Warsaw resident Wilma Craig’s musical career took her to Nashville and Las Vegas.
Craig, 60, known as “Wilma Dee,” performed with artists like Dolly Parton and Vince Gill.
She was given a record contract with Fox Fire Records, Nashville, and released a CD “Who’s Been Sleepin’ In My Bed” when she was 39 years old.
Wednesday afternoon Day of Caring volunteers paid her and her husband, Jody, a visit at their Sellers Lake home to make improvements.
The Craigs have fallen on hard times, and are now on disability.
Wilma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She also had an emergency quadruple bypass heart surgery in 1998, and had two stints put in her heart. Jody was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer.
Wilma sang “Amazing Grace” for Day of Caring volunteers who attended a closing ceremony Wednesday night in Winona Lake to honor all volunteers who participated in the day.
Wednesday was the annual Day Of Caring, sponsored by United Way of Kosciusko County in partnership with Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, Kosciusko County Senior Services and Grace College. There were 140 homes worked on by more than 1,200 volunteers in Kosciusko County Wednesday.
Volunteers from Zimmer, Grace College and John’s Drywall LLC, Milford, replaced ceilings inside the Craig’s home that had mold.
Shelves also were made to display Wilma’s musical awards. The Craigs’ garage was drywalled to create a firewall between the home and garage by John’s Drywall LLC employees. Volunteers also removed items from rooms and the garage so the ceilings could be replaced.
When Wilma was asked how she felt about the work, she got tears in her eyes.
“It really touches my heart that the volunteers came out here today,” Wilma said. “I used to perform for many cancer benefits and now for the first time I needed help.”
John Hochstetler, John’s Drywall LLC owner, Milford, said he enjoyed hanging drywall with the other volunteers.
“It means a lot to help out, and I am glad to help the couple,” Hochstetler said.
Scott Martin, Zimmer employee, said it was his first time for participating in Day Of Caring and he plans to volunteer again next year.
Another one of the hundreds of homes that was being worked on was the home of Pam Cox, Gable Drive, Warsaw.
Cox has Multiple Sclerosis and is in a wheelchair.
Her former Warsaw Community High School classmates, Susie and Jeff Small, volunteered at Cox’s home. The Smalls are Zimmer employees, and they volunteered during the day with other Zimmer employees. They did landscaping and painted Cox’s home.
Susie and Cox graduated from WCHS in 1975 together and were classmates in grade school.
“It’s wonderful to help someone we know, and I have memories of going to grade school and high school with Pam,” Susie said.
Pam said it was nice to see her former classmates again.
Volunteers from Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church and Grace College worked to reshingle a garage and build a handicap carport.
The work was done at the home of Kathy Schumacher on Union Drive in Winona Lake.
Kathy’s daughter, Sarah, 12, has a rare genetic disease, and is in a wheelchair. She recently broke her femur at a camp, and now has a full leg cast.
“This work could not have come at a better time with Sarah breaking her femur recently,” Schumacher said.
Tracey Owen, Day of Caring volunteer from Winona Lake Grace Brethren, said he was glad to help with the work.
He said the group began work last Saturday, worked Wednesday, and will again work this Saturday.
“The carport will be able to protect Sarah better when she is in her wheelchair,” Owen said.
Cristhian Bernal, a junior youth ministries major at Grace College, said it was his second year for participating in Day of Caring.
He said he assisted with removing shingles from the garage roof.
“It is a huge blessing to help the family and see it coming together in a couple of hours,” Bernal said. “I’m from Florida so to be able to make an impact on this community is rewarding.”
Volunteers from Biomet and Grace College volunteered at the home of Nancy Reinoso on Wooster Road in Winona Lake.
Reinoso has Parkinson’s Disease and said she enjoyed meeting the volunteers.
“It’s a blessing from God to have this help,” Reinoso said.
Glenn Hall, a Biomet employee, said it was his first year for participating in Day of Caring. He said he previously volunteered for Day of Caring in Fort Wayne for 15 years.
“This is an amazing opportunity I look forward to every year and it is about doing things for others who cannot do it themselves,” Hall said.
Hall and other volunteers took up carpeting in Reinoso’s bedroom, and laid a vinyl flooring. They also completed yard work.
