The weekly meeting of the Down East Seniors Club was held April 22 at the Blind Center of North Carolina. President Stewart Rumley presided, with Jim Hackney providing the music for singing God Bless America. After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, Rumley gave the invocation. Jokemeister Dick Paul and Treasurer Mark Eakes provided humor. 

An interesting member profile was presented by Charlie Mike Smith, who claimed birthrights as a native Washingtonian. He pointed out his father owned the Washington Packing Company, maker of the hot dogs Bill’s sells as well as Old Tarheel Sausage. He played basketball and tennis at WHS, graduating in 1958, sang a lot, then attended Duke University with the intention of becoming a lawyer, but left after seven years after which he served as a minister in Aberdeen, Scotland, for a year with the Presbyterians, then was appointed to United Methodist Churches and Districts across eastern North Carolina for 42 years. His wife Barbara, also a Washington native, was a strong helper throughout those years, teaching in the public schools and playing an active role in their churches. Two duties added special joy to their life: his being one of the 25 people who put together The United Methodist Hymnal 1989 which is used around the world and has sold over 6 million copies, and becoming a Duke University Trustee for 12 years in 1998. Following his retirement from the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church in 2008, they moved to their river cottage near Washington and he continued for four years teaching part-time and assisting the Dean of Duke Divinity School. He and Barbara are pleased to prove Thomas Wolfe wrong: you can go home again, and love it.

Debbie Ryals, wife of Program Director Phil Ryals, gave an interesting talk on Ruth’s House, of which she is the president of the Board. Introduced by President Rumley. Ryals was the director of Social Services in Greene County for several years and a professor of social work at ECU for ten years. After retiring, she was the chair of Social Services in Beaufort County. She was one of the founders of Ruth’s House, when a group decided such a facility was needed in Washington. The house serves as a shelter for abused women. The house opened in February of 2013 and serves up to 10 clients at any given time. The location of the house is not publicized, but necessary authorities know where it is. She pointed out that 95 percent of domestic violence is committed by men, and that abused men looking for shelter are referred to another facility.

Women who are being abused and seek help or advice often take up to nine or so times before deciding to come into the shelter. Financial help for the house comes from community gifts, grants, some state funding and the Ruth’s House store, run by Dot Moate and located on Main Street in downtown Washington. Volunteers for help in and around the House are always needed and much welcome.