(continued on page 3) t age 95, Bob Abrams is a shining example of staying active. He volunteers at the Presbyterian Church USA headquarters in downtown Louisville two days a week. is keeps him connected to a lifetime of service through the church—stateside and overseas. A native of Peoria, IL Bob grew up in the hardware business where his dad worked as a traveling salesman. He and his father had planned on buying their own hardware store together, but the deal fell through. at turned out to be a good thing, as Bob enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. “I was going to be a hardware salesman, but the Navy changed that,” he mused. Bob ended up serving with the original crew on the aircraſt carrier USS Intrepid (now a museum in New York) as a Petty Officer. “I was sitting on a 500-pound bomb listening to ‘Anchors Aweigh’ as we leſt New York,” he said with a laugh. He described his naval duties in detail. “I started out on a 20 mm gun near the arresting cables, where the planes landed. en they moved me to a topside battle station, behind the ‘Stack’. I was the ‘talker’ for the officer who oversaw six quads of 40 mm anti-aircraſt guns. I would relay instructions from that officer, who controlled fire.” From the Intrepid, he was transferred to Miami University in Oxford, OH. ere he completed officer’s training and was commissioned as a Supply Officer. is is also where he met his future wife, Wanda. ey eventually planned to be married aſter the war ended. Aſter several stints of extended service in the Navy, he was finally discharged June 6, 1946. ey married nine days later. Bob continued studying at Miami University, while working part-time in a retail appliance store. He earned his business degree and went to work full time. Aſter several years in the appliance business he returned to school—this time at McCormick eological Seminary in Chicago. “I realized only Christ can provide true peace,” as he reflected about a spiritual calling. Upon graduation he served as pastor of a Presbyterian church back in Oxford, OH. During that time Wanda and Bob adopted two children, Paul and Lorna. He also volunteered as the first chaplain of the fire department there, helping families recover from devastating house fires. Former missionary, Navy veteran calls Wesley Manor home Bob and Wanda were married nine days aſter his military discharge in 1946. And above, the USS Intrepid on which Bob served. “I realized only Christ can provide true peace.”
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(continued on page 3)
t age 95, Bob Abrams is a shining example of staying active. He volunteers at
the Presbyterian Church USA headquarters in downtown Louisville two days a week. This keeps him connected to a lifetime of service through the church—stateside and overseas.
A native of Peoria, IL Bob grew up in the hardware business where his dad worked as a traveling salesman. He and his father had planned on buying their own hardware store together, but the deal fell through. That turned out to be a good thing, as Bob enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. “I was going to be a hardware salesman, but the Navy changed that,” he mused.
Bob ended up serving with the original crew on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (now a museum in New York) as a Petty Officer. “I was sitting on a 500-pound bomb listening to ‘Anchors Aweigh’ as we left New York,” he said with a laugh.
He described his naval duties in detail. “I started out on a 20 mm gun near the arresting cables, where the planes landed. Then they moved me to a topside battle station, behind the ‘Stack’. I was the ‘talker’ for the officer
who oversaw six quads of 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. I would relay instructions from that officer, who controlled fire.”
From the Intrepid, he was transferred to Miami University in Oxford, OH. There he completed officer’s training and was commissioned as a Supply Officer. This is also where he met his future
wife, Wanda. They eventually planned to be married after the war ended. After several stints of extended service in the Navy, he was finally discharged June 6, 1946. They married nine days later.
Bob continued studying at Miami University, while working part-time in a retail appliance store. He earned his business degree and went to work full time. After several years in the appliance business he returned to school—this time at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
“I realized only Christ can provide true peace,” as he reflected about a spiritual calling.
Upon graduation he served as pastor of a Presbyterian church back in Oxford, OH. During that time Wanda and Bob adopted two children, Paul and Lorna. He also volunteered as the first chaplain of the fire department there, helping families recover from devastating house fires.
