Newsletter | Golden Buckeye Fellowship

Connecting seniors in the greater dayton area through food, fun, and friendship.

Golden Buckeye Newsletter

Message from the President

Greetings GBF members,

Wow, what a great year for Golden Buckeye Fellowship.

The Fall Soup-In and the ever popular Christmas Banquet were wonderful events and well attended. GBF provided nine events this year and thanks to those of you who made it to many of them.

We hope you enjoyed the “Food, Fellowship, and Fun” we had this year.

Twenty-one more people joined our group in 2025. Tell your friends about our wonderful organization and invite them to join us next year!

Two new events were added to our website for 2026 so be sure to check them out!

Go to www.GoldenBuckeyeFellowship.com/events to see them.

Photos have been added for our Christmas Banquet and I hope you are able to check them out! Go to www.GoldenBuckeyeFellowship.com/event-photos to see them.

Wishing each of you a blessed Holiday Season.

Stay warm!

David Starkey

December 2025

2025 Christmas Banquet

By Linda Farley-Meyer

Last week, a senior looking to relocate near family, with a choice of two locations separated by a few states, spoke with me about her difficult decision ahead. I, of course, offered pros cons of moving to our Dayton community. I mentioned the Golden Buckeye Fellowship events that offer opportunities to encourage friendship, fellowship, and our walk with God. I wished her short visit was long enough to include the Christmas banquet ahead. If you too, like her, had to miss this event, I hope the memories below will help you plan to attend other Golden Buckeye events in this coming year. And by the way, that senior, mentioned above, has made a decision to move to our community and be one of us!!!

For starters--Winter’s early cold blast, rushed us into the foyer of the Kettering Church, for the anticipated golden last crown of our Golden Buckeye Fellowship 2025 annual events, the Christmas banquet But, once in, the foyer allowed us to relax, linger, warm, and listen to the beauty of the live recorder music softly brushing through our ears, and warming our hearts.

The welcome announcement, “Come to the banquet”, with the aroma of dinner already tantalizing our senses, drew us into the fellowship hall, now a beautiful banquet room, winter woodland beauty. The table décor, a woodland scene, complete with tiny animals, made us feel like we were cocooned in a Currier and Ives snow globe with them. The homemade decorated cookies at each place setting added a special extra touch.

Ah yes, the meal. This was no mere cafeteria style meal—Again, Marilyn Jackson outdid herself for this event. Imagine cooking for over a hundred people and thinking what might tempt the palate for the group. This year’s menu, salad, baked potato; corn, rolls, meat balls in barbecue style sauce, a cranberry fluff, and cherry cheese/cherry crisp were relished, while any extra was sent home with those who asked. Our Beavercreek Pathfinder club young members served us with such sweet respect and concern, that they “do it right.” They brought joy to our hearts.

The winter woodland theme carried into the program, with Tim Corbin’s (Eagle Wolf) Native American flute performance. Performance, a word of our culture for a public on stage presentation, cannot really describe Native American flute music. Tim prays his music, yes that word is purposefully written, for the Native American flute notes are deep heart songs, drawn from and speaking to the soul. We listened, enchanted by its call to our hearts, imagining times long ago, when Native Americans and buffalo roamed freely across our continent. The rhythmic drum beat behind the flute was hauntingly stirring. It was the perfect music for calming the chaos of Christmas, experienced in the crowded stores and enacted frantic frazzled shoppers. We heard and felt that calming it offered in the tones of the various flutes of Tim’s collected flutes, and by and from the drum beat. There is natural medicine in the Native American flute music. It calms and relaxes the body. With it we begin to breath correctly, develop a slower heartbeat, as the music becomes part of our body rhythm.

Enjoy the following quotes from attendees and involved presenters of the various pieces of this special Christmas event. Many of you would add your own quotes to these.

Attendees: “I enjoyed the food, fellowship, the music, and the décor.” “The music was wonderful and touched my heart.” “Now it feels like Christmas.” “I’m so glad I could come, I almost cancelled.” “I loved being with friends again.”

