Ohio Department of Aging Joined Hearts in Giving

Greg and Margaret Butler, Dublin
40 years of marriage

From the earliest lessons her mother taught her about charity beginning at home, Margaret Butler has always believed we each have a responsibility to do what we can for another. She says, "Even though we didn't have a lot when I was growing up, my parents always instilled the attitude of responsibility of helping those less fortunate."

Greg and Margaret Butler were married in July, 1972. They met when she was dating his best friend. The two of them stayed in touch, began dating five years after they met, and they married a year and half after their first date. After his weekly bowling league night in December, 1971, when he took her home, Greg asked her what she was doing the last Saturday in July and that's how he proposed. Fortunately Margaret was not busy that particular Saturday and said "yes!" On their 40th anniversary, Greg surprised Margaret by giving her a new ring with her engagement diamond incorporated into it.

The Butlers have both served on the Board of Governors for the Dublin Foundation, though at different times. Additionally Greg served as the Board's Treasurer. Margaret has served many years on the committee for the Emerald Ball, The Dublin Foundation's primary fundraiser. Greg was a charter member of the Dublin AM Rotary Club; Margaret joined later and served as the group's president in 2006-07. Greg served as a Board Member and treasurer on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce. Margaret was member of the League Against Child Abuse Women's Board, was on the board of the Dublin Arts Council and served on Dublin's Child Care Task Force. In 1996, Margaret was honored with the Dublin Community Volunteer of the Year Award.

As their children grew older, the Butlers began delivering Meals-on-Wheels with LifeCare Alliance as a family project. "Volunteering is an example for our children - if they are blessed, they need to share it with others." On Sundays, the family delivered hot, nutritious meals to the homebound in the Dublin area. In addition to the meals, regular visits from familiar, friendly faces lifted the spirits of the meal recipients.

Pauli Tice, at LifeCare Alliance, nominated the Butlers for the Joined Hearts in Giving Award. "This couple's involvement in the community is outstanding; they are making an impact to help their community to be a better place to live. Their outreach to the homebound in the community shows they have joined their hearts in giving for many years. Their teamwork to involve the family in serving set a precedent that will continue through their children's service."

The Butlers' secret to a successful marriage is humor and a deep respect for one another. The children always used to say Dad is the boss at work and Mom is the boss at home, though since the children were raised, they work in the family business together. "Our motto was 'never stop dating'. When the children were young and money was tight, after we'd put them to bed on a Saturday evening, we would have a candlelight dinner for just the two of us," Margaret fondly reminisces. "We've always been each other's best friend. He is my family."

Greg sums it up, "She has the biggest heart in the world. She sets the stage and I follow her - it is very easy to do."

The Butlers have been in the dry cleaning business for 42 years, and have owned Dublin Cleaners for the past 31 years. They have raised three sons, Brian, Michael and Kyle, and have two grandchildren and two more on the way.

James and Mary McBride, Delta
58 years of marriage

Jim and Mary "Kay" McBride believed in a dream that belonged to a friend in the small town of Delta in Northwest Ohio: To establish the Open Door, a one-stop location to help low income residents with their basic needs. The McBrides became the founding members of an eight-person board that turned a former grocery store into a food pantry, thrift store, temporary housing (transitional center) and skills training center. The thrift store profits help support the non-profit entities.

Ten years later, this building also houses the local Habitat for Humanity office, a ladies counseling service, a YWCA office and an adult services volunteer organization. The McBrides continue as board members and volunteer at the food pantry and thrift store more than 25 hours a week. They help in any way to assist those walking through the doors each day. They are helping to plan for the next phase in the expansion of services.

The Open Door of Delta now includes the thrift store, a GED program, a Transitional Center for the homeless and life skill classes. The food pantry is known as Delta Community Outreach, and has expanded its services along with the stewardship of the McBrides to include help with rent and utilities, minor car repairs, gasoline purchases and prescription costs.

The McBrides insist that they share this Joined Hearts in Giving Award with the more than 70 volunteers who helped to foster and nurture this dream. They admit they enjoy the self-satisfaction, joy, tears, hugs, and helping people in the homeless shelter successfully transition out of it.

