Meet Kathy (Kathleen Ann) Richardson. Kathy was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Eugene and Florence Dennie on March 26, 1947. She went to St. Peters Catholic Grade School and then to Fort Wayne Central Catholic High School where she graduated in 1965. Her first job was at Wayne Candies where the famous Bun Bars were manufactures. She worked there for 7 years and then took a year off work and moved to Huntington, Indiana where she was married and went to work for Wabash Magnetics (now known as Wabash Technologies). Kathy worked there for the next 31 years. During this period of time she was divorced and then moved back to Ft Wayne, In. In 1995 Kathy met Andy Richardson and they were married October 1997.
While attending the Harley Davison 100th Anniversary Party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kathy fell out of their RV because it was missing a step. She broke her pelvic in four places and because the injury never healed right, Kathy took an early retirement.
Kathy loves to dance, work in their yard, travel, go on cruises and ride with Andy on their Harley Davison motorcycle. She collects matches and has them from all over the world. She loves going to Disney, playing golf, and going to concerts at Silver Springs. She enjoys the clubs that she and Andy belong to here in the Villages and especially the Indiana Club where all the people are so nice and friendly.
**************
Meet the Buchanans . . . Kay Buchanan was born in
Martinsville, Indiana and
raised
in Mooresville. She lived her early married years in
Greencastle and then moved to Plainfield
where she and Hobey raised their two daughters, Betsy and Amanda.
Kay loves to sew and made almost all of their daughters' clothing when they were younger including their prom gowns!! She enjoys reading historic novels and mysteries. Kay likes to sing and she sang in her church choir in one place or another for 50 some years. So far she hasn't found an outlet for that joy and talent yet in the Villages. Kay and Hobey attend Hope Lutheran Church
Kay is a fairly new golfer, having taken lessons at Arnold Palmer in February, 2006. As her husband, Hobey, puts it, "She has THE FEVER!"
Hobey was
born
in Illinois and raised in Fillmore, Indiana. He worked at the IBM card
plant in Greencastle,
Indiana. In 1972 he started working out of Indianapolis,
servicing IBM equipment in various areas of Central Indiana.
Kay and Hobey enjoy getting to know fellow Hoosiers here in The Villages and surrounding area through their involvement in the Indiana Club. Living in The Villages is a dream realized for Hobey and Kay. They are residents of Virginia Trace near Sumter Landing.
Hobey and Kay both serve on our Indiana Club Board of Directors. In addition, Hobey serves as our Vice President helping Andy and covering those times when Andy can't be here. Kay is serving as our Membership Chairman in the summer months, when Sharon Bennett is "up north".
****************
Meet
John R. and Olabelle Straw Gouldman.
John and
Olabelle grew up in Griffin in Southwestern Indiana and graduated
from high school in a class of ten. John joined the Navy and
Olabelle joined the Public Health Service as a Cadet Nurse.
They both attended Evansville College and John later received his
degree from George Washington University. John spent 24 years
in the Navy and Olabelle worked at hospitals where he was stationed.
They have one son who is on active duty Navy stationed with the
Marines in Okinawa. They have two grandchildren that live in
Gulf Breeze, Florida. After leaving the Navy, John worked for
the Department of Mental Health in Virginia where Olabelle was also
on the staff. They retired to Florida in 1988 and lived in
Orange City, Florida for 6 years prior to moving to the Villages in
1994. They live in the Village of El Cortez. They stay
busy with activities and friends and enjoy meeting people -
especially in the Indiana Club.
**************
Meet
Bill and Mary Gaddis. Mary's "roots" are
in Indiana. Her mother from Mishawaka and
her dad from Tipton
but they were serving on the Mission Field in Angola, Africa when Mary
was born in October of 1941. When Mary was 5 they moved to the
Southwest United States and then back to Indiana when Mary was 16 -
just in time for Mary to graduate from Silver Lake, Indiana.
(The school is consolidated into Warsaw now).
Bill was born and raised and graduated from Fairmount High School. His claim to fame was a close neighbor he played with as a boy, the movie star, James Dean. Bill and Mary met and married in 1962 in Marion, Indiana.
After graduating from Indiana University, Bill worked for the Marion County Welfare Department in Indianapolis, first as a caseworker and then Fiscal Officer. Mary worked as a Realtor for the A. H. M. Graves Real Estate Company for many years and when Bill took an early retirement in 1990, the couple moved to Ft Myers, FL. They both did a little real estate and Bill (a licensed CPA in Indiana) did taxes part-time.
