The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 31, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 September 1988 — Page 6

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., September 14,1988

Community corner

Dorothea Kerlin values her church involvement

1 By KATE WOLFORD I Staff Writer Small, sprightly and nearly 90-year-old Dorothea Kerlin of Milford is proof positive that life is as full as a person makes it. On Sept.lß, she will celebrate her 90th birthday at an open hours from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Milford First Brethren Church Fellowship Hall. During her life Dorothea spent 47 years as the Milford Public Library librarian; she was dedicated to her profession. “That was my life,” she reminisces. She was so active in her role that the children’s section of the library is named the Dorothea Kerlin Children’s c ' Library. “We worked hard getting that old dump fixed up,” Dorothea says with a smile as she describes that effort involved with the children’s section. Profile She always loved books. Dorothea loved to read them, stack them and arrange them, so although she started her professional life as a teacher, she eventually got her Indiana State Library certificate. “I read constantly. I love children and I like people. I love the public,” is Dorothea’s explanation for why she started and stayed with her work. However, even before her work as a librarian, Dorothea values her involvement with the Milford First Brethren Church. For over 80 years she’s been dedicated to it. “Ever since I was small, it’s been one of the major ties in my life,” she states. Her brother Robert Groves, also of Milford, sees her as a strong churchwoman as well. “Her commitment to the church has been her number one priority in her entire life,” Robert observes.

Meals for older Americans

Meals for Older Americans are served each day at the following locations: The Scout Cabin, Syracuse; the Pierceton Community Building; Mentone Community Room in the fire station; Major Shear spends summer with grandparents Major W. Shear, seven, has returned to his Seattle, Wash., home after spending the summer with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Shear, rural and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shear, rural North Webster.

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the Retired Tigers Center, 320 W. Main, Warsaw; Free Methodist Church, Winona Lake; and the Church of the Brethren, North Webster. Meals for Older Americans is for persons 60 years or older and is a chance to megt new friends and enjoy hot, nutritional meals. The sites are opened several hours each day including noon for programs. Meals for Older Americans is not associated with welfare but is for the promotion for better health for the older population. Donations are accepted for the meals. The site directors request all persons planning on attending the meals to make reservations by 1 p.m. the day prior to attending. K ! .»! ijs *T ’ iif • ' ■>*««>■■•

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DOROTHEA ENJOYS CRAFTS — Dorothea Kerlin is shown working on her bread wrapper rug, but the 90 year-old Milford resident enjoys other crafts as well. Busy and popular, Dorothea says her plans for the future include living each day at a time and making the most of it. (Photo by Kate Wolford) ,

Phone? 457-2631 for Syracuse transportation and reservations. September 15-21 THURSDAY — Orangegrapefruit juice, lasagna w/sauce, layered salad, Italian bread w/margarine, mixed fruit cup w/cherries, milk, tea, and coffee FRIDAY — Pineapple juice, slice roast turkey, bread dressing and gravy, steamed spinach w/bacon garnish, whole wheat bread w/margarine, raisins, milk, tea, and coffee MONDAY — Apple juice, stuffed green pepper in tomato sauce, seasoned whole kernel corn, cottage cheese w/chives, whole wheat bread w/margarihe,

pineapple chunks, milk, tea, and coffee TUESDAY — Orange juice, barbecued pork ribette on bun, potato rounds, three-bean salad, apricot halves, milk, tea, and coffee WEDNESDAY - Tomato juice, breaded oven fried chicken, buttered noodles, seasoned mixed vegetables, white bread w/margarine, peach pie, milk, tea. and coffee 4. Seniors see chalk talk There were 51 Milford Senior Citizens who enjoyed a potluck dinner and entertainment in the Milford Community Building, Sunday, Sept. 11. Mr. and Mrs. Don Ahrns and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Om were hosts for the day. Lois Garber of Warsaw gave an impressive chalk talk around the old familiar song, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.” Colored lights were used making it most effective. Mr. and Mrs. Dean Grady reported of their 46th wedding anniversary in September. Marge Decker received the door prize. October 9 will be the date for the next meeting for the Milford Senior Citizens. The meeting, which will be held in the community building, will feature a potluck dinner with chicken as the meat dish. President Erma Chambers will serve as hostess.

