Staying active with music groups

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By Adele Koehnen, Contributing Writer 4:35 PM Thursday, September 9, 2010

After her husband, Lt. Col. Alfred West, died in 1978, Margret West, 84, of Kettering became a couch potato.

Complaining of illnesses, her doctor advised her to get moving; walk, swim, join organizations and make friends.

She took his advice. Today, she does all those things and more.

“I moved to One Lincoln Park in 2003, after singing there as a member of a quartet from Sweet Adelines,” said West, who has two sons: David, of Beavercreek and Bill, of Monterey, Calif., a daughter, Kate Spencer, of Cincinnati, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She sings bass or low alto with the Sweet Adelines. “It’s a marvelous group with some 38 members in their 20s to 90s. Singing in our international award winning shows is a real satisfaction, but experiencing the camaraderie among the members is even greater,” said West.

Also, for the past four years, West has been part of the 45-men and women Kettering Senior Show Choir rehearsing every Friday at the Lathrem Center. The group performs regularly at nursing homes, senior centers and civic events.

“We try to emulate the high school show choirs and move around quite a bit, but not as fast as they do,” she laughed. “Our director, Ramonde Rougier, is great. A former Kettering school music teacher, she knows her music. We keep our outfits bright — usually red, white and blue,” said West.

The group appeared at the Fraze Pavilion on  Sept. 1 along with the Kettering Civic Band.

A recently organized group named the Dayton Tap Company, with ten senior women under the direction of dance teacher Brenda Boggs meets weekly at her dance studio in Bellbrook.

“We tap to recorded music and it’s a challenge but fun,” West said.

To keep fit to do all the physical things she enjoys, West works out two or three times a week with a personal trainer at Personal Refit on S. Dixie Drive. She also finds time to swim twice a week. For relaxtion, she likes to read and play piano. “Every day in every season, I enjoy the fantastic view from my sixth floor apartment,” said West.

Holly Campbell-Bradley, One Lincoln Park activities director, said that many of the residents are out and about people.

“But, Margret West is truly remarkable,” Campbell-Bradley said.

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

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