FORT LORAMIE — St. Michael’s Parish in Fort Loramie will host a Community Blood Center blood drive Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in St. Michael’s Hall, 33 Elm St. The annual fall blood drive is dedicated to the memory of long-time blood donor and St. Michael’s Hall blood drive organizer Shirley Simon who passed away Sept. 13.
The St. Michaels’s Hall blood drive is sponsored by Fort Loramie Community Service Club, Fort Loramie American Legion Auxiliary, and Fort Loramie Knights of St. John. Everyone who registers to donate will receive the “Buckeye Strong Blood Donor” ceramic tumbler with removable silicone grip.
Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.
Shirley Simon was a member of St. Michael’s Parish and the American Legion Auxiliary, and began organizing blood drive volunteers in 1983. “Shirley volunteered for 30 years at these blood drives to make sure all the donors had plenty to eat and were well attended,” said CBC Shelby County Account Representative Kathy Pleiman.
“Countless blood donors have seen her working behind the café tables during those 30 years, always happy and busy serving more cookies!” said Pleiman. “The Community Blood Center is very grateful and humbled by Shirley’s long dedication to local blood donations.”
Shirley was also “universal donor” because of her O negative blood type and donated more than eight gallons of blood until she was unable to donate due to health issues.
Not your father’s Oldsmobile anymore
In a June 18, 2013 Shirley Simon was volunteering in the Donor Café during the St. Michael’s Hall Country Fun Blood drive when she shared some memories of life with her husband Richard “Dick” Simon who died in 2010.
“My husband’s father sold Oldsmobiles,” she said. “He had a dealership in Willowsdale, near the Darke-Mercer County line. He traded John Deere tractors for horses – it was that long ago. Farmers like nice cars too!
“My husband took over the dealership from his father. We use to win trips, to Paris, Ireland. When we went to Ireland it was at Christmas time and they gave us $1,000 for shopping!
“We went to Hawaii twice and we didn’t have to pay for anything. He made one long distance phone call from the room to check on the business and it cost 75 cents. When our sons complained ‘Why we didn’t get to go to Hawaii?’ He showed them the phone receipt and said, ‘Here, I’ll give you 75 cents, that’s all it cost us to go!’
“We sold Oldsmobiles until they stopped making them. He had passed away by then. “It would have been sad for him to see that happen.”
Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org
