Stories

Wheat Ridge Apartment resident Esther Becker loves sitting at her sewing machine in front of the window of her fourth-floor apartment, creating the unique, colorful stuffed animals she has sold to a craft shop for many years. From her vantage point, her gaze takes in the valley below where farmers still plow with horses, and bald eagles soar on the currents.

Esther could not be happier with the decision she made back in 2017 when she visited friends at Fairmount and learned of the upcoming Wheat Ridge Apartment building project. She knew immediately that Fairmount was the right choice for her. “I had felt so overwhelmed by the size of some other retirement communities when I visited them, but the smaller community at Fairmount felt very comfortable,” she explains. “So as soon as I heard Fairmount was building, I talked with Mitch in the Marketing Department and reserved my fourth-floor apartment before the first shovel of dirt had been turned. I moved in the day the building opened in November of 2019.”

Esther moved from her small house in Intercourse, which she purchased after her husband died more than 30 years ago. It was within walking distance of the Old Country Store where she worked for over 34 years. “I loved my house. Deciding to leave the house and move was not an easy decision,” she reflects.

Esther loves everything about her peaceful life at Fairmount, from the coziness of her apartment to the view both from her apartment and from the nature trails she walks every day. She loves that she can have as much or little contact with others as she wants. There is always someone around to talk to if she wants to socialize and plenty of group activities—exercise classes, seminars, painting classes and trivia games—in which to participate. However, she also has plenty of time to pursue her varied personal hobbies, too. “I have time to sew my stuffed animals or comfort tops, I enjoy theorem painting, and I read and read,” she exclaims, gesturing to the bookshelves filled from top to bottom with favorite books.

For Esther, the greatest peace of mind comes from knowing that when she meets future health challenges, the best of care is already in place. She has a daughter, two sons, and four grandchildren, all of whom live in Lancaster Country, within easy driving distance from Fairmount. It is especially important not to have to depend on her family to try and provide her care. “I want my three children to be able to just visit, not to also have the burden of my care,” she says.

For Crest View Apartment residents Charles and Fern Bauman, retirement does not mean putting their feet up and twiddling their thumbs. Rather, they have happily exchanged home maintenance, snow shoveling, and grass mowing for activities they deeply enjoy. Despite very different interests, Charles and Fern have both found Fairmount a great place to pursue favorite pastimes and discover new ones.

Fern is passionate about nature, especially birdwatching. She can identify birds by sight or by song, and is part of the American Birding Association’s alert system that notifies members of rare bird sightings and locations. Her interest was piqued more than 30 years ago by a group that took weekly birdwatching trips together. “I lived for those outings,” Fern recalls. Over the years, Fern compiled a “life list” of more than 548 different kinds of birds that includes when and where she saw each bird.

Since moving to Fairmount three years ago, Fern enjoys birding almost every day. “Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is nearby, but even on a short trip to the grocery store I can stop at a park or lake to see what I can find,” she says with a big smile. “I see or hear different birds along Fairmount’s extensive walking trails or while I’m pulling weeds in the flower bed I care for.  So far, I have seen 99 different birds just at Fairmount! This year I’ve watched a pair of bald eagles soaring on the currents over the valley from our 4^th floor windows.”

As Fern works in her flower beds, other residents stop by to solicit her help in identifying birds they have seen or heard. Best of all, she has discovered other avid birders living at Fairmount, so, her usually solo birding hobby has proven to be a social activity too.

Charles and Fern met at Eastern Mennonite College (now Eastern Mennonite University) where Charles studied psychology and history, and Fern majored in sociology. Shortly after graduation, they married and moved to Salunga, PA, where Charles served as Overseas Director with Eastern Mennonite Missions.

Three years later, they took a short assignment in Sudan with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) where, as Field Director, Charles organized relief efforts, and Fern taught English in a girl’s school. Upon their return to the United States they settled in Lancaster and started their family. Charles served as Administrator for Friendship Community for 23 years before moving to a new position with PhilHaven, where he spent 15 years as a liaison for the Plain Community.

As a resident, Charles has found numerous avenues to pursue his passions for reading, history, and psychology on the Fairmount campus and beyond. He continues to work two days a week for a nearby medical center as a liaison between their psychiatrist and the Plain Community, and for several hours every week he sorts books as a volunteer for Mennonite Life (formerly Mennonite Historical Society). Charles also organizes their rare book auctions three times a year and serves as a tour guide.