Presenters: Tim Corbin, Native American instrument player: “ I began learning to play the Native flutes and drum out of interest and needed to add a change of pace in the business of my life. Then I discovered, it drew me to my unknown genetic roots. It brings me joy and pride, and helps me hear God’s voice. One day, years ago, when I visited my mother, she asked me to play at her church. It’s difficult to play a hymn, because most Native American flutes are in the pentatonic scale (only the black keys). I planned a visit to my mother. I was pretty certain she would ask me to play for her church, so I was already practicing a hymn, in preparation for my visit. She was surprised when I told her I already had one ready, and yes, I would be playing. I believe that a hymn is more effective if there is singing of the words as well. When I told the music director what I was playing, he said ’that was the hymn the congregation and choir was singing.‘ Then he added, I’ll quick’ change it.’ I spoke up quickly and said no, please don’t change it. I think the congregation needs to sing the words. I know God picked the hymn I was to play. The hymn God prepped me to play was Power in the Blood.” Christmas carols, like hymns, aren’t easy to play on these Native American flutes, and I know that Someone outside of me guides which to play. I enjoy playing at different events and am honored to play for the Golden Buckeyes tonight.”

Sharon Frey, who assisted with the decorations and homemade frosted cookies: “A beautiful environment warms the atmosphere. There is a lot of give and take in planning the décor. This year’s theme idea came more than a year ago. It’s more fun to work on the decorations together as a group, than alone. And it’s a joy to watch the attendees’ eyes as they come into the room. I like to decorate and see different ideas for tables. “

Marilyn Jackson, our caterer: “Catering the Golden Buckeye meal has increased my friendship circle. I was quite new to this community and had only a few people on my friend list. I had just moved here from Campion Academy in Colorado, where I had lived many years and had a reputation for catering and planning events. The Golden Buckeye Christmas banquet I catered that first year opened the way for me to develop many new friends and acquaintances. Catering is my way of sharing God’s love. I like to see the leftovers go home with people. If I know what people like, I can adjust the next menu. I pray that Jesus lives in my words, thoughts, and actions."

The 2025 Golden Buckeye Fellowship Christmas banquet, now behind us, leaves us with the nostalgia of beauty, the taste of a meal, the caring greetings of old friends, the meeting of new friends and beginning friendships, the wafting music of recorders and Native American instruments song in our hearts, and gratitude to all the many people who made this event so special.

Merry Christmas to all!

Welcome to Joe and Malou Gilford

By Malou Gilford

Our journey to joining the Golden Buckeye Fellowship began through our church and a dear friend, Sue Parks-Shoemaker. We had heard wonderful things about the group, and with both of us retired, Joseph and I, Maria Luisa—known affectionately as Malou—felt it was the perfect time to join. We are excited about participating in their travels and activities, which promise to be enriching experiences during this new chapter of our lives.

I moved to Dayton in 1992 with my ex-husband and our four boys. We came from Los Angeles Air Force Station in California, as he had an assignment to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Base. This move marked a significant transition for our family, immersing us in the vibrant community of Dayton.

Joseph, my husband, is originally from Ohio. He served ten years in the Air Force followed by over sixteen years in civil service. After meeting Joseph, he invited me to attend the Seventh-Day Adventist church, which was a pivotal moment in our lives. We were both baptized together—Joseph rededicating his life to Jesus—over ten years ago. Today, I have the privilege of serving as the treasurer of the Beavercreek SDA Church, while Joseph is one of the church elders. We are truly blessed to have the support of a compassionate pastor and a community of God-honoring members.

In retirement, our days have been joyously filled with watching over our granddaughter, Eliza, who is not yet in school. We relish traveling across the country to visit our grandchildren, which has become a favorite pastime. Just last September, we enjoyed a weeklong vacation in Hawaii, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Both Joseph and I delight in cooking and exploring new restaurants in the area. Joseph has a knack for fixing cars, a skill he honed growing up, and I feel fortunate to have a mechanic at home. Our blended family consists of five boys and eleven grandchildren—three girls and eight boys—who keep our lives bustling with energy and joy. Our dog, Bella, adds to our family dynamic, offering us unconditional love and companionship.

God has been wonderfully good to us, and we are grateful every day for the blessings we receive. We look forward to the adventures and fellowship that await us with the Golden Buckeye Fellowship.

