WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO?

by Blair Eberhardt-Ladd

Volunteering has become a way of life for retired music professor, Wayne Mowrey. Recently Chambersburg Borough recognized his contributions when he was honored as Citizen of the Year.

“It truly was an honor to be chosen for such an award,” Wayne said. “I was chosen out of 14 candidates and it was only the fourth time the award has been given.”

Wayne worked at Shippensburg University from 1958-1980. During that time he created and directed the Cumberlaires and taught various music classes. Since leaving Shippensburg, Wayne has become involved in numerous activities. “Keeping busy keeps my wife, Jane, and I out of mischief,” Wayne confessed.

Currently Wayne and his wife have a cottage at Penn Hall Retirement Center. The two divide their time between various volunteer activities. They are very involved with Meals on Wheels and help out at least once a week. They also volunteer at the Coyle Free Library, where they do shelf reading and help organize the books. At the Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Arts, they help to collate newsletters and do secretarial work.

On Friday afternoons, Wayne is a messenger at the Chambersburg Hospital. He does errands for the nurses including taking patients to their rooms, taking blood samples to their required destinations and delivering messages around the hospital. He also escorts people to the hospital if someone in his retirement community needs to be taken there.

Although these volunteer activities make Wayne and his wife a very busy couple, they still find time for music. Wayne was the choir director and organist at First Lutheran Church in Chambersburg for 45 years. He is a substitute organist for seven churches in his area.

He and his wife are involved with Caring Friends, which is a volunteer organization that brings music to people in the Alzheimer’s section and the dining halls at the retirement community where they live. They perform piano duets.

When they aren’t busy volunteering, Wayne and Jane like to see their two sons as often as possible. “One son lives in Pittsburgh and the other lives in Ohio,” Wayne explained. “Both are doctors.”

When time permits, Wayne and his wife enjoy exercising. “We love to bike, swim and walk,” Wayne said. “We are in pretty good shape.” The two have not lost their youthful energy and do not plan to. They have truly put their free time to excellent use and Wayne is touched Chambersburg has noticed their good work.