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<b>Williams Volunteer Women disband</b>

Williams Volunteer Women members (from left) Bonna Nelson, Betty Christman, Dorothy Schulte, Alice Mercer and Myra Belgard stand in front of the “Memoriam” at the Williams Health Care Center. Christman holds a plaque that will be placed next to the “Memoriam.”

Through the years, members of the WHA were called upon to assist the hospital in many ways. The group raised funds to purchase hospital equipment such as gurneys. They mended hospital linens including sheets and gowns.

Members were called in for special duties during emergencies. Once there was a large traffic accident. WHA members came to the hospital and assisted the staff with taking blood pressures and comforting victims from the accident, said longtime member Dorothy Schulte.

While volunteering their time at the hospital, members wore pinstriped uniforms, said Betty Christman.

The WHA created and maintained names on an “In Memoriam” board placed prominently at the WHCC. Following their deaths, WHCC employee Alex Sandoval placed names of those who had served the community and hospital on the board. At one time, the WVW requested a small donation for the names, but ceased doing so since it was sometimes difficult to collect a donation, said Christman.

WVW members have included Barbara Adams, Montyne Benham, Geraldine Calley, Muriel Murdock, Helen Pearson, Marian Schmeginske, Doris Schultz, Ruby Thompson and Cecil Wells — to name a few.

After the Williams Hospital became an emergency center, WHA members discovered they could no longer call themselves a “hospital auxiliary.” In September of 1981, club members voted to change the name of their group to the Williams Volunteer Women.

The WVW have assisted many community groups financially. They have provided funds to the school nurse, Williams Volunteer Fire Department, WHCC, Williams High School National Honor Society, school band trips, Girl Scout camps in addition to providing an annual gift to beautify the WHCC’s patio. Each year, the WVW provided one college scholarship to a Williams High School graduate.

The WVW’s sole fund-raiser — the annual Christmas Bazaar and cedar chest raffle in December — will no longer be a Williams tradition since the group has disbanded.

“There aren’t any of us left who are physically able to raise money to support the group,” said Schulte. “We still plan to volunteer at the health care center when we can.”


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