The McBrides have been married for 58 years. Jim and Kay double dated when they were in high school. He later visited her at the movie theater where she worked. When Jim was a sophomore in college they got married. About their long marriage, Kay says, "You have to have laughter, live independently but together, respect each other and have friends. Retirement was an adjustment, and we really enjoy working together in real estate with the young people, like we were involved with raising our sons."

Jim says of Kay, "She is very compassionate and will take money out of her own pocket to help others. And she'll do anything for anybody, especially for the children. We volunteer wherever there is a need." They support the Apple Dumpling Festival and the Chicken Festival through the Chamber of Commerce. Jim also is an amateur radio operator and assists during disasters and during Halloween to keep the trick-or-treaters safe.

The McBrides also are members of the Delta Chamber of Commerce and serve on their church boards. Jim and Kay have been volunteering with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for the past eight and a half years. Jim has achieved nearly 5,000 lifetime service hours, and Kay has over 8,200 hours on the books.

Kay comments on her better half, "Jim has the biggest, darn soft heart and loves doing anything with the kids, like working with Kids' Shopping Day," which the McBrides started up. During Christmas at the food pantry, the children of clients will come in and shop for their parents and their siblings. They wrap the presents right there for the children to give to their families on Christmas.

Raymond and Thelma Rivin, University Heights
63 years of marriage

Raymond and Thelma Rivin have been married for 63 years and have always made volunteering a central part of their lives together. Today, at ages 92 and 88, they still actively volunteer at Temple Emanu El in Orange Village, Ohio. Thelma offers administrative support in the office once a week, and Raymond serves as an usher at services. For many years, Ray and Thelma collated the temple's monthly bulletin for distribution to the members.

Both Thelma and Raymond have volunteered for many years at the Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA). Through JFSA, Thelma delivered Meals-on-Wheels for more than 30 years, and Raymond delivered meals for 15 years. Thelma continues to volunteer weekly at the JFSA office by offering support for Meals-on-Wheels and the Lifeline program. She services batteries and other equipment and pays home visits to clients to make sure the Lifeline systems are working properly.

Thelma recalls, "One time I was delivering Meals-on-Wheels, and her door was locked when it should have been open for me. I knew something was amiss and we called 911 and the social worker to take care of the problem. Thankfully we did, since the recipient fell and couldn't get up. Ray went and visited with her for a while, too."

The Rivins met just after the end of World War II, when she walked into his dry goods store. She made him wait two years by mutual agreement, and they got engaged after he proposed at a nice restaurant during dinner. When asked for their secret to a successful marriage, Thelma said, "He always agrees with me. But seriously, when we got married, the rabbi said, 'Each person is to give 90 percent and take 10 percent.' My husband is easy going and good natured. He's proud of me and it is good to be able to do what I do to be with people and help them."

Thelma's mother was involved in the PTA during the Great Depression and put together "helping baskets" for those who had less than what they had. Thelma says, "It's a good feeling to help somebody and gratifying to keep up the family tradition. My sister was delivering Meals-on-Wheels and asked me if I would assist her. My husband is a warm person and enjoys greeting people. That is how it all started."

Thelma and Raymond are recipients of Temple Emanu El's Max and Frieda Davis Tikkun Ha'Olam "Repair of the World" Award for a lifetime devoted to volunteering, as well as Outstanding Senior Volunteer honorable mention from Medical Mutual of Ohio. They also have been honored with the Emanu-El-ite of the Year Award from Temple Emanu El. Last year, Thelma was honored by JFSA with the Lois Zaas Volunteer of the Year Award.

They are truly joined as a couple in their dedication to helping others. They have been an inspiration to their family, friends and community.

Wayne and Jean Walton, Sycamore
63 years of marriage

Wayne and Jean Walton's marriage and their commitment to their community is an inspiration to others. Not only do they belong to numerous organizations, but they take active leadership roles. They have served for 20 years as co-chairs for the Sycamore Township One Fund Drive, and Jean was the first female President of Consistory of Sycamore United Church of Christ. Together and independently, they served on various boards from the County Fair, Hospital Board of Health, Lioness Club and the Mohawk 60 Plus Club.

