received a telephone call informing her that her father, Navy veteran Albert L. Upton, was being taken to a hospital in Bloomington. He had just suffered a heart attack or a stroke or both. She was trying to figure out how to deal with this terrible news. Her daughter, Karli Butler, was scheduled to pay tribute about her grandfather. Amanda decided to stay for a while. Shortly before the program started, my wife, Lyn, showed up. 


Karli read a personal narration honoring her grandfather; it was beautiful and gave me cold chills. One could almost see Albert Upton standing in his full dress uniform, smiling as he listened to his granddaughter.


When Amanda learned that her father was unresponsive, she and Karli departed for Bloomington.


The guest speaker, Beech Grove resident Joe Prindle, was introduced by U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly. Both men performed their roles well. The fifth-grade choir, the Singing Bees, sang several patriotic songs.

 
I had been thinking about all the personal connections I had with the families of Amanda Upton and Debby Stevens and honoring Amanda’s father as he was rushed to a hospital. At that point, “Taps” was performed by Abbie Riedeman, a student at Beech Grove High School and a former rider of Bus No. 5, which I drove.


Her rendition of “Taps” made me feel that for a time, everyone in that building was honoring Albert. I tried to catch Abbie after she finished to thank her, but I guess she needed to get back to school.


I later learned that Albert had not survived his medical emergency. Amanda and her family did not arrive before he died. I was sad to hear that, but it made me feel stronger that it was him I felt in the building during the program.


Nov. 11, 2014, will always be a special day.

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November 12th, 2014

11/12/2014

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I attended the second Edgewood Grade School reunion Saturday evening at The Madison Pub, formerly known as The Party and located at 7450 Madison Ave. Our reunion was a private affair, and we were treated royally.

My good friend Ted Lobdell has been the main organizer for both events. Last week he stopped by my house to talk about some things for the reunion. Our neighborhood cat, Guessie, climbed into his car through an open window and startled him shortly after he drove away. Ted brought the cat back to our house. I wrote about that last week.


For many years, Roselyn Speedy-Wild’s mother ran Edgewood’s kitchen. For our reunion, Roselyn and her daughters Sandy Wild and Kate Wild-Cutshaw combined forces and talents to cater a meal much like we enjoyed at school for lunch each day. It was delicious. 

   
A few years ago I was contacted by Kathleen Shaul-Hash on Facebook. She thought she had ridden a school bus driven by my father to and from Edgewood. I asked her what area of the township she lived then, and she responded Rosedale Hills. I informed her that it was me she rode with.

 
We continued chatting on Facebook, and eventually I stopped by her office for a visit. We tossed out a name of a student who rode on that route and then exchanged stories. It was a special visit. Kathleen, her husband plus her brother and his wife were at the reunion. It was nice to see her and meet them.


Four of my classmates attended: Sharon Brinkoetter-Kinder, Judy Poland-Hobbs, Nancy Vittorio-DeBaun and John Todd. All five of us completed all 12 grades of school together. I had informed my sister, Kathy, who lives in Austin, Texas, about the reunion. I told her I would provide a good telephone report and send pictures. Two of her classmates, Don Wasson and Steve Harnedy, inquired about her; I told them that she was planning to attend next year’s gala.


So many stories were shared and expanded a bit more with each telling ... so much laughing and memories revisited. We talked about the numerous basketball courts at Edgewood and the hundreds of kids and young adults who stopped by for pickup games. We talked about the corner grocer, Frank Kautsky, and the fact that he formed the first professional basketball team in Indiana. Our Edgewood principal, Paul L. “Pete” Bailey, helped Mr. Kautsky start that team. Pete was also a player and business manager.

 
We had a couple of drawings; Bob Wayman won the 50-50, and Nancy won a stained glass hanging lamp made by Bailey.


Ted delivered the lamp to Nancy and husband Tut’s house Sunday morning. After Ted had dropped off the lamp and was leaving, he noticed a cat in his backseat and quickly called me to report his discovery. I assured him that Guessie was asleep on the couch directly across the room from me. He then explained that this time it was Nancy’s cat.


What are the odds to have your automobile taken over by two different felines in a week’s time? Way to go, Ted.


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November 05th, 2014

11/5/2014

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Edgewood Grade School will hold its second reunion Saturday at The Madison Pub (formerly The Party), 7350 Madison Ave. The pub has changed ownership and will not open to the public until Nov. 10.  

The first reunion was organized by Ted Lobdell a couple of years ago, and it was a blast. Lots of classmates from many different classes showed up. Several teachers were also in attendance. Thousands of stories were shared, and we laughed and sometimes retold the same tales more than twice. 


The Southport/Perry Township Historical Society has loaned us some memorabilia from the school to display at the reunion. I have enjoyed going through some of those materials. I felt honored to be asked to help with that. 
Ted came over the other day to bring me some things, and I invited him out to my little office behind my house. As we were talking, Stuart, my therapy dog, wanted to join us. He hopped up on Ted’s lap as a welcoming gesture. Then the neighborhood cat, Guessie, showed up. Within in a few minutes the pets became bored and asked to have the door opened so they could leave.


Ted and I finished our business, walked back to his car and said bye. I stepped into the garage and was messing with something when I heard my name being yelled. Ted had quickly returned, and his head was sticking out the window. “You forgot something,” he hollered while pulling into the driveway. 


I couldn’t imagine what I had forgotten when all of a sudden it became clear what I had forgotten. I had failed to advise Ted to roll up his windows before he walked away from his car because Guessie enjoys napping inside automobiles with open windows.


The cat had entered Ted’s vehicle and made himself at home. Ted was probably a couple of blocks down the street when he detected movement in his back seat.


As I was helping Guessie out of the car, Ted was saying he thought it was a possum or a raccoon … maybe a skunk. As soon as Guessie’s paws hit the driveway, Ted was backing out to the street.
Guessie now feels that he and Ted are buddies

.
I hope to see lots of Edgewood alumni Saturday. It is going to be a blast.

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    Picture

    Fred Shonk

    Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. 

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