Wichita Community Matters - October 2022

Wichita Presbyterian Manor

OCTOBER 2022

Five local artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners Five winning artists in Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2023 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®).

“Bella,” a Drawing entry by Janet Aiken, “Maggie,” a Painting entry by Maria Engelhardt, “2 Chickens,” a Drawing entry by Jeanie Schirmer, and “Llama ‘Bad Hair Day,’” a Painting by Sharon Zimmerman, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.

Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition “Bella,” a Drawing entry by with winning art from 14 other PMMA® Janet Aiken communities. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar.

“Waiting for Santa,” a Christmas entry by Carolyn Jean Stahl, will be included in the calendar’s honorable mention gallery.

“Kerry Bog,” a Painting entry by Patti Doll, and “The Dove of Peace,” a Christmas entry by Nancy Luttrell, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards.

“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 senior artists. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”

“Kerry Bog,” a Painting entry by Patti Doll

For more on Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org.

Art is Ageless® – continued on page 2

Sylvia and Paddy McCullough

New residents built a three-generation business together New independent living residents Paddy and Sylvia McCullough were both born and raised in the small northwest Texas town of Hereford, about halfway between Amarillo and Clovis, New Mexico. They moved into Independent Living at the Westerly in May of this year.

Paddy was an upperclassman and Sylvia an underclassman when they met in 1950. They married in 1956.

The couple took a one-day honeymoon to Colorado, in a “hot machine,” a Chrysler 300 a friend loaned Paddy for the trip. They spent one night at the XIT Motel in Dalhart and one night at the Biltmore Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Immediately after their getaway, Paddy returned to his studies at Texas Tech, where he majored in engineering. Sylvia joined him there and earned a degree in home economics.

After they graduated, the couple lived in Houston, where Paddy worked for

McCullough – continued on page 2

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Art is Ageless – continued from page 1 “2 Chickens,” a Drawing entry by Jeanie Schirmer

“The Dove of Peace,” a Christmas entry by Nancy Luttrell

“Waiting for Santa,” a Christmas entry by Carolyn Jean Stahl

“Llama ‘Bad Hair Day,’” a Painting by Sharon Zimmerman

“Maggie,” a Painting entry by Maria Engelhardt

McCullough – continued from page 1 the Howard Hughes Corporation as a design engineer. His initial focus was the design of rock bits for drilling oil wells. He went on to work as a field engineer and project engineer on pipeline and other large projects.

Paddy worked as an engineer for 11 years. By that time, the McCullough boys, Clayton and Don, were growing up, and both Sylvia and Paddy were tired of his lengthy absences when he was out in the field.

The couple was interested in building something together, so they decided to move to Wichita and open a tractor sales business.

Wichita Tractor Company, which is now operated by Clayton and Don. The company began as a Ford operation, but Paddy and his family have repeatedly expanded into new product lines, including New Holland, Kubota, and Bad Boy Mowers. They also expanded their business into the Hutchinson market.

It has always been a true family

business. Sylvia worked as the parts manager in the 1990s, and Paddy continued to work for the company on a limited basis until recently “I slowed down, but didn’t stop until about two years ago,” he said. “But the boys were doing a great job, so I decided they didn’t need me.”

Their grandchildren are preparing to take the helm for a third generation of leadership in the McCullough family.

“We’ve been truly blessed,” both Paddy and Sylvia said. u

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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.

Jenna Beilman, 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 | October 2022

Celebrating our centenarian residents as they share wisdom about aging Four Wichita Presbyterian Manor residents share the distinction of having lived more than 100 years: Margie Andrews, Luchion Doshier, Ruth Lichty and Marcia Opp. We asked each centenarian a little about their lives, the history they’ve witnessed, and their secrets to long life.

Margie Andrews, health care Margie’s advice for aging well is, “Do what you want and take care of yourself.”

The Chester, Oklahoma, native worked at Cessna and raised two daughters before her retirement. She most fondly remembers the 1940s, the decade she married her husband, with whom she had the “best time” traveling around the world during World War II. She considers television and cars two of the most important technological advances of the past century. Though she loved to drive, Margie didn’t learn how until she was in her 30s. It simply wasn’t that common for women to drive back then — one of the many ways the world has changed in the past century.

Margie credits some of her longevity to her ability to cheer herself up when she’s down.

“When you’re sad, sing a happy tune,” she advises.

Over the course of her life, Margie has enjoyed spending time with her four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, fishing at the lake with her husband, crafts such as sewing and crocheting, and watching movies. She also served as a deacon at her church.

Margie’s words of wisdom: “Don’t think bad or talk bad about someone, because you don’t know what they are going through.”

Luchion Doshier, independent living Luchion has common sense advice for those who aspire to a long life: “Don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, be nice to other people, and have a good partner to spend your life with.”

However, he admits that longevity may simply be in his genes.

“I guess I inherited it, I don’t know,” he said. “My dad lived to be 101 years old.”

Luchion, who is originally from Yellville, Arkansas, worked at Beechcraft, served in the military, and worked at Thomas Hydraulics before founding his own aircraft machine shop in 1950.

He ran the business for 24 years.

The father of two has six grandchildren. He has greatgrandchildren, too, but jokes that he stopped counting when he got to the third generation.

Centenarians – continued on page 4 Wichita Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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Centenarians – continued from page 3 The 1940s and ’50s were Luchion’s favorite decades. He regards traveling to the moon, which the U.S. achieved in 1969, as the most important technological advance of his lifetime.

Throughout his life, Luchion enjoyed seeing the world.

“I traveled to Western and Eastern Canada, all over the United States and spent my time in the service in Japan and the Philippines,” he said.

Ruth Lichty, assisted living Thinking positive has been key to Ruth’s long life, she says, and she believes staying active is the best way to age well. For her part, the Beatrice, Nebraska native enjoyed bowling and playing golf.

Ruth had three children, six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | October 2022

She looks back fondly on the 1940s, the decade she graduated and got married.

“I am proud of the fact I was married almost 70 years,” Ruth said.

“We were two weeks shy.”

Ruth is amazed by the advances in technology she has seen throughout her life.

We’re sad to report that Ruth Lichty has passed away since our talk about her long life and the accomplishments that made her proud. We will miss her here at Wichita Presbyterian Manor and we send our thoughts and prayers to her family.

Marcia Opp, health care “I can’t believe I’ve lived this long,” Marcia Opp said.

She’s not sure she has advice about longevity, either.

“I don’t really think about it,” she said. “I just keep having birthdays.”

It helps that she hasn’t had many

big problems. When she does, Marcia has a convenient scapegoat in mind.

“I always blame the weather,” she said. “If my legs don’t work right, I blame it on the weather.”

Martha, who is originally from Michigan, also lived for some time in Tennessee, where they moved for her husband’s job. She enjoyed needlework throughout her life.

Though she went to work later, she was able to focus on raising her children when they were young.

“I stayed home to raise my two daughters, because I thought that was important,” she said. “I was fortunate that I could do that, as my husband had a good job.”

Marcia also notes that she doesn’t like to dwell in the past. Instead, she focuses on the future. u