Step back in time features news items from The Daily Star 25 and 50 years ago.
25 years ago
July 17, 1986
WALTON _ Bea Elderkin of Walton has been chosen by the Delaware County Senior Council as "Senior Citizen of the Year."
Mrs. Elderkin has held many offices, including president of the Auxiliary to Frank Mead Eells Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Delaware-Otsego County Council. She is a perennial figure at the local observances in memory of veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. She also makes sure that the graves of former sisters of the Auxiliary are marked.
Mrs. Elderkin is retired from the Delaware Telephone Company, where she was employed 25 years. She was chief operator in charge of selecting and training the new operators to serve the Walton, Downsville and Roscoe exchanges.
She is a 60-year member of the First Congregational Church of Walton. She is secretary of the ladies' adult Sunday school class, and has been its president. She is a member of the West Brook Craft Club and the Walton Senior Citizens Club.
Every morning she spends about two hours on the telephone, checking with six persons to make sure they are all right. She transports carloads of elderly women to church meetings, shopping, medical appointments and for rides. For many years she made weekly visits to the Delaware County Infirmary. She also visits others in various nursing homes, and stays with elderly people whose spouses need constant care, so they can have a break.
She has also been active in the visits of the Red Cross bloodmobile and in the Walton Historical Society.
50 years ago
July 17, 1962
DELHI _ Loren M. Cornell, of South Kortright, appeared for induction into the Armed Services at 7:40 p.m. Monday, at the Delaware County Court House in Delhi.
Loren is the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde E. Cornell, of South Kortright, to have become a member of the Armed Services. His brother, Martin, is serving his tenth year in the Army and is a cook stationed in Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Howard served with the Army Engineers, and presently is living in Hancock.
LeRoy was stationed in Topeka, Kansas, and was a business administrator in the Air Force.
Melvin C. Carpenter, of South Kortright, a member of Local Board 42, complimented Mr. and Mrs. Cornell, who were at the Court House, and said, "Having furnished four sons to the Armed Forces, I think you have completely discharged your obligation to your country."
