Page A2 by Rev. Charles H. Gilbert We depend so much on rapid ' transmission of news that we natural” 7 are appalled when a circumstance comes up that we know cannot be handled by fast mail. For instance, whenever I have had to be in the hospital, even for a few days, it'suddenly comes to me that it will be several days, perhaps weeks before we will get a letter back from Africa, replying to the news about whatever is the matter with me. As a family, we have always tried to keep aware of how each other is getting along with whatever is their chief concern of the moment. Today, Nov. 12, we got a letter from Dottie, who is in the middle of Africa, telling us that she got letters from us of Oct. 9 and 17, and then Oct. 23, telling her I was home from the hospital. As a nurse of some ex- perience, she naturally likes details of home doings such as illness, especially if it involves hospitalization. She: likes and expects a report on how the hospital treated me. Sometimes people ask me a question to ask Dottie, and they want a reply. By the time I get the question down on paper and then mailed to her, and then she catches up with her mail, after being on the road or in the air, going from this duty to that... All this travelling around is not just to see the scenery. Here is just a line in her own words: “We worked at one village where practically everyone has Onchocerciasis...”” That sounds interesting! Now I am really retired. Maybe you know that I resigned as chaplain of the Luzerne County Home at Valley Crest as of Oct. 31, and my successor is at the job and told me today he likes it very much. And you might think of me as having nothing to do and time hanging heavy on my hands. You would of course be thinking wrongly. I am busy all the time and still do not get everything done. And I am not driving the car either day or night since I visit- ed my eye-doctor. For when I tried to read those easy-read- lines and large print I decided that driving was no longer safe for me or others I might en- counter. ‘Well, I have been driving a car and cars since 1922 and never had a traffic accident. I have dented a car or two that was parked. Nobody has ever run into me nor have I ever run into anybody else. I'll tell you a funny one though. In my first car I learned to drive by telling the car deal- er, who delivered it to my add- ress, to put it in the barn and I would take it out and learn to drive it in and out of the drive- way. The barn got in my way a few times, but that was no traf- fic accident. I was teaching my wife to drive and even got her to drive out onto the highway, and even across the highway into the field. She was headed straight for a light pole along the road. I had never had that problem be- fore, and I was but a few weeks from driving a horse. I was ex- cited when I saw that pole com- ing toward us. I didn’t know what to do. So I sat on the edge of my seat and shouted ‘““‘Whoa-whoa-whoa!’’ She “whoaed’’, and dodged the pole without an accident! I couldn’t trade my horse and buggy for a car, nor even have it allowed as part payment for the car! I guess I gave my note for the car and paid it off later on. Just as I have now done with my present car...paid off the note. That car, a 1917 Maxwell, purchased in 1922! A wrench, the monkey kind, and a screw driver and a hammer was my kit of tools. I had to overhaul the thing after about every 20 miles, if I drove that far! It seems hardly possible that I ever had such an antique. That was 51 years ago! What does that make me? Almost an antique! One of the typists in the front office at Valley Crest gave me a nickname when I returned to work after a spell in the hospit- al: ‘Here comes Mr. Indestruc- tible!”' I think that is fine and true to life, as far as I have gone, I never have been ‘‘des- troyed’’, yet! For which I am not ashamed to give thanks to God for at least these 82% years. I have heard my mother tell one time in my babyhood, when I was sick, our old doctor (he was always ‘“‘old”’!) thought I was too sick to get well and so he had compassion for my mother, and brought his lovely wife along on the next call to comfort my mother! I must have been indestructi- ble even way back then! After I grew to manhood I attended his funeral. How did I ever get into that long, long ago tune? Here’s a new line to think about: Greek of some of the beautiful music of the Christmas story in Luke. I have heard the ‘“Magni- ficat”’ in Latin, and I can im- agine the angel song, “Glory to God”. Here’s the Greek word for Mary’s hymn of joy—‘‘Megaly- nei ton Kyrion’’. And the angels certainly could sing this: “Doxa en hypsistois Theo, kai epi ges eirene’’. I can read it but can’t even whistle its tune! But no matter, every child knows the tune and has sung it and will sing it over and over this year, not in Greek, but in whatever may be his own lan- guage. And I have come to love the sound of the Greek word for Thanksgiving, as St. Paul himself uses it when he says ‘I thank God’’ It is ‘‘Eucharistw’’, a word familiar to many of us in our English word Eucharist! And let us remember how to say “Thank you!” Photo by Ace Hoffman The advance gifts portion of the annual Wilkes College Cam- paign assumed an active status during a recent meeting in the campus board room when Wil- liam Umphred, Dallas, chair- man of the current drive, outlin- ed the plans for the appeal which will carry into the spring of next year. Mr. Umphred, an executive with the Commonwealth Tele- phone Co., holds the unique dis- tinction of being chairman of the campaign and at the same time chairman of the planning and development committee of the Wilkes College Board of Trustees. The kickoff meeting included a