UNION CITY – I would like to thank those who made the signage to honor a good friend, the late Betty Grimes, at the east end of Railroad Park on Sycamore Street in Union City, Ohio, possible.
The park was one of Betty’s passions, and she sure deserves this honor, even if it’s posthumously.
I saw her husband, John, at the supermarket several weeks ago, and he told me it was going to happen. I didn’t have a camera on me at the time, but I decided to go get a picture of it this week.
It is now known as the Betty J. Grimes Walking Path.
The sign honors her as the founder and bears these words:Betty J. Grimes
The sign honors her as the founder and bears these words:Betty J. Grimes
Founder of Railroad Park
Betty J. Grimes was a dedicated individual who believed that hard work and honesty brought great personal rewards. She understood the value of the preservation of historical data as pertained to the village of Union City, Ohio, from its inception in the early 1800s to its present day.
She was also instrumental in the founding of Railroad Park as well as the Wall of History, whose efforts were designed to complement and preserve those businesses and individuals who set out to support the prosperity of their great city.
Betty put forth great effort to recognize and reward those businesses for their contributions to the Village of Union City, Ohio, through signage pertaining to their own historical information.
Betty was a great lady who had the best interests of her city in her heart at all times.
Betty passed away on Aug. 5, 2022.
She was born Jan. 31, 1931, the daughter of the late Donnie and Reba (Sites) Bousman.
She was a 1949 graduate of the Jackson, Ind., school.
She was a 1949 graduate of the Jackson, Ind., school.
Not only was she the founder of the Railroad Park, but she also founded the Union City Wall of History with the help of John and their friends.
She was a member of the Union City Indiana-Ohio Preservation Society and a past member of the Chamber of Commerce. Betty was active in politics. She served on the Village Council (that’s when I first became acquainted with her), was a member of the Darke County Republican Party, and was recognized, with her husband, in 2022 as the Darke County Republican of the Year.
If I remember correctly, she was also involved with the Shawnee Prairie Preserve and probably some other events in Darke County.
All the while, she always made time for her family.
I miss her, and I would be willing to bet a lot of people in the community do, too. She never failed to send Jamie and me Christmas or birthday cards either, and that, too, is missed.
I said it once, and I’ll say it again: I don’t know of anyone who knows Ohio Revised Code laws as much as she did. She had a wealth of knowledge.
Once again, I want to thank whoever had the idea of doing this and for those who installed it. I am sure she would be proud as well.
******
Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of all of those who passed away this past week.
******
Please pray for these people: Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Sonny Custer, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Michelle Coppess Hiestand, Mike Mayse, Greg Moody, Kelly Jo Eikenberry (kidney transplant) and son Allen (donor), Larry Linder, Steve Waymire, Jamie Knick, Jenny Pitman, Nikole Baldridge, Chester Bryant, Manual Macias, Lester Beisner, Delores Beisner, Kermit Foureman, Chuck “C.W.” Cruze, Mark Lovejoy.
Also, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Doug Winger, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Gary Francis, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, D’Arleen Waymire, Zach Urbancic, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, Randy Garrison, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Becky Everhart, Donna Bixler, Linda Subler, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
******
Happy birthday:
Nov. 29 to Jeff Shook, Jeff Lawson, and Phil Stutz.
Nov. 30 to Bill Klipstine, Janese Riegle, Linda Lore, Dewey Ward, Mindy Steed, Julie Thwaits, Caleb Thwaits, Kathy Wilker, Cindy BurnsMoore, Jessi Worden, Darcel Brown, Teresa Wilson, Beth Oswalt Cain, Dave Brewer and Tess Osborne.
Dec. 1 to Tammy Shook, Daisy Brim, Kim Dohme, Neil Schmidt, and Karen Crowell,
Dec. 2 to Noe Hernandez, Bev Billenstein Stump,
Dec. 3 to Evelyn Sebring, Kris Shelley, Norma Glunt, Sam Custer and Gloria Hahn.
Dec. 4 to Jeff Stump, Randy Garrison, Mike Dohme, Leigh Ann Harrod, and Nicole Crump.
Dec. 5 to Jim Hesson, Eric Widener, Paul Schlechty, Jeff C. Peters, Brad Birt and Linda Swick.
Happy anniversary to:
Nov. 29 to Jeff Shook, Jeff Lawson, and Phil Stutz.
Nov. 30 to Bill Klipstine, Janese Riegle, Linda Lore, Dewey Ward, Mindy Steed, Julie Thwaits, Caleb Thwaits, Kathy Wilker, Cindy BurnsMoore, Jessi Worden, Darcel Brown, Teresa Wilson, Beth Oswalt Cain, Dave Brewer and Tess Osborne.
Dec. 1 to Tammy Shook, Daisy Brim, Kim Dohme, Neil Schmidt, and Karen Crowell,
Dec. 2 to Noe Hernandez, Bev Billenstein Stump,
Dec. 3 to Evelyn Sebring, Kris Shelley, Norma Glunt, Sam Custer and Gloria Hahn.
Dec. 4 to Jeff Stump, Randy Garrison, Mike Dohme, Leigh Ann Harrod, and Nicole Crump.
Dec. 5 to Jim Hesson, Eric Widener, Paul Schlechty, Jeff C. Peters, Brad Birt and Linda Swick.
Happy anniversary to:
Judy and Terry Pepple on Nov. 29; Beverly and Ron Stump and Don and Carolyn Waymire, all on Nov. 30; Mike and Elaine Stump on Dec. 1; and Larry and Karen Duncan on Dec. 4.
******
