Mary Lucretia (Miller) Phelps — believed to be one of America’s oldest living citizens — is remarkably independent.Mrs. Phelps, who makes her home in New Franklin with her daughter and son-in-law, Cleta and Chuck Boyce, will celebrate her 111th birthday Aug. 5 at a dinner party with 50 of her closest friends and family members.“She puts the rest of us to shame,” said longtime friend Penny French.Her hearing and eyesight are a bit taxed, as you might expect of someone that age, but her mind is alert, with no hint of dementia. Mrs. Phelps was born Aug. 5, 1900, in Johnstown, Pa., one of six children. When she was 17, she came to Akron to work at
Goodrich, building dirigibles.She had been married to her husband for 53 years when he died in 1980, the same year she went to live with her daughter.Granddaughter Renee Winkelblech, who lives next door, is always called upon to make her white coconut cake and noodle soup, staples in the family for generations, recipes Mrs. Phelps passed to her only granddaughter.Vietnam Wall comingLaura Dunlop,­ an Army veteran of the Korean War and an organizer of the annual Stand Down project that benefits homeless veterans, is anxiously looking for an assist for another important project, from veterans and civilians alike.The traveling Vietnam Wall is being brought to Akron Aug. 19-21 by Dignity Memorial’s Catavolos Funeral Home and Rose Hill Burial Park.“The wall will be coming in Aug. 16 by police- and motorcycle-escorted caravan, and disassembled and leaving Aug. 22,” Dunlop said. “While it’s here, we need volunteers to staff the wall round the clock and parking lot attendants. A team of two volunteers will be needed to work four-hour shifts.”Lots of events are being planned around the wall: bike run, music, raffle and fireworks. Interested in helping? Please contact Dunlop at
williams.ld@hotmail.com as soon as possible.Volunteer salutedEileen Wahl of Fairlawn Lutheran Church was busy this week singing the praises of fellow member Catherine Pinter for her good works.Mrs. Pinter, who celebrated her 90th birthday July 13, is still as active as ever with the church’s 100 Brown Bags ministry, which she and two other women started in 1999.Ann Congeni, who describes herself as being on the original crew, vouched for Mrs. Pinter’s many years of selfless dedication. They are among 10 or 11 women who gather once a month to make sandwiches, which they place in the bags along with fruit, a cookie and a napkin, and deliver to St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish’s Hunger Center for distribution to the homeless.According to Congeni, Mrs. Pinter is quite the stickler when it comes to chasing sales for meat and other food to fill the bags.Mrs. Pinter is active in the church’s Parish Arts Ministry that brings in artists. Her son Gary is the church’s organizer. She was formerly active with the Fairlawn Lutheran’s Braille ministry.Fundraiser for PeytonAkron’s Sherri Parsons is doing her very best to stay strong for her 14-month-old granddaughter, Peyton Parsons. But it’s more painful than words could ever say.Peyton, who was born with spina bifida, has since been diagnosed with a rare brain deformity known as schizencephaly. “She suffered a major seizure earlier this month. She’s terminal and home now on a ventilator,” Parsons said, her words trailing off.To help deal with the final expenses — little Peyton’s funeral — friends and extended family are bunching together to help. A good friend of Grandma’s, Mary Harrison, is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and silent auction from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Village of St. Edward Nursing Care, 3131 Smith Road, Fairlawn. Cost is $8, adults; $3, children 12 and under.Donations still needed: spaghetti, sauce, bread, salad and paper products. Please email prayersforpeyton@gmail.com.Benefit for John ConleyFriends of John Conley are hosting a benefit spaghetti dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Hibernians Hall, 2000 Brown St., Akron, to help defray the costs of his care.Here’s a bit of his story as shared by the family:“On Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, John Conley’s life changed forever. He suffered a spinal injury and is now a quadriplegic and will remain on a ventilator for the remainder of his life. John is currently in rehab at a VA facility, and is planning to move home soon to be with his wife (the former Pam Corall) and daughter Abby.”John, 68, who is a Garfield High School graduate (Class of ’61), followed his Firestone job to Tennessee. But his heart has always been in Akron. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward the purchase of a handicapped-accessible van, assisting him with getting to doctor’s appointments and leading a more meaningful life. Family members are working hard to modify their home to accommodate the new John.A silent auction and 50/50 raffle also are planned. Winners need not be present. All donations are tax deductible.Tickets are $10, adults; $5, children 10 and under, available by calling 330-329-8475 or 330-877-6501. A John Conley Benevolent Fund also has been established at PNC Bank, 871 W. Maple St., Hartville, OH 44632.Kudos to Bonyo BonyoKudos to Akron family practice Dr. Benson Bonyo Bonyo, who is rewarding children (ages 5-11) who attend East Akron Community House’s (EACH) Homer L. Pettengill Summer Camp with the gift of books this week. Camp coordinator Margaret Knox said in addition to 10 field trips, the emphasis of the 38 campers is on leadership building, math, English, reading and art.They will get the special treat of meeting an author, Akron’s own Vanita Oeslschlager, who has written a number of children’s books, including Bonyo Bonyo, about the doctor and his village in Kenya, where he has built a hospital.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.