Fairmount residents also profit from Charles’ gifts. He serves on the Residential Living Activity Committee, helping to come up with a variety of engaging events for residents to enjoy. One of his favorite contributions to the committee is organizing trips to sites of historical interest, such as tours of Belleville, Amish Country, and Berks County.

Charles and Fern are just two of our residents who have taken advantage of their freedom from the time demands of homeownership to more fully engage their hobbies, explore new ones, share interests with other residents, and contribute their skills in a variety of ways benefitting others. Each adds to the rich texture of life in our community.

Luke and Dottie Nolt joined the Fairmount family in 2020, after touring a cottage with both a walk-out basement and a sun room overlooking the picturesque countryside below. The cottage provides plenty of room for Luke’s gardening tools and has a kitchen that Dottie loves. They are especially delighted with the view from their sun room, where they spend a lot of their time.  It is also perfect for growing orchids, one of their hobbies.

Luke and Dottie grew up on different types of farms in the local area—Luke in Leola, where his family grew and sold produce and potato chips, and butchered pigs in the off-season, and Dottie on a farm where they raised cows, chickens, pigs, steers and ducks. Dottie learned to milk cows and help in the garden from a young age.

The first two years of their married life was spent in Portland, Maine, where Luke worked in a hospital with 1-W service. When his two years were up, they returned to Leola, where they settled into the house in which Luke had grown up, and raised their three children.

After a short stint working in a foundry, Luke began his lifelong career working in the engineering department of New Holland Machine Company, retiring for good in 2015. In addition to his job at New Holland Machine, Luke also enjoyed serving as a pastor for many years at Stumptown Mennonite Church.

Dottie served as a homemaker until their youngest child was in high school. Then she also went to work selling flowers at the Central Market in Lancaster, where she stayed for more than 20 years. She also volunteered at ReUzit, and enjoyed a hobby of counted cross stitch. Her many beautiful projects now grace the walls of their cottage.

As Luke and Dottie were considering the many retirement home options in Lancaster County, friends invited them for a visit at their Fairmount apartment.  They both liked what they saw and heard about Fairmount life. Also, in his pastoral role, Luke visited many retirement communities but was always impressed by the sense of community Fairmount embodied. After considering everything they had learned, and seeing the cottage available to them, they had no doubts about where they wanted their new home to be. They have never regretted their move, saying, “We knew only one couple when we got here. But we have made many friends by plugging into lots of the activities. It is a place where people accept each other and which has proved the best fit for us.”

Janet Hibbs moved to Fairmount from the Fleetwood area, where she lived most of her life and raised her family. She has three adult children who live in Bechtelsville, only an hour away. Janet’s career was centered on many areas of health care, including seven-and-a-half years working in a retirement home, in Personal Care, and in pediatric care, fostering medically impaired children. Aside from her work and raising her family, Janet also enjoys needlepoint, sewing, and reading.

When Janet first toured Fairmount, she knew she didn’t need to look any further. “On that first visit, I felt like I was already home,” she recalls. But she was not yet ready for the move. Over an 11-year span, she attended multiple Fairmount events and open houses until the time was right and the apartment she really wanted became available.

Now comfortably settled into her new Crest View apartment, Janet has stayed active, enjoying group activities such as cornhole, sit-down volleyball, carpetball, and Bingo. She gets together with new friends to listen to Christian podcasts, has found meaningful volunteer positions, and even works part-time as an Activity aide. She explains, “I am so happy to be here. I knew no one when I moved in, but I’ve made many new friends.

Janet’s decision to live at Fairmount was due to far more than the right floor plan, which she explains saying, “Fairmount is very evidently faith-based. I wanted to be around believers who enjoy Christ-pleasing activities and Christian fellowship with other residents. My expectations have been more than met, as I see Fairmount striving to not just maintain but excel in its efforts to live up to its Core Values!”

Wheat Ridge Apartment resident Dale Long is a man of many interests, and concludes that one of his favorite benefits of living at Fairmount is that he can continuing pursuing all of his hobbies and passions after “retiring” here.

