It’s funny how life puts you in the paths of others.
I never knew her, but grew up knowing some of her grandchildren. Ruth Anna Bixel’s name was suggested to me as someone who I might want to interview, so I had contacted her and she cheerfully agreed. As I knocked on her door, I felt nervous, unsure of how she might receive me.
FROM ADA ICON - Randy Cox of Bluffton has been named administrator of Vancrest of Ada nursing home, which is now under construction across from the Ada school and slated to open in February.
Cox has a long history in the nursing home business starting at an early age when his parents owned a nursing home in Ottawa.
He has worked in nursing homes in Virginia, Lima and a Vancrest facility in Holgate.
The 56,000-square-foot Ada facility, located on 18 acres, will have 50 beds for skilled nursing care and 32 assisted living units.
Do you know someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia? Do you wish you had caring support or more information about the disease? You are not alone.
Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio provides a monthly support group for caregivers.
The group meets on the third Monday of each month, except December, from 3:30-4:30 pm. The group meets in the library at Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St., Bluffton.
Bake sales, craft bazaar
and hickory nut pie orders
Nov, 20-21 in Bluffton and Pandora
Home baked goods, craft items and an opportunity to order hickory nut pies for Christmas are available this weekend at Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio.
MMH bake sale Friday
The Service Group of Mennonite Home is holding its annual Thanksgiving bake sale on Friday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St., Bluffton.
Bluffton author, Joanne Niswander, will hold a book signing for her recently released book “Reflections from Maple Crest Pond,” on Saturday.
The book signing is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, at Book ReViews, 123 S. Main St., Bluffton, according to Dr. Christina Walton, store manager.
Niswander shares personal reflections and insights in her newest book, in which she challenged herself “to write one purposely-concise thought piece daily” for an entire year.
On Nov. 7 life-long Bluffton resident Bob Neff passed a milestone achieved by only a handful of world residents.
He celebrated the 30th anniversary of having a heart transplant. His transplant occurred in 1985, one day after his 33rd birthday.
“I think about it every day,” Bob told the Icon in an interview last week. “I’m blessed with a gift and I don’t take it lightly. The Lord has me here for a purpose.”
Neff’s heart problems date back to the age of 13, when several bouts of pneumonia prompted his doctor to send him to Columbus Children’s Hospital.
