Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - Area postmasters gathered in Silver Lake's small post office lobby Wednesday to watch the swearing-in of the town's newest postmaster, Wanda K. Troke.
Before the short ceremony, Manager of Post Office Operations for the Greater Indianapolis District Walter E. Morrison likened Troke to a "first-round draft choice" and a "great player" for the team of the 469, 465 and 474 zip code areas. He also complimented her on the cleanliness of the post office facility.
This bears "testimony" to why Troke was selected as the Silver Lake Post Office postmaster, Morrison said.
He called to the other gathered almost 15 area postmasters to pull out the "old mop and bucket" at their offices, too. "Wanda, I am impressed," Morrison said. "Your mother can be proud."
Postmasters who'd come to see Troke take the oath of office complimented her on the new wallpaper border of mailboxes stuffed with envelopes and the brighter blue color scheme.
The USPS has eased its restrictions, allowing the use of varied color schemes other than just their heavy blues and rich reds. Those colors darkened the place, the postmaster said.
Troke has worked with the USPS for 26 years. She served twice before as postmaster - in Mentone and New Paris. She started in 1976 as a part-time clerk in Wakarusa.
She and her husband, Butch Troke, the Rochester post office postmaster, live at Loon Lake. The daily trip to Silver Lake is shorter than to Mentone or New Paris, one reason for her move to Silver Lake's post office in 2001, when she became officer in charge.
Morrison estimated there to be 40,000 postmasters in the country. They are people of integrity and honesty, he said.
"Postmasters know more about the customer than they might want them to know," he said.
The postmaster has a duty to earn those customers' respect, especially in the small communities. Morrison, who has worked with the USPS for 50 years, was assured that Troke would earn that respect.
Troke follows former Silver Lake postmasters Paul Sittler, who began in 1947; Isaac W. Kendall, who began in 1974; Joseph Wood, who began in 1981; and Sherri L. Ayers, who began in 1985.
Troke repeated her vows of integrity and honesty between deep breaths, with her right hand on a Bible held by her husband.
Afterward being asked to give a speech, she said, "I'm happy to be in the 469 crew."