Former missionary, Navy veteran calls Wesley Manor home
Bob and Wanda were married nine days after his military discharge in 1946. And above, the USS Intrepid on which Bob served.“I realized only
Christ can provide true peace.”
“Swing for Seniors” 2019 Golf ScrambleMonday, May 20 at Woodhaven Country Club
GOLF REGISTRATION FORM
PAYMENT: (check appropriate box):
Attached is my payment for my entire team ($500).
Attached is payment for ___ players ($125/per).
Total Amount Enclosed: $
Contact Name: _________________________________________
Business: ______________________________________________
Street Address: _________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _________________________________________
Daytime Phone: ________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________
TEAM REGISTRATION:
1st Golfer Name: _______________________________________
2nd Golfer Name: _______________________________________
3rd Golfer Name: _______________________________________
4th Golfer Name: _______________________________________
EVENT DETAILS:• When: Monday, May 20 - Noon registration & lunch• Where: Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville
7200 Woodhaven Drive, Louisville, KY 40291• Cost: $125/player; $500/team of four
(registration as a foursome is preferred)• Why: To benefit our Charitable Care Fund!• Registration Deadline: Friday, May 10
NOTE: Payment is REQUIRED with registration. Send check(s) payable to: Wesley Manor Retirement Community-Development Office, In Memo Line: 2019 Golf Scramble 5012 East Manslick Rd. Louisville, KY 40219 (502) 964-3959 fax: (502) 966-0819 Y
CU
T HERE
Watercolor daffodils by Emily Gayhart inspired the invitations, flowers and springtime dessert
buffet hosted at Wesley Manor on April 11 in the Henry and Judith Ford Dining Room. The event was planned as
an expression of appreciation to our key supporters and Legacy Society members
who have remembered Wesley Manor in their wills and estate planning. These
and other special people have shared their gifts, time and talents with us. They have
helped fund our Charitable Care Program and underwrite the renovations now completed in our Assisted Living and Aldersgate neighborhoods.
This gathering was coordinated by our dedicated volunteer, Carol Powel, with music by Ray Ihlenberg and refreshments by Nancy Sattenberg. President Jerry Hoganson welcomed and thanked guests and board member Kim Dodson highlighted some of the achievements of the last year. Y
Gratitude event celebrates our mission partners
This event celebrated our wonderful supporters and Legacy Society members who have remembered Wesley Manor through their wills and estate planning gifts.
Get your friends or business buddies together and join us for our annual ‘Swing for Seniors’ Golf Scramble benefiting Wesley Manor’s Charitable Care Fund.
“Swing for Seniors” 2019 Golf ScrambleMonday, May 20 at Woodhaven Country Club
Former missionary, Navy veteran calls Wesley Manor home
(continued from page 1)
Bob later accepted the invitation to serve as Mission Treasurer in Bombay, India. This was a five-year commitment, working in cooperation with numerous mission organizations. It involved extensive travel throughout the country. “We went out in 1960. I did not have a visa or a residential permit,” he explained. “I was expelled by the Indian government before I could finish my term. Someone had put a note in my file that they didn’t need a Westerner to be a treasurer in their own country.” He did manage to serve four years of his term, however, and made lots of friends during his ministry there. Those relationships would be fruitful in his work with the Presbyterian church throughout the rest of his career. Upon returning stateside Bob served in various pastoral roles in the Pittsburg area, and led several mission study tours to Columbia, Cameroon, Kenya, Egypt, Israel, India, Nepal, Korea and Japan.
