Singers entertain seniors

Students, teachers prepping for OGT
3:57 p.m.
Apartment ad campaign under fire for discrimination
3:43 p.m.
Victim identified in fatal crash on Wilmington-Dayton Road
3:02 p.m.
Skydiver still in serious condition following Saturday crash
2:51 p.m.
Animal shelters eliminate barriers on adoption
2:14 p.m.
> More headlines

By Adele Koehnen, Contributing Writer 5:27 PM Thursday, February 4, 2010

Started in l951 as part of the Kettering Council of PTAs, the group of about 30 mothers of elementary students met at the former Pasadena School on North Marshall Road to sing.

The singing hasn’t stopped. Today, a group of 14 members meets at noon every Tuesday at the Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church on Bigger Road to rehearse material to perform at senior centers and nursing homes.

“We get right down to work as soon as we all gather,” said Marguerite Bowden, its pianist and director since 1953.

“A long time ago, we decided to eliminate the coffee and doughnut routine. Improving our singing is more important.”

With the energy and enthusiasm of a person half her age, Bowden, 91, leads the group of altos and first and second sopranos in a variety of songs she has selected.

“I like to mix it up with popular favorites, patriotic numbers and a surprise here and there, like ‘Grandma’s Feather Bed,’ ” she said.

With a music education degree from Wooster University, Bowden taught K-12 in Canfield, Ohio, before moving to the Dayton area after marrying her husband, John. Although they had six children, she managed to substitute teach music during their growing up years.

Today, Bowden also is principal percussionist in the Kettering Civic Band.

“The average age of our members is 68,” she said. “Friendship and camaraderie are part of us, but we are always open to welcome new members. No audition. No fee. Just have the joy of singing,” said president Linda George, of Centerville. “Members come from all over the Miami Valley including Middletown, Miamisburg and West Carrollton. Jean Boen of Kettering has been a member as long as Marguerite.”

Sylvia Wince, of Washington Twp., historian, keeps an accurate account of all the performances and special parties in albums full of photographs.

The group performs wearing long black skirts with royal colored tops under long sleeved black lace. Their future engagements include appearances at Walnut Creek Nursing Center on Feb. 9 and Sunrise Senior Living in Oakwood on March 9.

For more information about membership or to schedule a performance, call Linda George at (937) 434-6943.

Contact this columnist at (937)  433-1552 or adeleauk4737@ sbcglobal.net.

Share this article