Ledger photo / SCOTT POWELL Members of the Gaffney High School Class of 1942 are shown Saturday while celebrating their 65th year class reunion at Ryan's Steakhouse. "God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway. The good fortune to run into the ones I do...and the eyesight to tell the difference."

Betsy Humphries read this card Saturday when the Gaffney High Class of 1942 met for its 65th high school reunion. Humphries, a well-known South Carolina artist, was among 23 members of the class that met for lunch at Ryan's Steakhouse.

Their high school class of 139 seniors was impacted by World War II. Many boys went off to war instead of going to college and work after graduating from high school.

There were five World War II veterans among the Class of 1942 who attended the reunion. Many of the women helped with the war effort through their involvement in organizations such as the Women's Army Corps (WAC.)

"Our class lost a good many men to World War II. Some of them went off to war and never came home," D.V. Blanton said. "We stood and fought for our country."

There were the expected regrets and a few last-minute cancellations for this year's reunion.

The group observed a moment of silence for the 20 classmates who had passed away since their 60th year high school reunion in 2002.

"I never thought I would live to see 65, let alone attend my 65th high school reunion," Joe Dean Spencer said.

Spencer, a former longtime Cherokee County school board member, joined six of his classmates Friday at the Gaffney High homecoming assembly.

Spencer still remembers playing against NFLHall of Fame running back Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice when Gaffney played Asheville in 1941. Another football memory almost resulted in Spencer and fullback James Hall not playing in an away game against Chester.

"We had some free time so we decided to go to a pool hall downtown before the football game," Spencer recalled. "When we got back to the hotel, the team had already left for the game. We sat on a bench and waited for an assistant coach to come pick us up. He brought us to the stadium in time for us to dress and play in the game."

Spencer wasn't involved in another story that was mentioned at the reunion.

One classmate recalled playing "hooky" from school one day and hitching a ride to Spartanburg. He was picked up by the principal's nephew.

Most of today's Class of 1942 still live in the Gaffney and Spartanburg area.

Alton Coyle traveled the farthest distance, flying in from his home in Spokane, Wash., for the reunion.

Coyle is an accomplished pianist who owned several music stores before he retired.

Classmate Marie Kendrick has adapted well to the computer age.

"I love the Internet. I have friends online in many countries, including Hong Kong, Portugal and Australia," Kendrick said. "I don't feel alone because my fingers can take me all around the world."

The 1942 Gaffney High class is already planning another reunion for 2009.