After the Presbyterian Church USA relocated its headquarters in Louisville, Bob soon followed in a volunteer role upon retirement in 1990. He and his family moved into a house across from Joe Creason Park, off Newburg Road, where they lived for 14 years. “We said ‘Louisville is a pretty nice place to live’,” he shared. He eventually began working with mission projects in—where else—
India. He traveled there several times a year, helping with transfers of donated property used for schools, hospitals, churches and other facilities. By 2008 Bob and Wanda decided it was time for one last move. They moved to a patio home at Wesley Manor that year, even though several friends begged them to come to Ohio and Florida. “We started looking at lots of places around here. Wesley Manor was more attractive to us because we wanted a church-oriented, non-profit (retirement community) instead of a corporate-owned place,” he said. “I really like it here, especially the greenspace and the staff.” In 2015 Wanda suffered a severe stroke and had a short-term rehab stay in the Health Care Center, followed by a move to the Aldersgate (Personal Care/Memory Support). “The care was excellent,” Bob said. “The stroke wiped out her memory, but she always recognized me. She maintained a pleasant personality.” Wanda died in 2016, just six days after their 70th wedding anniversary. “I’m still lonely,” he confided. “But I have lots of friends. We go out to lunch after church.” Bob stays busy serving at the church headquarters every week. And you can often find him enjoying meals with patio home friends in the Hoskinson House (Assisted Living) dining room. “I’ve been blessed, and I feel blessed.” Y
Bob and Wanda share a tender moment in the Aldersgate at Wesley Manor in 2016.
As of April 8, the 2019 “Have a Heart for Seniors” Love Offering from Wesley Manor’s District Churches totals $34,500. This compares to $36,000 last year.
All of these funds will be used to assist our residents who need financial aid to remain in their homes here at Wesley Manor. THANKS to all who contributed to this mission!
There is still time to help Wesley Manor’s seniors by donating either securely online at www.WesMan.org or by mail. Please make your checks payable to: Wesley Manor, Attn: Development Office, 5012 E. Manslick Rd., Louisville, KY 40219. Place “Have a Heart for Seniors” in the memo line. Y
KY United Methodists
Have a Heart for Seniors!
There is still time to help us reach our goal for this year’s “Have a Heart for Seniors” Love Offering!
“I’ve been blessed, and I feel blessed.” - Bob Abrams
5012 East Manslick RoadLouisville, KY 40219www.WesMan.org
Non-Profit
US Postage
P A I DLouisville, KY
Permit No. 778
Spring 2019
2019 Board of DirectorsRuss Wardlaw – ChairRev. Michael Gibbons – Vice ChairSteve Jones, CPA – TreasurerNorma Sledge – SecretaryJames C. Barnett John L. Conrad, IIIArvil DobsonKim DodsonBart DoerhoeferMadonna C. FloodAlan FryrearDr. Christian Davis FurmanLinda U. KingCraig Reynolds
Ex-OfficioRev. Gary Gibson, Heartland District Superintendent Jerry Hoganson, PresidentMark Stephens, Vice President, AdministrationDeanna Young, Vice President, Resident ServicesAnita Kuvin, Vice President, Development
The Beacon is the newsletter of Wesley Manor Retirement Community, Methodist Retirement Homes of Kentucky, Inc., Cliff Whalin, publisher.
Visit WesMan.org to make an online donation and
brighten the lives of our seniors.
Wesley Manor serves its residents and families with a dedicated and professional staff, in a nurturing Christian community.
Over 60 visitors experienced the perspective of one with dementia by participating in the Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour held at Wesley Manor in March, presented by Senior Helpers. Y
Virtual Dementia Tour provides helpful tips
SAVE THESE DATES Upcoming EventsSwing for Seniors Golf ScrambleMonday, May 20 ~ Noon Mark your calendars for this annual, fun golf outing at Woodhaven Country Club. This benefits our seniors who need financial assistance.
Wesley Manor’s 4th Annual Revival WeekJune 22-28 ~ 6 p.m. each evening Join us in our Chapel as we celebrate our faith all week. The theme for this year’s event is “Because He Lives.” Each night’s service features a different guest pastor and gospel musician. Watch the Wesley Manor website, Facebook page and the e-newsletter for more details.
The WDRB Morning Show
broadcasted several live segments from
Wesley Manor.
Ruthe Holmberg, daughter of a Wesley Manor resident, shares helpful tips for families dealing with dementia with WDRB Morning Show reporter Keith Kaiser.
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