By Paula Mitchell
It’s that time of year when volunteers begin to gather at St. John Lutheran Church to knot quilts, which will be shipped where needed in disaster areas around the world. The first gathering was scheduled for Wednesday with a soup and sandwich luncheon to be served. All volunteers are welcome. This is a time of reflection of all those less fortunate, whether it be plight or disasters. For the writer, it is also a time of remembrance of some of the people who so faithfully donated of their time to this cause.
One individual, who left this earth a year ago to be with the Lord, comes to mind. Eston Propst, a faithful life-long member of St. John Lutheran Church, looked forward to the fun and fellowship experienced at this time of the year, and he knotted many, many quilts. It was not uncommon for he and Judy to share their famous chili soup, which they also provided for Lenten Luncheons.
Eston was a faithful and valued member of St. John, holding various offices, including property management, and treasurer, assisting with the annual lawn party, Relay for Life events, preparing and driving parade floats, providing and driving for hayride events, and lending his gift of crafting and fixing almost anything.
He was a proud military veteran of the U.S. Army, STRATCOM, a member of the West Virginia Farm Bureau for approximately 40 years, American Legion Post #30, and VFW Post #966 in Sugar Grove. He was a central office technician for 30 years, seeing the transitions from C and P Telephone to Bell Atlantic to Verizon and was fortunate to retire in 1998. He then devoted the majority of his time to his beloved family farm in Moyers.
Along with this wife, Judy of 55 years, he spent his time farming, gardening, canning, and contributing to his family and the surrounding community. With Judy’s supervision, he became quite the cook, and as she began to experience increasing health issues, he also provided for her extensive care.
Eston enjoyed collecting antique dishware; but his passion was his extensive Civil War collection. He even owned one square foot of ground in Wise’ Field at Fox’s Gap at the South Mountain Battlefield.
He left a legacy of a strong work ethic, devoted husband and family man, friend, and faithful servant. His strength, courage, love, faith, and positive spirit inspired many. He is greatly missed. Though quiet, humble and of a gentle nature, Eston left his fingerprints all over his beloved farm, and community.
Life’s little lessons to help make one’s day better include the following:
- Write thank you notes. The receiver will be very surprised.
- Help clean the table following a meal.
- Making one’s bed in the morning is believed to promote better rest and sleep hygiene at night.
- Call an elderly person and engage in a conversation. Ask questions about “the good old days.”
- Eat a meal every day with the family seated around the table….no cell phones.
The weather has been fickle. There are a few days with mild temperatures, rain, followed with colder situations. Sunday, the snow flew; however, it did not lay on the ground.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers.” — Kahlil Gibran
“It’s better to have your nose in a book, than in someone else’s business.” — Adam Stanley
“When people don’t want to be with you, they make excuses. When people want to be with you, they make efforts.” — Rahul Kaushik
“I love beginnings. If I were in charge of calendars every day would be January 1.” — Jerry Sinelli
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank
Sitting by the fireplace is a definite must to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Carly Mitchell, daughter of Brandon and Cara Mitchell, picked her first dandelion — bloom and all!
Claude Casselberry is celebrating his birthday on the 23rd. Claude and Terri were visitors of Rosalee Grogg, as well as Marleta Wimer, Hendrix Bogan, Ronnie and Christine Bowers, and Pat Hoover.
Students are involved with the Social Studies Fair at Brandywine Elementary. Basketball practice has kept the parent busy.
Helen and Rhonda Nash recently celebrated Helen’s 85th birthday with lunch at Olive Garden in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Helen was surprised to find son, Todd Nash, daughters, Terri Lowery and Vickie Nash, and grandson, Lucas Hidalgo, already at the restaurant, joining them for her celebration. Adding to the fun, gifts, flowers and wonderful food were a couple of video visits with son, Robbie Nash in Alaska.
Wesley, Becky, Ben, Emma, and Nathan Puffenbarger went fishing Sunday and caught a mess of trout. Sounds like some good eating!
Laura George and Ava, and Leslie Bowers enjoyed watching “A Christmas Carol” performance by the Pendleton County High School drama club on Friday evening.
Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney were Saturday visitors in the home of Willard and Judy Rader. They all enjoyed the trip to the Jackson River Bakery and delicious dinner in Monterey, Virginia.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- By law, Mardi Gras float riders must wear masks.
- Looking at a photo of a loved one can relieve pain.
- About 17 million Americans skip out on work the day after the Super Bowl.
- Crows always fly in one direction in the morning and the other way in the evening.
- The coldest inhabited place in the world is the Siberian village on Oymyakon. In 1964 the temperature reached 96 degrees below zero.
February birthdays include the following: David Gillispie, first; Carolyn Smith, second; Tom Mitchell, Bernie Sasscer, Vanessa Moats and Steven Grogg, fourth; Patsy Bennett and Rhonda Stump, fifth; Eddie Smith, Liz Armstrong and Charles Cook, sixth; Hannah Koontz, seventh; Mary Eye and Lannie Mitchell, eighth; Danny Gillispie, ninth; Pat Hoover, Violet Aumann and Dennis Hull, 11th; Virginia Propst (100), 12th; Jennifer Simmons, Donna Ruddle and Dick Rexrode, 14th; and Buddy Ruddle, Lisa Jamison, Joyce Moates and Judy Hott Vance, 15th.
Concerns for this week are many, and they are as follows: “Pidge” Anderson, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Vernon “Fuzzy” Baldwin, Nathan Beachler, Lynn Beatty, Jack Bennett, Jimmie Bennett, Bill Brackman, the Tom Burgoyne family, Jed Conrad, the Bob Dyer family, Ron Gilkerson, Lola Graham, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Gary and Jackie Hills, Virgil Homan, Jr., Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, Anna Gae Hughes, Doris Hull, Alice Johnson, Kim Kline, Richard Judy, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Angela Lung, the Eddie Malcolm family, Linda Malcolm, Betty Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Jamie Mitchell, Gloria Moats, Melvin Moats, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Shirley Pratt, Kathy Propst, Sheldon Propst, Verla Puffenbarger, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Simmons, Robbie Sites, Ona Smith, the Ed Troutman family, Sandra Vandevander. the Johnny Rexrode family, Pam Rexrode, Glen and Jeannie Riggleman, Max Rodriguez, Donna Ruddle, Annie Simmons, Barbara Simmons, Barry and Phyllis Simmons and Davey Simmons.