As a result of their commitment to these organizations and others, they were named the 2006 Outstanding Senior Citizens of the Year for Wyandot County, "It's a great honor to be chosen and to represent the county," said Jean. "When we volunteer, it feels like we've done a service and helped the Sycamore community."

The Waltons have compiled, sold and delivered Lion's Club birthday and anniversary calendars for the last 53 years. These calendars list the names, birthdates and anniversaries of people from three community school districts. The Lion's Club produces 4,000 tri-city calendars. The Waltons help to call everyone and update the list each year.

While Wayne was overseas in the service during WWII, his brother asked Jean out on Wayne's behalf. At Christmastime in 1947, Wayne presented Jean with a box containing a cheap, dime-store ring. She opened it and said, "Oh, how pretty!" But, he was secretly concealing a real engagement ring, which he pulled out and used to propose under the Christmas tree.

The Waltons have instilled the values of volunteerism in their children. Their son, Rodney, nominated his parents for the Joined Hearts in Giving as a gesture of gratitude for the lessons they taught him. "Thank you, Mom and Dad for setting the standards of servant leadership."

Wayne served 53 years on the First National Bank of the Sycamore Bank Board of Directors, 20 years as a real estate broker and 12 years as a Sycamore Township Trustee. Jean spent 21 years on the Wyandot County Council on Aging and served six years as president. She also worked as bank teller for 10 years and at the Wyandot county Board of Elections for several years.

The Waltons feel that life has been good to them. They like to spend time at their mobile home in Port Clinton and relax. Jean reflects, "You have to learn to forgive each other, never go to bed mad and we are thankful for 63 years of married life."

Robert and Mary Reid Williamson, Madeira
58 years of marriage

Bob and Mary Williamson make things happen as volunteers in the Sycamore Senior Center Meals-on-Wheels program. They are scheduled to deliver meals one day a week, but Bob drops by each of the other four weekdays just to see if his help is needed. Some weeks, Bob and Mary deliver over fifty meals to homebound elders throughout northeastern Hamilton County. Older adults with limited access to transportation and mobility often are at higher risk for of hunger. Bob and Mary have a mission to help their neighbors remain safe and independent in their homes for as long as possible, and often will change their schedules to accommodate others' needs.

Bob and Mary met on a street corner in Germantown, Pennsylvania, while Bob was out on the town with his best friend. Bob's best friend whispered to him, "Tell her you are getting married next weekend. She'll be upset and cry on your shoulder; then you can ask her out on a date." She didn't end up crying on Bob's shoulder that night. But they did go out, and eventually got married. They have been married for 58 years and are the proud parents of five children, 17 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mary eventually got used to Bob's sense of humor.

Mary was a stay at home mom when she was raising their brood of five, and began volunteering at the children's schools, church and local festivals. While Bob was a Cub Scout leader, helped with little league baseball, the Jr. Chamber of Commerce and Demolay, a youth organization dedicated to teaching young men to be better persons and leaders. Bob was also a member of PNI 3 CLASS U.S. Naval reserve for 12 years, and a 20 year member of the American Legion. Once Bob retired from being a traveling salesman, he quickly became one of Sycamore Senior Center's most valued volunteers.

The Williamsons' generous commitment of service has had an enormous impact on Sycamore Senior Center's ability to provide over 300 meals a day, all with the help of volunteers. Bob and Mary provide comfort and companionship with each meal delivery. Despite all that they do, they are motivated by the belief that they can do more.

Of his wife, Bob says, "She is very much my co-pilot. We do Meals-on-Wheels once a week. I feel so good doing Meals-on-Wheels. Sometimes you are the only person someone sees all day. Some of these individuals are pretty lonely, so if there's something I can do for them..."

The two have had the pleasure of driving through most of our country, Caribbean cruises and going to the Ocean City, New Jersey shore, most every summer. They feel their secret to a successful marriage is give and take. "We argue a little, like everyone else," Mary said. To which, Bob replied, "Yes, Dear."

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