Print Version

Fall Soup-In

By Catherine Bath

Centerville church on October 24th was the setting for the annual Golden Buckeye Fellowship Soup-In, and it didn’t disappoint.

The tablescapes were beautifully decorated by Nannette Wright and included much of the collection of Roger Wright’s handmade (mostly wooden) antique cars and trucks. Intricate and Artistic!

This Fall Friday night soup tradition was begun by Edith and Stan Applegate who used to hold soup-ins at their home on Fridays when they were both teaching at Kettering College, and it seemed a natural tradition to continue once they became GBF members.

The evening’s offerings were Cheesy Potato Corn (a long-time favourite, and frequent soup); Autumn Squash, Red Lentil, Vegetable, “Chicken” Noodle, Mexican Tortilla and Creamy Tomato.

Our soup chefs were Kay Starkey, Sharon Fisher, Marilyn Jackson, and Paulette Bair. There was yummy homemade cornbread as well.

The feature presentation was “Christ in Nature” by Ken Lebo, a nature photographer who has a magnificent slide show. Ken has been active in Natural History Clubs giving programs, leading field trips, and teaching bird identification by sight and sound - his first love.

His interests have expanded to all of God’s nature including butterflies, moths, dragonflies, damselflies, beetles, spiders and other insects and flowers. He is constantly adding new images to his webpage.

Ken also gave us some factual knowledge about each creature in his photos. It was a special treat to worship God by viewing many of His smallest creatures.

Mission Trip to Kenya

By Bev Cobb

On November 20, 2025 a group of 41 people left the USA for Kenya, Africa. What began as a mission trip of young adults from Kettering SDA Church morphed in a multi-generational group—16 young adults, 4 school-aged children, 7 middle-age adults, 12 older adults—lead by pastoral couple Jonathon and Kate Cobb. The trip required four total days of travel and four volunteer workdays, bookended with two safari days at Maasai Mara Game Reserve, just adjacent to the Mara West Camp where we stayed.

At the first official gathering, when Pastor Jon asked why we chose to spend time and money for this trip, the responses of all ages of our group were similar: We desired to be of service to others, while experiencing an interesting cultural environment abroad, something different from our everyday lives. Admittedly, the opportunity for an African safari helped to seal the deal! Members of the group volunteered in various health roles in the women’s health clinic, the dental clinic, mobile clinics to the Maasai people in outlying villages. Two mid-wives from Kettering Health, Dr. Karl Kellawan (dermatologist), Dr. Dan Cobb (dentist), nurses, allied health professionals, and students comprised the health care team who joined the local Maasai health team. Another group of our volunteers, including the children, participated in the construction project. For this specific week, they needed assistance painting, cleaning, and desk-building to prepare several classrooms in the girl’s school that is adjacent to the medical/dental clinic facilities.

Five of our group had actually returned to Mara West Camp for another mission experience. In fact, for Richard Haas, it was his 8th trip to this mission! What brought these people back again was the ability to see specific and tangible progress, for example, new and improved health services to the people, new buildings, and real-life success stories of local Maasai who improved their own lives and the lives of their families through education and jobs made available because of the mission.

Mara West Camp provided comfortable, luxury lodge accommodations. The camp is perched on an escarpment, with stunning views of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve below. Their entire hospitality crew went over and above to provide everyday assistance, information about the local environs and culture, and delicious meals three times daily. Remembrances of this amazing experience:

Vast skies of stunning orange, yellow, and gold early morning sunrise colors.

Morning choruses of the robin-chat songbird.

Groups of impala, giraffe, and zebras daily arriving at the camp.

Beautiful smiles, warmth, hugs, intricate beaded jewelry, and colorful attire of the Maasai people.

Dusty, very bumpy roads.

Incredible expanses of savannahs, dotted with acacia trees and herds of elephants, cape buffalo, and antelope.

Diverse array of species observed on safari, including the “Ugly Five” – wildebeest, warthog, hyena, vulture, marabou stork – and the “Big Nine” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, giraffe, cheetah, zebra. Plus -- gazelle, eland, topi, waterbuck, impala, mongooses, baboons, and incredible variety of birds.