A Lancaster County native, originally from New Providence, Dale attended Eastern Mennonite College (EMC) after finishing high school. At EMC he developed an interest in missions. Upon graduation, he served in the Congo under MCC for three years. Later, after pursing a graduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for 15 years. During this time, he bought a house in Philadelphia, fixed it up, and housed refugees from various countries. Many of them remain his friends to this day.

Dale’s love of international travel started as a young man. “International travel was always in the background— visiting college friends, providing housing for refugees, and ultimately throwing my energy into a mission in Haiti,” he says.

Dale’s brother was the impetus for Dale’s initial visit to Haiti as a young man, and since then he has spent much time there. He now serves as executive director of Least of These Ministries, which he founded. This charitable organization supports a Haitian-led Christian radio network in Haiti, and relief efforts directed by the Haitian church leaders​.

Closely allied with his interest in international travel is his interest in ham radio. Dale explains, “Since 1980 I have been a ham radio enthusiast. I talk to people all around the world, and have met the goal of talking to someone in every country in the world.  At Fairmount I met another ham radio enthusiast, and we get together weekly. I am so grateful to be able to continue this hobby while living here.”

His other hobbies include beekeeping—Dale keeps hives in three locations in the community and teaches others about beekeeping—and growing show dahlias. Fairmount was privileged to have Dale adopt a flower bed for his dahlia bulbs; the results are eagerly anticipated for later in the summer.

“I have been blessed with friends and experiences far beyond what I deserved or expected,” says Dale as he reflects on his life.

Keith and Sandy Leonard moved into one of Fairmount’s Wheat Ridge Apartments three months after attending an open house, when Keith walked out onto the balcony of a fourth-floor apartment, took a look around and declared, “This is where I want to live!” They have loved living at Fairmount ever since.

The Leonards came from New Hanover, PA. Keith spent all of his working years as a Project Manager for a general contractor—his last 15 years as Senior Project Manager. Sandy started out teaching, then became a librarian. After they both retired, they spent time traveling across the United States in a motor home. They made three major trips to the west and visited most of the national parks.

Not only do the Leonards enjoy an unparalleled view every day, they have found many activities to keep them busy and engaged, both on campus and in the larger community. Visiting historical sites is a favorite activity. They also enjoy singing and have served as members of a choir. They both like biking and gardening. Two vacant plots of ground caught their attention, and they filled them with their favorite flowers, herbs, and tomatoes, some of which they donate to Dining Services to be served in the café. Sandy has an interest in sewing, knitting, genealogy and writing. To date, she has written and published five books, two of which are based on her and Keith’s family stories and genealogy. She has also given presentations to the public about her findings in her genealogical research. She is currently working on a new four-book series. Keith continues to work part-time with Fairmount’s Environmental Services department.

Keith and Sandy have especially appreciated living at Fairmount because of the warm welcome they received when they arrived, and the close camaraderie they feel with their fourth-floor neighbors. “We are like one big family, with many common interests!”

When Byron and Ann Zimmerman moved to Fairmount Homes, they settled close to their roots. Both were born and raised in Lancaster County, and moved to Leola a few years after their marriage. They started out farming, but soon decided to learn the insurance business instead. Both became insurance agents and brokers and built a business over the years that afforded them many opportunities. They especially enjoyed traveling, and went by plane, sailboat, motor boat, biking or RV, all over the world. Their travels included Switzerland, Laborador, Alaska, Spain and Morocco, to name a few.

On their 60th anniversary, Byron and Ann Zimmerman decided it was time to investigate retirement homes. After researching, attending open houses, and consulting with their children, they put their names in at two places. Ann also spent time volunteering in order to learn more about Fairmount and become familiar with the environment.  When the call came offering them an apartment at Fairmount, they readily accepted. Their new home has a great view to the south—overlooking the area they called home for most of their married lives.

Both of them stay busy, still going in to the office at least one day a week. Byron also drives an Amish family to market in Harrisburg, leaving at 4:30 a.m. every Saturday morning, and returning around 6:30 p.m.  He teaches a Sunday School class at their church, and for recreation loves to ride his bicycle on Lancaster County’s back roads.

