What’s New at RiverWoods

RiverWoods Resident Lifts Spirit of Others

April 9 , 2007

Will Ballew, a RiverWoods Senior Living Community Garden Cottage resident, has become a very special individual to many of the residents on campus since his arrival in 1999.  Over the past eight years, Will has learned most, if not all, of the assisted living and nursing care residents’ names by visiting them on a regular basis to brighten their day.  This is so important to him and to those he visits as some of the residents do not have family or friends nearby or just don’t get out of their rooms to partake in many activities.  His visits show the residents that there are things on campus they can enjoy.  Many of the independent living residents and staff have come to know him as well and look forward to seeing him everyday.

Before moving to Pennsylvania, Will worked as a mechanical engineer for Bailey Controls Company in Ohio.  In 1974, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma cancer and was later transferred to Williamsport, PA and became the Personnel and Labor Relations Manager for Bailey, a job that Will enjoyed much more than engineering.  In his new job, he was able to meet all of the people he worked with and quickly were able to call all of them by name. 

In 1981, his wife, Jane, became disabled and could no longer keep up her active lifestyle.  Will went around to all of their neighbors, asking them if they’d stop by the house and see how his wife was doing to help cheer her up.  His efforts resulted in four to five people coming by each week, which lifted Jane’s spirits immensely.  She passed away in February 1998.

In November 1998, Will suffered his first heart attack, and in November 1999 his house burned down.  Luckily, Will had already been to RiverWoods and interviewed with the Community Service Administrator and expressed an interest in moving into one of their cottages.  One became available, and in December 1999 he was able to move in.

“I believe God brought me to RiverWoods to express God’s love to the resident’s through my actions,” Will said.    

Just as his neighbors did for his wife, he spends each morning visiting with the residents of Riverview Manor as he works on the latest jigsaw puzzle in the lobby and participants in many other activities as well.  Will leads a monthly Christian discussion group that was started last year in addition to substituting for the campus Pastor in teaching Sunday school on occasion.  He also conducts a Bible study in Williamsport every Monday morning in a private home; the church is no longer open. 

“I think the people that reside at RiverWoods are marvelous,” Will commented.  “I would be thrilled if more people would come in to visit the residents.  It makes such a difference in their lives to know that someone cares about them.”