Wichita Presbyterian Manor
MAY 2022
Assisted living resident’s Navy service was ‘tremendously fortunate’
Assisted living residents and ‘birthday twins’ met, became friends at Wichita Presbyterian Manor On March 2, Maralene Balthazar and Joanne Cross celebrated their first birthdays as residents of Wichita Presbyterian Manor. It was fitting, as the women have become the best of friends since Maralene moved in. Birthday twins Maralene Balthazar and Joanne Cross Joanne heard that one of her new neighbors shared her Catholic faith, and she introduced herself. “We ate lunch together, and that was it,” Joanne said. The women have been close ever since. They enjoy walking and talking together and going on outings around town. “Sometimes Julia will take people on a joy ride to see the sights of Wichita,” Joanne said. On the way back, they’ll stop for an ice cream or root beer. “We talk about our faith sometimes and about our family a lot,” said Joanne, who has two children to Maralene’s six. “We laugh a lot, let’s put it that way,” Maralene said. The friends met at a difficult time in Maralene’s life. She moved into Presbyterian Manor last August after suffering a small stroke, and she was unhappy and out of sorts during her first few days. She had lived in her old home for 40 years, and she felt lost. “Then I got to know Joanne, and she made my day,” Maralene said. “She came along at the right time. She didn’t know it, but she picked me up and carried me for a while.” Joanne moved to Presbyterian Manor just a few months prior, but had already gotten to know people by volunteering to help with activities and other
Twins – continued on page 2
Assisted living resident Stuart Hutchison was a pilot in the Navy and Navy Reserves for more than 20 years.
In 1948, Stuart Hutchison graduated from high school in WaKeeney, Kan., and enlisted in the Navy. He had an older brother who was a Navy pilot, and Stuart wanted to go through the same training program. “I had always been crazy about airplanes,” he said. He began his training in Pensacola, Fla. Stuart learned to fly single-engine aircraft, an instructor sitting behind him with a second set of controls. Before he received his wings, Stuart had to take off and land on an aircraft carrier, six times each. At the end of his training in Pensacola, he had to decide whether to continue on with fighter jets or move to multiengine planes dedicated to searches and transport.
Veteran – continued on page 4
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Twins – continued from page 1 tasks, an activity that also made her feel “helpful and welcome.” She was motivated to move to Presbyterian Manor because she wanted to live with people her age, facing similar challenges. “People were friendly, and I just seemed to fit in,” she said. “I would consider this place a blessing to me.”
“I met a lot of nice people,” Joanne said. “That’s why I talk too much. I never met a stranger.” Both women say they were blessed to feel welcome in every community they joined. “Presbyterian Manor gives you that same welcoming feeling,” Joanne said. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself — people here are warm and friendly.”
And if you’re struggling, Joanne will step in and help, Maralene said. “Joanne speaks for people who need a voice,” she said. “That’s why people love her — she’s truthful.” “It’s nice of you to say that,” Joanne said, almost shyly. “But I can be quiet. I learned that in the FBI.” With that, the friends started laughing again. u
In addition to faith and family, the friends share some of the same broad life experiences. Maralene worked as a para educator for the Haysville public school system for 30 years. Joanne worked at Catholic schools, as well as for the Institute of Logopedics (now Heartspring) and the FBI. Maralene was a “farm girl” who grew up northwest of Hays and attended a country school until eighth grade. She attended college for a semester in Lincoln, Neb., before she got married. She and her late husband lived in Florida during his military service. She has also lived in Norfolk, Vir., New York City and New Jersey. Joanne is originally from a little town called Cambridge, Ohio, not far from Columbus. Her husband worked for Boeing and they too lived all over the country, including Florida, Seattle, the Dakotas, and New Mexico. “Travel was an education in itself,” Maralene said. “It was very rewarding and eye-opening.”
After Maralene Balthazar and Joanne Cross became friends at Presbyterian Manor, they discovered they shared a March 2 birthday. They celebrated together for the first time this year. The friends enjoy talking and laughing together, often while walking around the community. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 316-942-7456 ◆ Fax: 316-941-3806 4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: awatson@PMMA.org Amy Watson, life enrichment dir. Courtney Wolfe, executive director Lisa Fetter, marketing director Cherree Hudspeth, health care sales and marketing
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022
Wichita Presbyterian Manor announces Art is Ageless® winners Wichita Presbyterian Manor recently announced the 2022 winners of the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Amy Watson, life enrichment director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.” Winners in the Wichita Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless juried competition were: Best of Show professional: Patti Doll, “Kerry Bog” Best of Show amateur: Donna Walter, “My Favorite Food” People’s Choice: Thomas Purcell, “Mount St. Helen’s 40th Anniversary” Christmas amateur: Carolyn Jean Stahl, “Waiting for Santa” Christmas professional: Nancy Luttrell, “The Dove of Peace” Drawing amateur: Jeanie Schirmer, “2 Chickens” Drawing professional: Janet Aiken, “Bella” Fiber Arts amateur: Barbara Dravis, “Garden Party” Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Val Young, “The Pinnacles” Mixed Media/Crafts professional: Cassandra Smith, “Old Mission” Needlework amateur: Carol Stibal, “Cell Phone Purse” Painting amateur: Maria Engelhardt, “Maggie”
Fiber Arts amateur: Barbara Dravis, “Garden Party”
Liz Hicks
Photography amateur: Thomas Purcell, “Mount St. Helen’s 40th Anniversary”
Painting professional: Sharon Zimmerman, “Llama ‘Bad Hair Day’” Photography amateur: Thomas Purcell, “Mount St. Helen’s 40th Anniversary” Photography professional: Chester Bernat, “Is This My Best Side?”
Pat Sharp
Quilting amateur: Rovella Erker, “Winnie’s Garden” Sculpture/3-D professional: Jo Ann Taylor, “Flowers – Elements of Nature”
For more information about Wichita Presbyterian Manor, 4700 W. 13th Street, Wichita, Kan., contact Cherree Hudspeth, marketing director at 316-942-7456, or chudspeth@pmma.org. u
Linda McHugh To-go reception Wichita Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Veteran – continued from page 1 “By that time, I decided I’d better go multi-engine, or I’d end up killing myself,” Stuart said. He completed his advanced training in Corpus Christi, Tex., in November 1949 and was assigned to a patrol squadron on Naval Air Station Whidbey in Washington State. From there, they were deployed to an air base just outside Tokyo. Stuart flew patrols along the China coast, over the Sea of Japan and the Korean Peninsula, he helped monitor shipping activity there. He flew with a crew of eight or nine. “We had really good people,” he said. “The guys who were mechanics did wonders at keeping the engines in shape. “I was just tremendously fortunate in the kind of military service I got to participate in.
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022
In 1953, Stuart returned to Kansas, serving as a pilot instructor at a naval air station just outside of Hutchison. “At that time, I was married with two little children, and I had the opportunity to go off of active duty,” he said. “I figured I’d better go to college.” Stuart studied civil engineering at Kansas State University. He remained in the military as a member of the Navy Reserve. Once a month, he spent a weekend at the air station in Olathe, and he was on active duty somewhere in the world for two weeks every summer. His last active service was in 1971. By that time, he had logged 4,000 pilot hours for the Navy. For five years, Stuart worked for an engineering consulting firm in Topeka. Then he moved to Great Bend to work for a new civil engineering company. He and his first wife had
four children: two girls and two boys. Stuart moved to Presbyterian Manor almost a year ago after a short hospitalization. “I’m in the right place,” he said. “This place is fantastic.” u