Ann learned to weave and became quite expert. Her loom is set up in their second bedroom where she creates beautiful items that she sells at craft shows or donates to Fairmount’s Benefit Auction and the Lancaster Mennonite School Silent Auction. She continues to volunteer at Fairmount, visiting with residents in Health Care who have become her friends over the years.

Byron and Ann are happy and content with their decision to join the Fairmount family. “I feel at home here,” Ann muses. “I love the simplicity!”

Moving to a retirement community usually involves some downsizing. However Jim and Esther Hodgkins actually expanded their living space this fall when they moved into their 1,464 square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath Fairmount cottage. After a decade of “full-timing” in their 38-foot recreational vehicle, they once again have a permanent place to call home.

Jim and Esther have always traveled. “One of our daughters married a diplomat and moved all over the world. We went to see them wherever they lived,” Esther explains. “The first place we visited was Beijing, China, and Tibet. Later we visited Japan, the most fascinating of our excursions.”

Over their married life, the Hodgkins visited all 50 states (not always in their RV) as well as many countries. As “full timers” in their motor home for the past 10 years, they have been moving from one place to another every three or four weeks, except for winters which they spent in Mission, Texas.

Jim and Esther both enjoyed fulfilling careers. In 1958 Esther earned her LPN license and Jim fulfilled his dream of securing his 1st class operator’s license to work in a radio station. Esther was a nurse for many years at Community Hospital in Reading. Jim spent his entire career as a broadcast engineer, working for the same radio station in Reading for 30 years before retiring in 1993. “It was never work for me—it was fun!” he declares.

On the side, Jim had his own studio where he made vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, and in addition he ran his own photography business. In 2005, he gave up his studio to go on the road, but he still enjoys photography and carries a camera wherever they travel.

So what made them decide to settle down now? Esther ponders for a moment. “I’m getting tired of moving around,” she says finally. “And our daughters really wanted us to have a place we could call home.”

Asked why they selected Fairmount, Jim answers first. “We qualified for another nearby retirement home, too, but our values more closely align with Fairmount’s values.”

Family connections are another factor, as Esther explains. “My mother was a Fairmount resident many years ago. She always got good care, and when I came to visit, I thought, ‘I could live here.’ Mother’s sister also lived and worked at Fairmount for many years. Plus we have friends here, and our daughter lives nearby.”

The Hodgkins are excited about their move. Esther says, “One of the things I’m really looking forward to is being able to go to the same church every Sunday. As we traveled we had to find a church in each new location. Also, after we are settled in at Fairmount, I would like to volunteer in some capacity working directly with residents.”

Jim is also eager to find a church, but he has a different idea for volunteering. “I have thousands of great pictures from all over the world,” he remarks. I hope there will be opportunities to share travelogues with new Fairmount friends.”

Retirement for some is the time of life to sit back and enjoy a life of leisure. However, for many Fairmount residents, it provides the freedom to explore new hobbies, build deeper relationships, and continue serving and giving back.

Janet and Irvin Wenger carefully planned their retirement for the beginning of 2020. After diligent research, a lot of number-crunching, and discovering the availability of an apartment with the layout and view they wanted, they chose Fairmount to be their new home. They loved that several friends live at Fairmount, it is close to where they grew up, and one of their three children lives nearby. As per their plan, the Wengers sold their house in Guatemala where they had lived since 1980 and gave up their teaching and leadership positions— Janet taught music and Irvin taught ministry courses at the Central American Theological Seminary; they were both heads of their departments. Irvin agreed to continue serving as treasurer for FAM, a Latin American mission agency. They looked forward to life without the burdens of home maintenance and the demands of full-time work. Their plans were to relax and reconnect with friends and family. They packed their belongings, booked flights, and stepped into retirement at Fairmount.

Then their lives took an unexpected turn. As the pandemic forced school programs to move online, Janet’s successor in Guatemala found it difficult to take on all of the classes Janet had been
teaching. Janet was called back to the mission field, teaching one of the classes via a modified Zoom platform. She gladly agreed, knowing she was able to contribute to the lives of students thousands of miles from their new Fairmount home. “Teaching has certainly changed my expectations for retirement—I never thought I would be a music instructor again, so I left all my notes and course material behind,” Janet exclaims. “I had to create lesson plans from scratch! But we love that we can continue to give back and invest in the lives of others.” In addition to his role as treasurer for FAM, Irvin also agreed to teach a three-month, crosscultural online ministry course at the Seminary, and to serve as a thesis advisor. They both agree, “Our lives are happy and fulfilled as we continue with our mission, just not exactly as planned.

