Some sad news came to the Greenville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7262 already in the new year.
Two of its members passed within five days of each other. Linda Arthur, who I would call the office manager of the Canteen, passed away Jan. 20, and Ron Mills, who served as commander of the post for three years, died Jan. 25.
In my opinion, both of them were valuable assets to the post. Linda was involved in so many things and helped with some of the activities that go on there in addition to taking care of business duties at the VFW not to mention her duties to the American Legion in Greenville of which she was the women’s auxiliary secretary.
She was a big help to me when I was asked to take on the post’s newsletter a few months ago. I could count on both her and another member, Toni Profitt, to get me the information that was needed.
I was unable to attend Linda’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, but wish now that I would have taken the time to do so.
Eddie Grace Young told me that you could tell she had a lot of friends after all that was said about Linda at that event Saturday. Linda’s death not only affected the VFW but also the American Legion and perhaps through other activities.
It doesn’t sound like Linda has too much family left, but she sure had a lot of friends. Eddie said when their female friends went anywhere, Linda always brought each one of them a gift. How sweet and generous.
Reading some posts on Facebook, it sounds like she was a great conversationalist and confidant with those who knew her. And, I found that to be true as well.
Her obituary described her well: “Linda was a loving, creative, generous, funny, hardworking and generally unstoppable. She was the best gift-giver in the universe, always surprising everyone with her thoughtfulness. She always made people feel comfortable and cared for, making her presence a gift in itself.”
What a rock she was!
I don’t think I ever saw Ron that he didn’t have a smile on his face, despite the illness that he had been fighting for some time. He and wife, Connie, are the sweetest, down-home folks I know. She will truly miss him and be lost without him (I’m sure) and I wish her the best in this great loss.
Ron, I was told, was commander of the post for three years. He was in that position when I transferred my membership there but he decided not to run for a fourth term. Ron, a Vietnam veteran, also served on the Greenville Veteran’s Honor Guard.
You would just about always know when the Millses were in the building, if the jukebox was on when you got to the front door. Connie loves her jukebox and played the best music. VFW Quartermaster Don Dietrich told me that Ron served in the Marine Corps.
“He was a good faithful Marine,” Don said. “He was tough as nails. I think he was a 20 year member here at least and was a life member. He would do anything for you.”
Sounds like both of these people were important links to these organizations and the community.
Yes, I did not know these two for very long but learned really fast that they were genuinely good people. And, that they will be missed by a lot of people who probably feel the same way.
May they both Rest In Peace.
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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Linda Arthur, Duane “Lum” Edwards, Ronald Mills, Roger Stewart, Richard Worthington, Jeffrey Mader, Tammy Garland, Jim Gilbert, Faleigh List, Dorothy Grillot and Judy K. Smith.
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Please pray for these people: Dennis Leeper, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, Albert Duncan, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Abby Heck, Linda Lore, Ralph Byrd, Beverly McCabe Baker, Rusty Maloy, Debbie Mayse, Ronnie Norton, Lindsay Purnhagen, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Miranda Weist Flora, Ericka Trigo, Jeanie Francis, Noah Back, Mary Moran, Harvey Hinshaw, Bruce Kaiser, Angie Brown, Nikole Baldridge, Melikka Riffell, Amanda Mote, Tom Moody, Gary Francis, Anthony and Theresa Grillot, Lee Everhart, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, Kinley Bernard, D’Arleen Waymire, Tish Hodson Shepherd, Zach Urbancic.
Also, Sharon Gamster, Connie Stachler, Rick Libert, Harold Libert, Randy Heck, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Carol Hemmerich, Sharon Hummel, Dave Hinshaw, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Michael Mowery, Debbie Mayse, Kenny Edwards, Judie Hathaway, Della Burch, Ned and Brenda Wallace, Connie Buemi Hodson, Rick Marker, Randy Garrison, Steve Waymire, Warren Menchhofer, Kenton Turner, Gary Knick, Karen Hecht, Jannie Barrow, Kathy Gragorace, Danny Foster, Noella Combs, Clay Sheffer, Becky Everhart, Marie Rieman, Becky Oliver, Jayden Martin, Jeff Rider, Stefani Priest, Steve Neff, James Enicks, Joann Freeman, Cathy Collins Peters, Donna Bixler, Vanna Hannam, Linda Subler, Roger McEowen, Jerri Barber, Sally Burnett Ganger, Gloria Hodge, Jeff Baltes, Judy Hoffman and daughter Shelly, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all of those who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
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Happy birthday:
Feb. 1 to Brittany Newman, Larry Rainey, Barb Greiner, Michelle Dickey-Black, Angie Young Noggler, Jann Coby and Dave Starline.
Feb. 2 to Harold Riffell, Vicky Chavez, Evan Leichty, Judi Peters, Bobbi Miller-Swabb, Vera Abel, Samantha Voisard, Bobbie Anderson and Linda Spahr.
Feb. 3 to Don Moody, Kim Rudnick, Tim Miller, Lindsey Miller-Cottrell, twins Robbie and Jerrod Widener, Becky Eastridge Hart and Robin Blinn.
Feb. 4 Kara Young, Gracie Boyd, Bill Marker, Jeri Widener and Monyca George.
Feb. 5 to Sandy Wright, Pat Macias, Ken Peston Jr. and Kori Weiss.
Feb. 6 to Irene Stone, Steve Leis, Bob Turner and Bob Duncan.
Feb. 7 to Jessie Garber Cannady, Brianna Lore, Sharon Yohey Siders, Kelly Byrum, Steve Holden and Mary Brown.
Happy anniversary to Norman and Barbara Weimer on Feb. 3; Mike and Cindy Mescher on Feb. 4; Onneke and Josh Edwards on Feb. 5 and Steve and Kathy Waymire on Feb. 7.
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Think about it: “People are made stronger on the realization that the helping hand they need is at the end of their own right arm.” — Author Unknown
