ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070024
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
MEMO: NOTE: Also ran in December 10, 1995 Current.
When Billie Glass went to live at the United Methodist Home, she had no idea that within two years she would become a bride, a mother and grandmother all at once.
At 3 p.m. Nov. 25, surrounded by more than 200 friends, the woman who had been a widow for 20 years walked down the aisle and became the wife of Ben Schowe, another resident of the home.
Her new grandchildren, Maryia and Sonya Narodny, along with her niece and nephew, Kirsten and Adam Johnson, ushered friends and residents of the retirement community and presided over the guest book before the vows were said.
Dorothy Turner, Billie Glass's friend since age 6, was her matron of honor, and the groom had two best men - his son, Ben, and friend James Sheperd.
But the wedding, conducted by the administrator, Dr. Thomas Au, in the Methodist home's dining room, had another member of the bridal party. Ellen Austin, a Roanoke teacher of the deaf, was on hand to interpret for the groom as the vows were said.
Billie Glass and Ben Schowe met in a signing class he taught at the Methodist home.
Schowe, recognized throughout the Roanoke Valley for his work with the deaf, began losing his hearing at age 7; by the time he was 50, he was totally deaf.
His first wife - of 52 years - also was deaf, but her hearing was partially restored by surgery soon after they were married. They had a son and daughter, and he gives her credit for his speaking ability: She insisted that he speak and not rely solely on signing.
Schowe, whose parents were deaf, started teaching signing because he was concerned about residents who were becoming isolated because of hearing loss.
Glass joined the class because ``I thought it would be a challenge.''
``When Ben learned I had visual problems that glasses won't help, he made me a special large book. I think I fell in love before he did!''
Schowe, an alumni of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a school for the deaf, had noticed his slender, attractive student, who had moved to the United Methodist Home after getting a pacemaker.
He recalled that one of their first conversations was about cruises. ``I told her I had never been on a cruise and hoped someday to go on one in Hawaii.''
Before long he was asking her to accompany him to events at Center in the Square and on trips to Richmond.
``I had friends in Richmond,'' Glass said. ``I would stay with them while he was in meetings. And one night here, when there was a full moon, we took two chairs outside and sat and held hands.''
Glass, originally from the Roanoke Valley, had lived in Atlanta with her first husband. Five years after his death, she returned home.
She grew up in a family involved with politics. Her father, Sterling Winn, was vice mayor of Roanoke during the '30s, and her sister, May Johnson, was on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. Her first husband, Corbin Glass Jr., was a cousin of former state Senator Carter Glass, but he and Billie steered clear of the political scene, she said.
As a resident of the retirement community, Glass has taken part in many activities. "I'm never in my apartment."
In addition to playing grandmother, she plans to stay busy.
She'll help at the resource center Schowe operates out of his home on the United Methodist Home campus. He used his salary from teaching American Sign Language classes at Virginia Western Community College to develop the resource center for those who work with the deaf. The classes also are held at his home.
``I hope that Billie will be able to serve as a hostess,'' he said, ``and welcome them as they come and go.''
Glass smiled and squeezed his hand, replying, ``You know I will. I'll do anything I can to help with your work. I knew what to expect when I accepted your proposal.''
Elaine Lavinder, a social worker, said Schowe has given much to the home during his five-year stay. His concern for residents who are losing their hearing prompted him to not only teach them signing, but also to arrange for researchers from Radford University to conduct a study at the home to determine what changes can be made to improve the lot of deaf residents.
When Schowe moved to the home, Lavinder was touched by his tenderness toward his wife.
``He was so loving and giving,'' she said, ``but unable to communicate with anyone. I was determined to learn to communicate with him. He is a brilliant man and well-educated - he has a Ph.D. in communication from Ohio State University. He taught me to sign."
Lavinder stayed by Schowe's side during the reception, interpreting for him. He declined her offer, however, to accompany him and his new bride on their honeymoon to Hawaii.
``We are going to the beach for a short stay, but our real honeymoon will be after Christmas,'' Glass said. ``We're going on that cruise in Hawaii.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: MIKE HEFFNER/Staff. Ellen Austin, a Roanoke teacher ofby CNBthe deaf, signs the
wedding ceremony of Billie Glass and Ben Schowe at the United
Methodist Home. 2. Ben Schowe and Billie Glass just before they
became Mr. and Mrs. Schowe (ran on E-1)./