At just 65 years young, Bill and Evelyn Sloat decided to make the leap and join the Fairmount family in November when their new Wheat Ridge apartment was finished. While many couples who are decades older do not feel they are ready to move, Bill and Evelyn had lots of good reasons to embrace retirement living at their young age. They explain, “We want to clean out now, and make the move, so no one will have to make decisions for us. We have no children, and our nieces and nephews are getting older. We don’t want to be a burden to them.”

The Sloats grew up near Elizabethtown, went to high school together, and married 45 years ago. After graduating from Elizabethtown College, Bill went to seminary, then later earned a PhD in church history at Drew University in New Jersey. Most of their lives were devoted to church work. Over almost 40 years, Bill served as a pastor for five different Churches of God General Conference churches. They lived in many places, from Harrisburg, PA, to Findlay, OH, before settling into their former home near Bowmansville 21 years ago.

Evelyn held various administrative positions in their church conference and for Daikon Lutheran Services. She was also a great supporter of Bill’s efforts, saying, “I took some courses, but didn’t get a college degree. However, I got a great education by typing, proofreading and editing all of Bill’s papers!”

Six years ago, Bill stepped away from his lifetime of being a pastor to “go into the world to minister.” At Weaver Markets in Adamstown he worked his way up to manager, while Evelyn did office and bookkeeping work for local companies. They both continue to work.

Through work contacts, the Sloats heard about Fairmount and decided to take a look. They had watched Bill’s parents go through the continuing care model of retirement, and saw how well it worked for them. And when they visited Fairmount, they were impressed. “We were amazed by the quality of accommodations, and the size of what we can get here for the cost. We loved Mitch and loved the facility with its values, ethos, and community feel,” they explained.

The new Wheat Ridge Apartments appealed to them for many reasons. With a November move-in date, they had an opportunity to downsize over time and ready their house for sale without rushing. “We especially like that the new apartments connect to the existing Wheat Ridge building,” Bill comments. “If one of us has to move into another level of care, we can still be close to each other.”

“We didn’t like the in-between phase,” Evelyn admits. “There were so many decisions to make, things to part with, and a lot of extra work. But we look forward to the time when we can relax and read, spend time with friends and family, and maybe even do a little traveling. We consider ourselves young. We are coming here to live many full years!”

When Don and Dorcas Hostetter first received a call a few years ago offering them a Fairmount cottage, they declined, even though their name had been on the waiting list for some time. “We weren’t ready then,” explains Don. “It is hard to leave a beautiful home you built yourself and an area you lived in all your life. So we said ‘no’ and remained on the waiting list.”

But when Fairmount announced plans for six spacious new cottages, several with two-car garages, the Hostetters both agreed that they were ready, Friends were surprised by the Hostetters’ decision. They are younger and more socially active than some couples going into retirement communities. Don, a registered Holstein breeder for most of his life, was still involved in his business. But they explained, “A lot of people don’t want to talk about the future as they age. We have seen many instances where people postpone a move until their health fails. Then the families have to make all the decisions and pick up the pieces. We don’t want to do that to our children.”

Although they are still young and energetic, the Hostetters are aware that health situations crop up more frequently with age. “My doctor told me that it would be a good idea to slow down a bit. When I move here, I won’t have to mow the lawn or push the snow. When something breaks, someone else can fix it,” Don chuckles.

Dorcas adds, “We want to move while we’re healthy and can volunteer and enjoy an active life. I have a lot of flowerbeds at my home, and I want to be able to step outside the door of my own cottage and plant flowers here too. Living on a farm, we were always busy, and we have a lot of friends. We want to continue that lifestyle here.”

The Hostetters considered Fairmount for many reasons: “Before I do anything, I research well,” Don says. “When we decided to make this move, we investigated six different retirement homes. We have friends in quite a few of them, and some were very impressive. But when we really thought about it, one of the most important considerations was the quality of health care. Other places have good care also, but friends who have been residents here have never reported anything but excellent care. That is the kind of care I want my wife to have if she ever needs it.”