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Her work for the church includes 60 years as a Sunday school teacher and the authorship of a history book detailin’ the Milford church’s first 100 years. Hie history book was published in 1983 and according to a forward by Rev. Paul Tinkel, pastor at the church, Dorothea researched “until her eyes almost gave out, trying to read the very old, faded, hand written minutes and records of the church.” “I got a liberal education reading those church records,” Dorothea says with a laugh. She feels however, that good record keeping like the kind her church had in the old days is a cornerstone of historical research. “That is vital to history,” she says. “You have to have the vital statistics.” * Writing her church’s history was only part of her career as an author. Dorothea spent many years as a correspondent to South Bend, Goshen, Elkhart, Nappanee and Warsaw newspapers, as well to The Milford Mail and later The Mail-Journal. She enjoyed that work too. *‘l got paid and I got the papers free. It was fun,” she says. In addition to her active professional and church life, Dorothea was married to Charles Kerlin, who died eight years ago, for 25 years. Although Dorothea had no family of her own diaries had a daughter. So she is a stepmother to one, stepgrandmother to two and a stepgreatgrandmother to seven. “I got a synthetic family,” says Dorothea, who possesses a good sense of fun. Her hobbies and social activities are numerous. She plays bridge, belongs to the Milford Senior Citizens, the Women’s Missionary Society and Eta Beta Pi sorority. She was chosen Senior Disciple of the year 1982 by church members and was the very first Milford Citizen of the Year in 1971. Dorothea’s done every craft except macrame and she loves to watch the birds in her yard. She still drives and her license won’t expire till 1990. “I love to drive,” she exclaims. Over her 90 years as a Milford resident, Dorothea has acquired many friends and admirers. On Sunday, Sept. 11, her friends at the church had a party for her. The decorations and cake were impressive. In describing the cake as it was brought out ablaze with candles, Robert says, “It was like you were carrying a bonfire in your hands.”

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TO CELEBRATE 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY — Thomas E. and Louise Shaner, r 2 box 407, Leesburg, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house to be held on Sunday, Sept. 18, from 2-5 p.m. in the Leesburg Community Building, School Street, Leesburg. The Shaners were married September 8, 1938, in Indianapolis. They are the parents of a daughter, Mrs. George (Judith A.) Paton 111, Lake Tippecanoe, Leesburg, and a son, Thomas E. Shaner 11, who is deceased. They also have five grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Shaner both retired in 1977 at which time they moved from Indianapolis to Lake Tippecanoe, Leesburg. He was selfemployed as a manufacturer representative and since retirement, has worked part-time at Patona Bay Boat Service, Lake Tippecanoe. He is a member of the North Park Masonic Lodge #646, Kosciusko County Shrine Club, Scottish Rite, and Mizpah Shrine. Mrs. Shaner was employed with the United Christian Missionary Society and Edith’s Ceramic Nook and now works part-time at Readmore Bookstore in Warsaw. She is a member of the Irvington Chapter Eastern Star. They are both former members of the Irvington Presbyterian Church and now attend the North Webster United Methodist Church. The couple requests no gifts.

Busy Homemakers/earn ■ about new arthritis medicine

The Busy Homemakers Club of Milford met in the home of Esther Gawthrop, Milford, on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7. Irene Charlton served as cohostess. President Velma Pinkerton opened the meeting with “Hie Motto Above the Kitchen Sink of a Family of Nine.” Following this reading, the group sang “America the Beautiful” and “The More We Get Together.” For devotions, Louise May gave “Thoughts for Today.” , Dorothy Kinney presented the health and safety lesson about the new arthritis medicine, Voltaren.

