ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602070016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: For Seniors
SOURCE: TRACY GALLIMORE
This senior doesn't have his photo in the high school yearbook. He isn't sending off college applications (not yet, anyway). He figures that he can even forego the cap and gown. He's happy just getting his diploma.
Frank Calfee, 66, earned his GED in November after being out of school for nearly 50 years.
Calfee left Christiansburg Industrial Institute 49 years ago. At seventeen, he had fallen in love and he wanted to get married. Although he was happy with his decision, his teachers and his parents expressed disappointment when he told them he was leaving school.
"My teachers even visited our house when they found out. They sat down with my parents, who were very concerned, and tried to convince me to finish school. I had made up my mind, though. I was getting married, and that meant working a full-time job to support my family.
"Looking back, I have to say it wasn't too big of a mistake." Calfee smiles fondly, "We were married 43 1/2 years." His first wife passed away six years ago.
Calfee married his second wife, Hattie, last year. Her encouragement and the support of his GED adviser, Wanda Hypes, helped him earn his diploma.
Calfee remembers Christiansburg Industrial Institute as an excellent school.
"They tried to prepare us to earn a living," Calfee said.
Calfee retired from Radford Community Hospital in 1990.
In 1992, Calfee started working for the town of Blacksburg as a crossing guard, and now works at Blacksburg's Harding Elementary School.
"I really enjoy working with the children," Calfee said. "And I can't stress enough how important it is for them to stay in school and complete their education."
"You give up so much earning power when you drop out or when you don't go on to college. These days there are a lot of ways to earn a college degree."
Calfee advises students to "stick it out. Find out what you want to do, know what you are excited about, and go for it."
What career would Calfee choose if he could go back and do it all again?
"I always had in the back of my mind that I would have liked to have gone into law."
If education is important to Calfee, then family is sacred.
Calfee said that for a young couple just starting out "one of the best words I know is 'persevere.' That's what you do. And you keep your faith in God. That's what gets you through the hard times. I say, spend time with each other as a family. Do as much as you can together and make each other a priority. That's the formula, in my mind," Calfee said.
"I remember the time when church was the life center of the community. It was your place of worship, your place of learning, and where you went for fellowship. Church was the focal point of the community, the backbone. Now there's so much out there to distract a family from each other. We always sat down to every meal together. It made a difference."
Calfee also travels and plays golf.
"I refuse to go home and be an old guy sittin' in a rocker. I plan to go with my boots on," Calfee said, laughing.
WARM HEARTH VILLAGE, Blacksburg, Warm Hearth Village Activity Center, Line Dance Made Easy, Thursdays, 2:15 p.m., beginners, 2:30 p.m., all levels, 552-1498.
CHRISTIANSBURG SENIOR CENTER, 655 Montgomery St. Sherry Kostric, 382-8173:
Ongoing activities are exercise groups, aerobics, cards, hobbies, billiards and Bible study.
Today, 10-11 a.m., blood pressure screening.
Thursday, 1-3 p.m., free tax assistance by appointment; 6:30-8:30 a.m., How To Enjoy Your Photos, $10 town residents, $15 non-residents.
Friday, 9:30 a.m., Senior Athletes of Montgomery County will available to fill out NRV local Olympic applications.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m., van departs from National Guard Armory for Salem Gun Show, Salem Civic Center. Transportation fee is $3, seniors; $6, ages 21-54. Admission is $4.
Feb. 13, "Hair Fair," 9:30-10:45 a.m.; 10:15 a.m., mystery movie; 10:45 a.m.-noon, blood sugar screening.
Feb. 14, 1 p.m., Valentine's Day party, $1.
Feb. 15, 1-3 p.m., free tax assistance by appointment.
Feb. 16, 4:45 p.m., van leaves National Guard Armory for Homeplace Restaurant. $3, seniors; $6, ages 21-54. $12 for family style buffet.
Feb. 19, 1 p.m., Senior Center Book Club meeting.
Feb. 20, 10:45 a.m., presentation by Mark Cruise of the Free Clinic of the NRV.
RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, 1 Franklin St., Courthouse Annex, Christiansburg. Victoria Scott, 382-5775:
Today, 9 a.m., Christiansburg morning group will assemble mailing, Montgomery County Courthouse; 2 p.m., Christiansburg afternoon group will work on mailing.
Thursday, 10 a.m., Blacksburg group will work on mailing, Montgomery County Courthouse.
Friday, 10 a.m., Blacksburg group will work on mailing.
Feb. 12, 10 a.m., Shawsville group will work on mailing.
Feb. 13, 10 a.m., Warm Hearth and McCoy groups will work on mailings.
Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m., van departs for Valentine's Breakfast.
Feb. 15, 10 a.m., Blacksburg group will work on mailing.
Feb. 19, 10 a.m., Shawsville group will work on SHARE.
Feb. 20, 10 a.m. Warm Hearth and McCoy groups will work on SHARE.
RADFORD SENIOR CENTER, 27 First St. Mary Jane Harmon, 731-3634:
Ongoing activities are walking, cards, ceramics, quilting, exercise and creative writing.
Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon, free blood pressure clinic.
Friday, 10 a.m., van departs for Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke.
Feb. 21, 5 p.m., American Association for Retired Persons potluck dinner.
GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER: 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg. Betty Letsinger, 921-3924:
Ongoing activities are walking, line dancing, cards, ceramics and singing. The swim therapy program at the Blacksburg Aquatic Center meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, weather permitting. Transportation leaves at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, 1-2 p.m., "Dancing Grannies" exercise class.
Friday, 1:30 p.m., Sharing Grief group meets.
Feb. 15, 1-2 p.m. "Dancing Grannies" exercise class.
Feb. 16, AARP No. 502 meeting. Trooper Hall presents program on drugs.
Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., Daughters of the American Revolution meeting.
PULASKI SENIOR CENTER, 106 N. Washington Ave. Tina Faiszt, 980-1000:
Ongoing activities are ceramics and cards.
Today, 10 a.m.-noon, income tax assistance.
Thursday, 9:30 a.m., coffee hour.
Feb. 13, 10 a.m., RSVP Advisory Council meeting.
Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-noon, income tax assistance.
Feb. 15, 10 a.m., van departs for Mercer Mall trip; 2 p.m., HARP meeting.
BLACKSBURG SENIOR PROGRAMS, Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive. Joy Herbert, 961-1134:
Ongoing activities are canasta and bridge. Classes available in computers, ceramics, art, calligraphy and bridge. Exercise programs include: Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m., indoor tennis; Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-10 a.m., walking group; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8:45-9:45 a.m., Seniors Aerobics.
Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Conversation and Coffee; 10-11 a.m., program: "Perceptions Aren't Everything with Foreigners." Presenter is Darlene Greta, Cranwell International Center. Next week: "Entitlements."
Monday, 10 a.m.-noon, Coffee Brunch Get Together.
Feb. 14, 11:30 a.m., van departs Community Center for Radford's Alleghany Cafe. Transportation is free.
Senior Shorts
Free Tax Assistance: Beginning Thursday, the Christiansburg Senior Center and The American Association for Retired Persons will offer free tax assistance to senior citizens at the Christiansburg Senior Center, 655 Montgomery St. Make appointments now by calling 382-8173.
Senior Employment Program: Job placement assistance and skills training for job seekers 55 years or older. New River Valley Agency on Aging, 980-7720 or 639-9677.
LENGTH: Long : 188 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Calfeeby CNB