Volunteering at her church, Mary went back to work as secretary to the Women's Pastor. It was there that she began to teach herself how to do websites. The first weekend she was learning, she wiped the entire church website out! Thus began the budding career of Mary's website experience!
The couple have 3 beautiful daughters and 5 grandchildren. They are blessed to have 2 daughters and 4 of their grandchildren here in Florida. Their middle daughter and oldest granddaughter lives in Carmel, Indiana.
Though they lived in Florida since 1990 they hadn't heard of the Villages until the fall of 2005 when a friend suggested they check it out. It was instant love and they went back to Ft Myers and got their condo ready to sell. They moved to the Village of Mallory Square in March of 2006. Hoosiers through and through, they looked up the Indiana Club in the clubs in the newspaper and attended. . . and joined that very night!
Mary is the webmaster of our website. Bill is the club treasurer. They are active in their Alexa Villas Social Club and in the playing shuffleboard. Bill captains a team on a Bocce League, Bill plays tennis and Mary works on the Village of Mallory Square Website as well as the Indiana Club site. There are never enough hours in the days here in the Village. They love it!
*******
Meet the
Jacksons . . . Jim and Tootie and Inky! Jim was born and
raised in Terre
Haute,
Indiana. He had an outstanding athletic career during his
years at Wiley High School. After graduation he enlisted in
the Air Corps. Upon completing his service, Jim attended
Indiana State University and received a B.S. and M.S. He also did
advanced degree work at Indiana University.
When he began his teaching career at Concanon High, he taught physical education, health, driver's education and math. His coaching duties included basketball, track, cross country and baseball for the first 15 years. From coaching he turned to administration and became Dean of Boys at West Vigo High School. He was appointed to a principalship at Concannon Jr. High. When a new middle school was built adjacent to West Vigo High School, Jim became the first principal to open the new West Vigo Middle School and remained in that position until he was asked to assume the position of principal at West Vito High School. After accepting that position, he soon became involved in a complete remodeling project of the school. He retired December 31, 1996 after 49 years in education.
Jim has four children; Jeff, Jill, John and Jennifer. He met Tootie in 1963 when she started teaching at West Vigo High School He was a co-worker and ended up being her boss.
Valenda Jackson, commonly referred to as Tootie, spent her first 18 years in Gibson County - one of six children who grew up on a farm. She graduated in 1951 from Owensville High School. She played trumpet in the band and orchestra and was a member of the school choir. In the fall of 1951, Tootie entered Indiana State Teachers College and majored in physical education. She participated in many sports and continued playing trumpet in the dorm with other musicians. She was a very active member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and active in other campus activities.
Her first year of teaching was at Bloomfield and from there she transferred to Spencer. During the school year, she taught physical education and health and sponsored cheerleaders, dance team, GAA, Junior Class activities and many other activities. In the summer she worked as a lifeguard at McCormick's Creek State Park. In 1960 Tootie returned to Terre Haute to teach at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High. In 1963 she moved to West Vigo High School to teach and taught physical education and coached girl's track and volleyball when girl's athletics first started in Indiana. When the middle school was build adjacent to the high school and a swimming pool was built between the two schools, Tootie taught swimming to the middle and high school students until she retired in January of 1997, after teaching for 41 1/2 years.
Jim and Tootie were married in September of 1998 and moved to the Villages as full time residents in 1999. Both of them have been active in the Indiana Club. They have sponsored Christmas Dinner Dances and Golf Scrambles. Tootie served one year as President of the Club and Jim is currently serving as our Vice-President. They are both active in golf, enjoy golf outings, like to dance and enjoy card parties with friends and Palo Alto neighbors. Jim served 3 years on the CIC and for the past 5 years Tootie has spent two months of each year teaching swimming to adults who are afraid of water. This has been very rewarding to both of them because Jim also helps with the class whenever he can. Tootie also takes classes to learn how to read music. She is currently a member of the New Horizon Band and continues to take organ classes at Fletcher Music.
The couple have a little black 8 pound poodle named Inky and she has been a delightful companion to both of them. They enjoy their time and activities with the Indiana Club and feel that they are very lucky to be able to spend their remaining years in the Villages.
******
Patricia Ann (Pat) Ewing
was born in Long Beach,
California on
August
26, 1930 to Paul and Dorothy Clifton of Pueblo, Colorado. The
family moved to Canon City, Colorado when she was 7. She graduated
from Canon City High School in 1949 and then went to LaJunta Junior
College in LaJunta, Colorado for 2 years majoring in bookkeeping and
accounting.