There are plenty of other factors that appeal to the Hostetters: They will be closer to three of their five children who live in the Lancaster area. They found the prices reasonable, especially the monthly maintenance fees. And the hilltop setting is perfect for them. Coming from a farm, they love seeing the farmland spread out below.

Irvin and Edith Leaman both grew up in eastern PA: Edith in the Fleetwood area and Irvin in Bowmansville. They met while serving on church leadership committees, married in 1969 and later built a house near Bowmansville that was home for 44 years prior to their move to Fairmount. Irvin worked as an installer (and whatever else was needed) at Rutt Kitchens for a total of 45 years, while Edith worked as a nurse in various positions over the years after their four children were in school.

Throughout the years, church work was an important part of their lives. Their involvement took them on mission trips to Russia, Tanzania, and Ghana multiple times, anywhere from two weeks to two months at a time. In the past, they served as leaders of a care pastor team at Petra Church in New Holland where they currently attend. Edith also helps to write lesson plans and tests for students taking Bible classes in foreign countries.

When the Leamans heard about the new Wheat Ridge Apartments project, they decided it was time to make the move. However, as they explained, “Apartment living was our ‘Plan B.’ Shortly after we made plans to move into a new apartment, a cottage became available, which was exactly what we wanted, and we moved in a year ago in July.”

Irvin and Edith could not be happier with their decision. Here they have time for their avid bird-watching hobby, with excursions to Middle Creek or the Blue Ridge Parkway, in addition to watching birds come to feeders around their cottage. They can spend time with their four children and nine grandchildren, most of who live in the local area.

Retiring at Fairmount was always one of their retirement possibilities, as Irvin’s father and both of Edith’s parents were Fairmount residents, and Edith worked as a nurse in Health Care at Wheat Ridge for 10 years before retiring. “I know the quality of care here,” she says. “One of the CNAs I worked with said she liked to give care as though taking care of her grandparents.”

The Leamans look forward to spending many years here. They are already plugging into Fairmount life, socializing and volunteering, while still enjoying the relationships built over the years with their family, friends, and church.

For anyone entering the new Wheat Ridge Apartments main entrance, the first thing that will catch their eye is the beautiful live-edge rustic table just inside the lobby door. Built with English walnut and cedar slabs, and mounted on a huge root, it is the creation of cottage resident Jay Martin, made from the wood of trees on the Fairmount property that had been removed for new construction.

Jay and his wife, Mary Edna, both grew up in the local area, met through the Weaverland Mennonite Church youth group, and married at 20 years old. In their first year of marriage, they lived in an apartment while building their first home in Goodville. Jay worked in the construction business, so they could do everything themselves except the plumbing, plastering and bricklaying. The house they built became their home for 30 years, and it was where they raised their two sons.

In 1987, the Martins bought a six-acre farm, built a new home, and raised alpacas. They lived in their new home until 2013, when they moved to Fairmount. One of the features most attractive to them was the walk-out basement—a perfect location for a wood shop, where Jay could pursue his lifelong love of woodworking. Here he has concentrated his efforts on beautiful pieces of specialty furniture, especially live-edge rustic tables, many of which are used throughout their own home. But one of his most valued pieces is the harp he built for Mary Edna that sits in their sun room overlooking the countryside below.

Mary Edna learned to play piano when she was 15 years old. For 55 years, she gave piano lessons in their home (wherever that was), until retiring just last year.  She learned to play the harp when they lived at the farm, and loves playing it for her own enjoyment. Jay and Mary Edna are very happy with their Fairmount cottage. Jay comments, “We appreciate that everyone here was so easy to work with and that we have space to pursue the activities we love whenever we want, in the comfort of our own home.”

Ruth Wanner could not be happier with her decision to move to Fairmount. Although she had her name on the wait list, she did not think she would get a call as soon as she did. She is younger than most people living in retirement homes, and still works her job as an operating room nurse at the hospital where she has worked for 40 years. Her home of 34 years was on the end of a nice quiet dead-end street. She hadn’t anticipated leaving it at this stage of live, and wondered if living in a community with other people so close would feel overwhelming. However, when she got the call in March that there were two cottages available, she decided there was no harm in looking. And one of the cottages proved to be everything she wanted and more, including a beautiful sun room on the south side of campus overlooking miles of farmland! “I liked the cottage so much that I was afraid I might not find another one I liked as much,” Ruth shares.

