MEET YOUR VV COUSINS:

BOB A. and MAY VAN VALKENBURG of Lady Lake, FL

When Bob A. VV (Br. 1) retired in 1969 after 20 years in the Air Force, and then again in 1989, when he retired after 20 years as supervisor at Miami-Dade Community College, he never dreamed that another career was waiting for him. Nevertheless, just a few months ago, Bob became pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Fruitland Park, FL.

Bob and his wife, May, have attended Pilgrim Church since they moved to that area from Miami in 1993. But his interest and experience in the ministry go back many years.

In 1973, Bob was ordained by Calvary Grace Church in Rillton, PA. From 1973 -1992, while working at the community college, he also served as assistant pastor at Christ Congregational Church in South Miami.

Bob was born in Westfield, NJ, in 1929 to Kenneth Hastings VV and Amy Colbeth VV. He attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, before joining the Air Force in 1949. The following year, while he was stationed at Selfridge AFB in Michigan, Bob had what he describes as the "most exciting time" of his life. He met May Van Ginderdeuren at a USO dance and they immediately fell in love. Three weeks later, on December 4, 1950 the young couple was married. Now Bob and May agree, "It's been a wonderful 48 years."

Those years included raising six children and moving many times as Bob's Air Force career took them literally to the other side of the world, including Japan and Okinawa. "Bob and I have packed and unpacked 42 times in our marriage," May said.

All the children are grown now and have given Bob and May 15 grandchildren plus, to date, four great-grandchildren. But May hasn't had time to be concerned about an "empty nest." She stays as involved as Bob does.

A graduate from Beldon School of Nursing in Michigan, May was kept busy raising the family for some years. But she found time also to be active with Avon for 35 years. For the last six years she has been a representative for the Mira Mesa Villages Homeowners Association, dealing with all kinds of questions and requests from the homeowners. Then, in her spare time, there's always tennis and golf.

Bob has also given much time as a member of the NAVVF Membership Team over the years and is currently serving as the Membership Team's Recorder Assistant.

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The above article was made possible - or at least made a lot easier - because Bob and May sent in two articles about themselves that appeared in recent issues of The Orlando Sentinel (Lake County edition) and The Villages Newspaper, Lady Lake, FL. Thanks so much, Bob and May.

And to all other readers, if ever there is anything in your paper about you or any other VV in your area, please cut it out and send it to: Florence Davis, Membership Chair, NAVVF, 2842 S. Western Way, Tucson, AZ 85713. We're interested in any stories, no matter how big or how small. Ones with pictures are an extra plus!