Pat met her first husband George Dick who was in the US Army at Ft Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado . They were married in 1952 and moved to Lake Village, Indiana after he was out of the army. They later moved to Hobart, Indiana when he started working for Northern Indiana Public Service, Nipsco. They had 2 boys, Randal and Ronald. The couple divorced in 1972.
Pat met and married George Ewing in 1972. He worked for the E,J & E Railroad in Gary, Indiana. He had 6 children. Pat now has 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She worked for Dairy Rich Frozen Food and Ice Cream in Merrillville, Indiana for 8 years.
The Ewings moved to the Village of Silverlake in December of 1984. Pat's husband, George passed away in February 2002.
Pat keeps busy playing bingo, cards, going on bus trips, going out to lunch and/or dinner with the girls. She belongs to the Silverlake Ladies Club. She will be their treasurer next year.
Pat is the only charter member of the Indiana Club still participating for 17 years. She was the treasurer from 1991 thru 2000. She has been the Membership Chairman since 1991. She is currently serving as the Indiana Club's treasurer. Her husband George was Vice President for 2 1/2 years. She reported the news of the Indiana Club to the Daily Sun Newspaper for 8 years. The picture of Pat shows her when she was awarded an award for being a Charter Member of our club.
*******
Meet
Joe and Mary Schnurr! Joe was born and
raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana with 4 sisters. He graduated
from Central
Catholic
High School. While in school, Joe worked at a filing station,
the Paramount Theater, the A&P, as a caddy at Fort Wayne Country
Club and at a photo studio. Shortly after graduation, Joe
volunteered for the army and served in Korea. Upon returning
home, he resumed work at the photo studio as a commercial-industrial
photographer.
Mary was born in Sioux City, Iowa. She had one brother 8 years older. When she was 18 months old, the family moved to Detroit and when Mary was in middle school they moved to Scranton, Pa and then to Nashville, Tennessee. They moved back to Detroit where Mary graduated from Cooley High School. Mary's mom and dad moved to Sturgis, MI and Mary went to Ohio State (because Mary's dad played football there and was captain of the team his last year!)
After graduation, Mary's first job was in Toledo, Ohio where she worked for the Ohio Fuel Gas Company (now Columbia Gas). She met her first husband there and they moved to Indianapolis. After 5 years they moved to Detroit and finally to Fort Wayne. Her husband passed away a couple of years later. Mary found a great opportunity at the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Gas Company) where she worked until retirement in 1985.
Mary and Joe met at a Lutheran Church function. They dated for seven years and married in 1973. Shortly after that Joe purchased the studio business and building on New Haven Avenue where they lived and worked until retiring. Mary kept the books and did the billing as well as continuing in her job.
Up north Joe's interests were hunting and fishing at various locations such as Minnesota and Canada as well as near the Fort. When time would permit the couple took their boat to one of the lakes nearby for a day of fishing. Since Joe was now the boss he no longer received the usual two-week vacation, so they took "mini" vacations into Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.
As retirement drew near they took longer trips, searching for the "ideal" retirement location. They looked at many areas and even at The Villages 2 or 3 times before deciding to come here. They loved to come to the Florida beaches for vacation, but had determined that they did not want to live in Florida. However, on their 3rd visit they knew The Villages was the place. They arrived in 1997 and have never been sorry.
They didn't come here to play golf (neither of them played) but after a couple years here their neighbors (who didn't play either) suggested they all take lessons together and so they did. They belong and are active in their church, Hope Lutheran, belong to the Village Birders, (Joe has become interested in bird photography), the Deep Sea Fishing Club and the North Lake African Violet Club (Joe grows the violets). The couple loves to travel, enjoy cards and Mexican Train. Joe is Past Treasurer of the Indiana Club and Mary past Secretary. They both currently serve on the Board of Directors. They both agree that life in the Villages is great!
**********
Sharon Bennett was born in Detroit,
Michigan, July 3, 1942. She grew up in the i
nner
city of Detroit, the oldest of 3 children and graduated from Cooley
High School (Detroit) in 1959. Her husband Dan was raised in Shelby,
Michigan, a small farming community near Mushegon. Until 2001 the
Bennetts had always lived in SE Michigan. After graduating from
Central Michigan in 1963, Dan and Sharon were married and they began
their teaching careers in the South Redford School District. They
have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren.