After going immediately to seek the advice of a friend who lives here, Ruth decided to make the move, and by June she was part of the Fairmount family. “I wanted to make the move while I could do it herself, especially since I have no children to take care of me. It feels good to be in place and not have to think of moving somewhere later on in my life.”

Ruth grew up in Churchtown, and later moved to the Plowville area where she and her husband lived for 29 years until his passing five years ago. Many friends and relatives, including her mother, all live close by, and she has made many more friends at Fairmount as well. She is already finding new activities to enjoy with her new friends, while continuing to pursue her hobbies of many years: counted cross stitching, reading, and traveling with friends.

Paul and Elsie Beiler moved to a new Fairmount cottage in December of 2016 from Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, where they had lived since 1962. There Paul ran his own crop spraying business. Elsie felt she was fortunate to work at home and help Paul in the office while they raised their five children. As Elsie neared 60 years of age, her passion for painting became a major part of their lives, especially after producing a series of five Nickel Mines paintings that touched on the tragedy that unfolded there. Her paintings were displayed and sold at a local gallery. After Paul retired from crop spraying in 2004, he started a taxi service and also helped with the business side of Elsie’s artistic endeavors.

When the time came to plan for retirement, Paul and Elsie attended several open houses at retirement homes. However, Fairmount was their first choice. It was a familiar place; several relatives had lived here and Elsie’s parents both spent time in Fairmount’s rehab. They appreciated the excellent care their family had received. As they contemplated a move, their children were very encouraging. They all felt it was a good idea to get where you want to be while you are both healthy enough to help each other with the move.

Paul and Elsie have been very happy with life at Fairmount. Not only have they made friends with their neighbors, but they have remained active in their church, although it is 18 miles away. Their cottage has plenty of space to entertain friends and family. Elsie continues to paint, and they are grateful for a two-car garage, part of which serves as needed storage space for finished  artwork and supplies. Paul continues to help with the business end of the art venture.

In the meantime, both find time to plug into life at Fairmount. Elsie has held several well-attended art shows. Paul goes to coffee hour once a week and helps out as a volunteer as needed. They both conclude, “We are happy here and haven’t looked back with any regrets.”

In 2014, Charlie and Joyce Martin retired and moved to Fairmount Homes—a logical choice given that Joyce’s parents had also lived here when the apartments first opened, and that they were both born and raised in the local area. Except for a year in Puerto Rico, they lived, worked, and raised their four children not too from their New Holland origins.

The Martins started their married lives on a farm. After 10 years of farming, Charlie started working as a cabinet-maker, and Joyce started a bridal shop, selling bridal gowns and doing alterations. Later they became full-time youth leaders for their church.

Charlie and Joyce brought a unique experience to Fairmount. They had begun raising Seeing Eye puppies in 2002, teaching the young puppies simple commands and taking them everywhere they went for the first year of their lives to socialize them. For the Martins, the rewards were tremendous, especially when they were invited to see “their” puppies trained as service dogs that enabled blind people to live independent fulfilling lives. As they contemplated retirement, the Martins decided not to take new puppies, but to offer respite care for trainers on vacation who could not take the puppies with them. This arrangement allows Charlie and Joyce to travel freely and enjoy their retirement without being tied down.

How did this fit into their new Fairmount Homes apartment living situation? They discussed the idea with Fairmount’s administrative staff, and got the go-ahead to give it a try. Since then, the sight of Joyce with a puppy in training has become a familiar one. It has worked out very well, and they are delighted to continue serving the larger community from their new home.

As for Charlie, he stays busy in Fairmount’s wood shop building furniture for non-profits, including ReUzit and Fairmount. He recently constructed a beautiful shelving unit to hold all of the resident charts for one of the neighborhoods in Fairmount’s nursing area, as well as a much-needed bookshelf for Fairmount’s Country Cupboard in the Wheat Ridge lobby. Certainly they did not slow down, but simply began living their lives from a new location where, incidentally, from their living room window they can see their former home and beyond!