United Presbyterian Home news

Dick Quayle enjoyed a window visit from his family who drove four hours to see him. Kit Quayle and his family traveled from Forest City, Iowa for a personal hello. Dick could feel the love.

UPH resident and former Washington High School girls track coach, Max Cousins was featured on the KCII Historical Sports segment last week in an interview with his friend and college, Steve Roth. Anyone who knows Max is not surprised by Coach Roth's words used to describe Max; full of enthusiasm, a good teacher, loves to talk, dedicated to his students and athletes and very ornery, always with a smile on his face. Those words still ring true. Max's dedication to his profession and students is the reason that the Max Cousins Invitational track meet shares his name.

Spiritual Director, Andrew Zuehlke provided a special Facebook Live Hymn Sing to commemorate Memorial Day with songs meant to pay tribute to the men and women who served our country in the past and present.

World War II historian Marion Turnipseed recounted his 33 months in the Air Force for a recorded Memorial Day presentation taped for viewers using YouTube and a local television channel. Marion gave detailed accounts of the air craft and machinery he used and the many missions he took part in before returning home. Marion presented his story with a model of the B-24 Liberator that his missions took him on. Having been to mechanics school and gunnery school. Marion became the flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 his crew called the Phantom Renegade. It was Marion's job to make mechanical repairs, transfer fuel from one tank to another as needed and control generators during flights in addition to manning his machine gun which he could take apart blindfolded and reassemble. To this day Marion remembers the specifics of the B-24 including how many were made, the manpower needed to make each one, how much each one weighed, the size of the engines, how many gallons of fuel they carried and the number of gallons used. Marion survived three long years and just as many near misses before completing his 35 missions which earned him a trip back to the states in 1945. One needs only to hear Marion's story of service, sacrifice and loss to appreciate our freedom and the comforts of home.

Harvey Holden celebrated his 103rd birthday Monday, May 25 with plenty of visitors at his window. Harvey's children, grandchildren and great-grandkids greeted him with waves and kisses while UPH residents stood back and waved from a distance. Family members took turns speaking to Harvey through internet communication and everyone joined in for a special rendition of Happy Birthday. At 103 years old, Harvey never expected to use a laptop computer to communicate with his family as they shared birthday messages and I Love You's on his special day.

Wednesday was a day of many surprises for Mary Sayre as she turned 80 years young. Her family found creative ways to wish her a happy birthday and express their love. They had cookies delivered to the doors of all her neighbors and friends in the Main Building. She received many phone calls and flowers wishing her a glorious day. While she was out for her late afternoon walk her family participated in a drive by birthday celebration proving that it is possible to enjoy a birthday while social distancing.

Congratulations to our high school graduating seniors that are an important part of our UPH Family: Addison Six, Katie Donnolly, Leah Marek, Kenia Melendez, Samantha Miller, Kaitlyn Mitchell and Dawsen Schluetter. We wish for each of them a future filled with much success and happiness.