She stressed that it’s a new product and is supposed to provide better results than aspirin. Mrs. Kinney also gave a humorous reading entitled, “A Child’s View of Retirement in a Mobile Home Park.”

There Were 12 members and one guest, Mrs. Robert Groves, who responded to the roll call for the day — “What would you do if you were given $1,000?” Mrs. Gawthrop read “We Learned It All in Kindergarten.” This was followed by an election of officers — with all present officers elected to serve another year in their respective positions.

Mrs. Pinkerton won the door prize. In closing the meeting, Laveta Lechlitner read “There Can Be Hope.” Refreshments were then served. The next meeting will be October 5 in the home of Irene Charlton, Milford, with Hazel Johnson as co-hostess. A salad bar and Christmas gift exchange will be held at this time.

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CALENDAR Week Os September 14 To September 21 WEDNESDAY Goodwill Club 1:30 p.m., in the House of Friendship Syracuse Fire Department, Fire Drill 7 p.m., at Syracuse Fire Station Eagles Auxiliary Meeting Aerie 3760 7 p.m., in Lakeland Eagles, 404 Sycamore St., Syracuse North Webster Town Board 7 p.m., in the town hall Teen AA Under 20 Group 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse Alcoholics Anonymous Wawasee Group 7:30 p.m., in Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon 7:30 p.m., in Saint Andrew’s, United Methodist Church, Syracuse * ' ' THURSDAY North Webster Lions Club 7 p.m., in North Webster Fire Station Wawasee Community Toughlove 7 p.m., in Lakeland Youth Center, Syracuse. Parent support group for parents troubled by their teenagers behavior Shady Ladies Bunco Club 7:30 p.m. T Turkey Creek Conservation Club 7:30 p.m., in The Clubhouse x J FRIDAY Milford Kiwanis 6:45 a.m., in Milford Community Building Alcoholics Anonymous Carl Sheperd Memorial Group 7:30 p.m., in Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Heart of Lakes Squares 8-10:30 p.m., in Syracuse Elementary SATURDAYWawasee Kiwanis 7 a.m., in Gropp’s, Syracuse Turkey Creek Senior Citizens 12 noon, in Syracuse Scout Cabin SUNDAY i, ■ ■ Alcoholics Anonymous Fireball Group 10 a.m., in North Webster Fire Station, open meeting S.A.L.T. (Single Adults as Living Testimonies 9:30 a.m., Mike’s Soda Shop, North Webster Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday Night Recovery Group ~0 pup., in North Webster United Methodist Church, closed meeting Alanon, Sunday Night Group 8 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church, closed —— A MONDAY Lakeland Kiwanis 6:45 a.m., in North Webster Church of God meeting room Syracuse Emergency Medical Service aacuse Fire Department gional Sewer District racuse Town Hall tarnber of Commerce Palace of Sports, North Webster, all interested to attend ford Community Building amily Group 7:30 p.m., in Milford United Methodist Church A coholics Anonymous Milford Group 7:30 p.m., in Milford United Methodist Church, closed meeting / Alcoholics Anonymous North Webster Group f 7:30 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church North Webster American Legion 8 p.m., in Legion Hall k TUESDAY Alanon Just For Today 9:30 a.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary 12 noon, in Beacon Restaurant Adult Children of Alcoholics 6:30 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church basement Syracuse Town Board 7:30 p.m., in Syracuse Town Hall Refunder’s Club 7:30p.m. WEDNESDAY Syracuse Lions Club 6:30 p.m., in the Beacon • . Teen AA Under 20 Group 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse Lutheran Church Women 7:30 p.m., in Syracuse Grace Lutheran Church Syracuse Jaycees 7:30 p.m., in Lakeland Eagles Alcoholics Anonymous Wawasee Group 7:30 p.m., in Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon 7:30 p.m., in Saint Andrew’s, United Methodist Church, Syracuse