Their oldest son and his family live and work in Fishers, Indiana - which is primarily why they left Michigan. Their youngest son and his family live and work in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Dan's teaching career lasted 34 years before he retired in 1996. He taught high school math and coached many levels of basketball. Sharon taught elementary and special education on a contract and/or substitute basis. She completed her teaching career in 2001.
The Bennetts live in the Village of Sabal Chase and have spent one season at The Villages. They return in May to their home in Fishers. As all Hoosiers - they love the Colts! They enjoy being in The Villages and being a member of the Indiana Club. Sharon has agreed to serve as our Indiana Club's Membership Chairperson during the months she is in Florida.
******
Board of Directors Jim and Judie Schnitker
were born and raised in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and both graduated from
Central High School in 1960.
*Special NOTE (Jim and Judie have known each other since
kindergarten
and attended all of the same schools except for the 7th and 8th
grades)
Jim worked for Hobby House Restaurant, Eaveys Supermarket and then went to work for International Harvester/Navistar International. He worked there as a design engineer for the next 39 years except two of those years spent in the U.S. Army. Upon retiring from Harvester, Jim went to work for Severe Service Truck Mfg in Garland, Texas and worked there for four years before retiring and moving to the Village of Bonnybrook in 2004.
Judie worked for Lincoln Nation Life and Brooklyn Medical Plaza as a transcriptionist. She retired when the couple moved to Garland, Texas.
Jim and Jude have three children and six grandchildren.
*********
Meet
Sharie Law . . . Sharie was born and raised in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She graduated from Presentation
School of Nursing in 1958 and married Tom Law (also a South Dakotan)
in 1959. They spent 2 1/2 years in Pine Bluff, Arkansas while Tom
was in the US Army.
They moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1962. Sharie worked as supervisor of Coronary Care, Emergency Room and Intensive Care at Community Hospital in Indianapolis for 14 years while Tom worked at the Eli Lilly Corporate Center.
In 1973 Tom transferred to Eli Lilly, Clinton Laboratories. The Laws built a home on Rockville Lake, Rockville, Indiana where they raised 4 children. In 1977, Sharie became an employee health nurse at Eli Lilly and retired from there in 1997. They became permanent residents of Florida when they purchased a villa in The Village of Chula Vista in 2003. They have 6 grandchildren - 3 girls and 3 boys.
Sharie helps the Indiana Club serving as a caller. She might have been that friendly voice on the other end reminding you of the next Indiana Club meeting.
 Meet
Jerry and Kym Lowe. They are working on writing us a short bio
for the website (they promised me) so you can get better acquainted
with them but for now, you need to know that wherever they are
needed, Kym and Jerry are there with smiles helping out. Kym
is our liaison with the Haven House and does loads of volunteer work
through that ministry and we know that Jerry is always right there
helping her. Jerry single handedly manages and runs our 50/50
program which has always been a big support for our club.
|
*****************
Meet our Club President,
Andy Richardson . . .
Andrew H. Richardson, Jr. was born July 19, 1941 to Mary Alice and
Andrew H. Richardson Sr. in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Andy attended
Nebraska Elementary School, Washington Grade School and graduated
from Central High School in 1959. His first job (age - 14) was
at Trumps Grocery Store on West Jefferson Street where he delivered
groceries on a bicycle, helped make hamburger and worked
the cash register. His pay was .60 per hour. 
sanna
Deitch
was born in the little town of Rushville,
Indiana, in 1922. She went all through grade school and high school
there, then was employed as a telephone operator. When her boy
friend enlisted in the Army Air Force, they were married and their
daughter was born in New York City where he was stationed. After
the war they lived in Indianapolis where their second daughter was
born. Sadly, the marriage did not last, they were divorced, and
Rosanna was left with the two daughters to raise. She did
secretarial work, finally ending up as a legal secretary with the
Indiana Bell Telephone Company.
Indiana.
Brenda Jo (Mielke) West was born and raised in Fort Wayne,
Indiana. Her parents lived at the corner of Elm and Cherry
Streets (off of West Main Street) where she spent all of her life
until she married Dan. She went to Nebraska Elementary,
Washington Junior High and Central High School, graduating in
1964. After graduation, she started work at Lincoln National
Life Insurance Company. She always liked variety so that was the
type of jobs she had in the accounting, pension and reinsurance
departments. She retired from Swiss Re in August 2005. (Swiss Re
bought out Lincoln Life’s Reinsurance Department). She retired
after thirty-six and a half years, basically with one company.