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Celebrating those who give back to the community

By H. Hawke

GREENVILLE — Yesterday’s volunteers are today’s old-timers in this most poignant of celebrations, the annual Greenville Old-Timers Christmas Party. A proud town tradition now in its 58th year, it showcases the best of the holiday season: sharing, caring, community, joy, good food, good neighbors and gratitude.

While many holiday celebrations center on children, the Old-Timers Party is unique in recognizing and honoring those who have lived in Greenville most of their lives. Pillars of the community, the honorees are doctors, lawyers, school teachers, farmers, parents, grandparents and good citizens. They worked in and built the town and on the first Sunday of every December the givers become the receivers as Greenville recognizes their priceless service.

The tradition started in 1950 when former Greenville Supervisor Arnold Nicholson wanted to show his appreciation for the town’s support. Open to any resident 65 or older, the annual Old-Timers Party has continued through several generations of Greenvillians and shows no signs of ending.

At first it was held at the Legion Hall, but for the past several decades the Greenville School District has volunteered the use of its facilities and Greenville High School hosts both the show and the dinner.

Deb Tompkins, an accomplished equestrian and crafter, was this year’s chief cook and bottle washer. She inherited the position from her mother, Hilda, who supervised the entertainment portion of the event for 19 years.

Deb remembers a time when summer resorts would open their kitchens and cook turkeys for the party, while local women baked thousands of cookies and dozens of pies.

A whirlwind of activity, Deb coordinated volunteers, directed cafeteria decorations, organized the program, scheduled performers and arranged for a clean-up crew. She also made the 13 centerpieces on each table and those lucky enough to have a sticker on the bottom of their beverage cup got to take them home.

This year’s turnout included 72 diners. Volunteers from the Greenville Rotary Club provided transportation for residents who couldn’t drive themselves and hand-delivered meals to more than a dozen seniors.

The highlight of the event is honoring the oldest men and women in Greenville. This year’s “Golden Oldies” winners included 95-year-old Walt McClure, 91-year-old Dorothy Blenis, 90-year-old Ruth Wiltsie and two youngsters tying for 4th place, George Story and Fran Winnie, both 88.

Each received gift certificates from local restaurants, including Vince Anna’s, Mountain View Brasserie, Sophia’s and the Green Hill Caf/.

Before the Old-Timer awards, a show emceed by local musician Jayme Albin and featuring town residents was presented. Marta and Anna Kelly sang “Sisters.” John Meredith and members of the Greenville High School music program performed a variety of traditional Carols. Fran Bouillion sang “O Holy Night.” Greenville student Bethany Mitchell sang “The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow,” and Girl Scout Troop 208 performed “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

After the show, the seniors were escorted into the cafeteria for a traditional holiday dinner prepared by cafeteria worker Dorothy Bishop and her staff. The seniors were served a meal fit for an Old-Timer, including turkey and all the fixings. While they dined to the soothing sounds of local harpist Jim Davis, Boy Scout Troop 42, led by Dave Battini and Colin Tumey, freshened beverage cups, passed gravy boats and cleared away plates. Girl Scouts from Troop 208 and local residents helped with the serving. Cafeteria Supervisor Paul Ventura personally baked 16 pies.

Just a Buck provided many of the goodies filling individually wrapped gift bags in front of each setting. GNH Lumber, Bryant’s GU Market, Baumann’s Brookside, Greenville Central Schools and the town of Greenville provided everything else from materials to donations, volunteers to facilities.

Preparations for the 59th Annual Old-Timer’s Party will no doubt begin in January. That’s how long it takes to organize, plan, delegate, coordinate schedules and collect funds and materials. Those who so generously donated their time, their services and their money this year hope the 59th Annual Old-Timers Christmas Party will include even more Greenvillians joining in either as honorees or volunteers.

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