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Vol 46 No. 2
www.theactiveage.com
Kansas’ Largest Newspaper
January 2025
Printed at Valley Center, KS
Seniors face housing squeeze
A lifetime of work can't guarantee some older adults their own home
Carl and Stephanie Fry with Carl's custom 1979 Chevrolet El Camino.
Father takes wheel of major fundraiser
By Amy Geiszler-Jones Carl Fry jokes he has “a long history of wasting money on cars,” going back to 1956 when as a 16-yearold he joined a Wichita East High School car club called the Gear Gents. In 2005, his love of cars and his connections to other car enthusiasts
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wichita, KS 67276 Permit 1711
See Fundraiser, page 8
By Sherry Graham Howerton If souls ministered to translated into dollars earned, pastors Homer and Lois Smuck’s lives might be very different right now. The retired couple spent more than 40 years in ministry, serving hundreds of congregants across four states in predominantly rural communities and small churches. Making ends meet while raising three children was tough, and financial constraints along the way forced the Smucks to make difficult decisions upon retirement seven years ago — primarily, how to secure affordable housing with limited resources. For most of their working lives, Homer, 74, and Lois, 72, lived in church parsonages, eliminating the opportunity for the couple to build equity as homeowners. Both were ordained ministers, humble in demeanor, dedicated to their flocks and selfless with their time, energy
and resources. In earlier years, Lois stayed home to care for her growing family, occasionally holding outside jobs to supplement their income. When Homer retired from the ministry at age 65, the couple moved from Osborne, Kan., to Wichita to be closer to family. For a time, Homer was employed at a lawn company and Lois worked in food service as they tried to build their Social Homer and Lois Smuck live with Homer's sister in Security base, a fund El Dorado. Photo by Selena Favela. they hadn’t been able Ultimately, the Smucks found to contribute much to over the years themselves in the same plight that while living on a pastor’s salary. See Housing, page 6
Spiritual singing group bound for Paris
Courtesy photo
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ARISE was formed in 1989 to keep alive the singing of spirituals. By Joe Stumpe A Wichita choir will perform spirituals at the American Embassy in Paris next month thanks to bit of
serendipity. The group is ARISE, which stands for African Americans Renewing Interest in Spirituals Ensemble.
Last year, four members of ARISE accompanied a group of middle school students from Gordon Parks Academy to the French capital as part of an arts program. While there, they happened to sing for a group that included staff of the American Embassy. “The embassy representative said, ‘If the four of you sound that good, I want to hear the whole group,’” recalled Sheila Kinnard, who was part of the quartet. More than a dozen ARISE members are expected to take part in February’s trip. They’ve received See Spiritual, page 15
Questions about services?
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging/Sedgwick County Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800-279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655
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