welcome and message of en- * couragement from Wilkes pre- sident Francis J. Michelini, who was introduced by Mr. Ump- { hred. Dr. Michelini told the around oil wells. For the valves and pipes, that con- trol the flow of oil and natural gas from a well, are | called a “Christmas tree.” It’s always Christmastime Prescripti pe a — on Center the following address: Name Address City Zip Code | | Check Enclosed Staten 00 [] Bill Me New in the Ws not all bad... The Welcome Wagon hostess will help! Mrs. Ives Call today: 287-4467 EER YR gathering of key community re: sidents that there is a ‘“‘contin- uing need for support to Wilkes College during this second past- flood year.” It was announced by Mr. Um- phred that the original need after the flood was to cover areas not included in assistance provided by federal funding was $2,200,000. The last campaign raised $1,618,730 in pledges from alumni, friends, founda- tions, corporations and be- quests. The balance of $581,270 con- tinues to be of vital importance to the completion of the col- lege’s flood recovery plans and has been designated as the goal of the campaign now getting underway. During the advance gifts campaign efforts will be aimed at obtaining pledges that will lead into a goal of $250,000 for the community and alumni phases of the appeal in the Spring. The balance needed to meet the goal hopefully will come from private sources out- side the area. Information provided for use in this campaign by Thomas Kelly, college director of de- velopment, revealed a tax cre- dit program which is expected to be an aid in obtaining gifts. Pant Suits Lingerie HAROLD FLOYD Harold T. Floyd, 72, of Hill- crest Drive, New Goss Manor, Dallas, died Nov. 14 in the Valley Crest Nursing Home. He had been an 18-month guest at the facility. A native of Nanticoke, he was a 20-year resident of the Back Mountain. Before his retirement, he was a self-employed contractor. He is survived by sisters, Edith Aton, Harford; and Rhoda Bartell, Dallas. The funeral was held from the Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, Dallas. Interment was in Mt. Greenwood Cemetery, LOUISE RICHARDS Louise Lamoreaux Richards, a native of Huntsville, and a 22- year resident of the Back Moun- tain, died Nov. 14 in her home- town of Weston, W. Va., 2% the age of 93. She is survived by danghlers, Mrs. Arthur Taylor, Phoenix, Ariz.; Marion E. Richards, at home; son, Sherman, Buffalo, N.Y.; Elmer, South Bend, Ind.; sister, Ruth E. Lamoreaux, Shavertown; brother, George Lamoreavx, Hampton House Nursing Home, Hanover Town- ship. The funeral was in West Virginia. Interment was in Hanover Green Cemetery. Joseph Survives In addition to the surviving brothers and sisters of Andrew P. Stolarick, of Lehman, noted in last week’s obituary, is a brother, Joseph, also of Leh- man. : Andrew died in Nesbitt Hospital, Nov. 7, at the age of 75. He had lived in Lehman for 63 years. 526 S. Main St. Wilkes- Barre, Pa. 18701 822-2491 455-1181 Highway Shaveriows, Pa. 18708 A/C 77 « 675-4362 7:30 P.M. AT THE From The RALPH N. FITCH, JR. woo me for top-quality protection at low cost You're in good hands with ALLSTATE INSURANCE FOUNDED BY SEARS Allstate Insurance Companies + Home Offices: NORTH BROOK, ILLINOIS: RALPH N. FITCH, JR. BACK MT. AGENT R.D. 1, Upper Demunds Rd. Dallas 675-1901 675-2153 RONALD WOOLCOCK Ronald S. Woolcock Sr.; 76, of 28 Orchard St., Trucksville, died Nov. 13 at home. A native of Shamokin, he was a graduate of the Penn State University, where he majored in electrical engineering. He was a one-time employee of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, in his ‘engineering capacity. Be- fore retirement he was working for the Martin and Fladd Con- sulting Engineering Company, Wilkes-Barre. He is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Weitzel; daugh- ters, Mrs. Paul DeWitt, Towanda; Mrs. John Porter, Milton; son, Ronald Jr., Hous- ton, Texas; sisters, Marian Rumberger and Mrs. Ben Warmkessel, both of Shamokin; Mrs. Wesley Reed, St. Peters- burg, Fla.; and seven grard- children. The funeral was held from the Hugh B. Hughes and Son Funer- al Home, Forty Fort. Interment was in Fern Knoll Cemetery, Dallas. S. JAMES SANDERSON S. James Sanderson, 57, of RD 1, Noxen, died Nov. 18, in General Hospital. A native of Parsons, he was an assistant miller at Miner Hil- lard Milling Company for 24 years, until 1959, when he re- tired due to ill health. He is survived by his widow, Mildred Walison, Plains; Eleanor Chippel and Mrs. Joseph Lipiec, Middletown. The funeral was held from the H. Merritt Hugh®s Funeral Home, Wilkes-Bar§§R Interment was in Orcutt Cemetery, Noxen. JOSEPH ROTHER Joseph F. Rother, 71, of 58 N. Pioneer Ave., Shavertown, died Nov. 18 at home following a heart attack. A native of Wilkes-Barre, he was a 22-year resident of Shavertown. He was a graduate of St. Nicholas High School, Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Uni- versity. He was employed by Roat Hardware and Supply Com- pany, Kingston, as a salesman for the past 10 years. He is survived by his widow, former Ellen Laux; daughter, Mrs. John Heck, Deptford, N.J.; sons, Joseph Jr. and Robert, Springfield, Va.; sisters, Margaret Krachenfels, Long Island, N.Y.; Claire Melo- dick, Bridgeton, N.J.; Bertha Lawler, Royal Oak, Mich,; brother, Fred, Swoyersville; and 15 grandchildren. The funeral was held from the Harold C. Snowden Funeral Home, Shavertown; interment was in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Shavertown. ( b trying time. that Snowdon nr has 2 140 No. Main St. SHAVERTOWN 64 No. Franklin St. WILKES-BARRE Pole 126 Harveys Lake a aE ga
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers