WILTON – The 1955 class of Wilton Academy celebrated its 50-year reunion during the Blueberry Festival weekend.

A group of 26 met at Erlon Rand’s home on Friday to create a float for the parade. Rand’s wife, Jean, served lunch. The float followed a patriotic theme, and the design was created by Carol Tutty Judkins, who also made a large Wilton Academy banner to precede the float. The class had 10 veterans: two Marines, four in the Navy, two in the Army, one each in the Air Force and Coast Guard.

Several people brought photos of the class taken over the years. They included kindergarten, elementary grades and high school.

Twenty-seven class members participated in the parade on Saturday. Some rode on the float, several carried the WA banner and Jean Lagerson Johnston led with pompoms. The float won a first prize award for patriotic theme.

At noon nearly everyone met at Kineowatha Park for a potluck picnic lunch. There were 35 members present for the event, which included a meeting conducted by Bradley Lothrop, class president. Each member received an updated Eagle yearbook created by Tom Harvey. It included graduation and recent photos with a few words on life after Wilton Academy. A memorial tribute was given to Lillian Lord Wasserman, Irene Stinson Gagnepair, Ronald Smith, Fred Bradeen, Louisa Stevens LaPlant, Ann Gould, Gerald Reed and Ann Ouellette.

In the evening, 29 members and their spouses or guests met at the Boiler Room for a buffet and socialization. Several attended services at the Congregational Church on Sunday. Shirley Tilton Thompson’s husband, Emery, sang a solo with his own guitar accompaniment. Brad and Mary Lothrop celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary that day. For a final gathering, 18 met at the Homestead in Farmington for lunch. It was decided to meet for another reunion in 2010.

Of the 39 class members listed on the roster, 37 participated in some or all of the activities. Members included many from Maine, two from Arizona, two from North Carolina, two from Florida, with Minnesota, Oklahoma, Massachusetts and Utah also represented.

Present were Richard Armstrong and Patty, George Bryant and Betty, Mason Bunker and Nancy, Joan Carter Wheeler, Aurie Chandler Cox and Bob, Janet Collins Toothaker and Gene, C. Francis Egan, Dennis and Joy Fagone Karkos, Milton Farrington, Donald Fletcher, Ruth Goodnough Esty, Shirley Hammond Pike and Roy, Thornton Harvey and Diann, Beverly Hatch Childs, Lillian Hines Adams, Ronald Jackson and his daughter, Jean Lagerson Johnson and Bob, Wesley Lane and Mavis, Bradley Lothrop and Mary, Sidney Maillet, Earl Meyer, Deanne Parker Williams and Harold, Joanne Pease Child and Arthur, Erlon Rand and Jean, Henry Richard and Lois, Shelby Riggs Rafter and Phil, Sylvia Sawyer Bollenbecker and Chet, Laura Smith Hammond and Errol, Marjorie Smith Gordon, Robert Smith and Carole, Sheridan Smith, Nancy Taylor Johnson and Gary, Shirley Tilton Thompson, Joline Trask Frecker and Wes, Carol Tutty Judkins and Gene, and Beverly Wallace Harris and Stan.