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Local is YMCA Volunteer of the Year
4 April 2013
| Xenia Gazette
4/4/2013 1:58:00 PM |
DAYTON — The YMCA of Greater Dayton recognized Fran Richardson as the Xenia YMCA volunteer of the year. Richardson, 83, has been volunteering with the YMCA for approximately 20 years. She teaches the low impact water aerobics and has for years. Fran and husband John participate in the Senior Showcase. “We are lucky to have them at the Xenia Y,” said Y officials. John and Fran began their journey together the last week of June in 1944 – John left for the Navy that September while Fran started her sophomore year of high school. Married in 1946, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this June. They had two children and after becoming Christians in 1958, became very involved with the church. John was always very active and added coaching and bowling to his activities while always exercising as a part of his lifestyle. When John retired, he bowled and played softball as long as possible. “We did a lot of walking together until the pavement was too much on our joints. We decided to learn square dancing and then added line and round dancing. We still love this, but we decided maybe we needed more exercise. That’s when we came to the YMCA,” said Richardson John has survived a heart attack, actually being brought back to life with paddles and Fran has survived breast cancer. “God has been so good to us,” she said. They are 86 and 83 years old and have a lot of life to still live. The award was presented during the YMCA’s 142nd Annual Meeting at the David H. Ponitz Center at Sinclair in Dayton on March 14. The event raised over $17,500 for the YMCA’s Annual Strong Kids Campaign and consisted of a silent auction, dinner and a program where volunteers and staff were recognized for their contributions to the success of the YMCA of Greater Dayton. |