Red Cross honors former director
Pictured from left are Red Cross volunteer Kay Hart, Red Cross Executive Director Matt Riddle, Beth Clary, and Linnet Lowe. They are standing with the door donated by Clary in honor of her mother and Lowe’s grandmother who served as director from 1952 – 1969. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Beth Clary’s involvement with the Red Cross dates back to World War II.
“I remember going with my mother to roll bandages,” she said. “Mother donated her time to the Red Cross for years before she was ever the director. The Red Cross is a wonderful organization.”
Clary’s mother Marion Brandel was director of the local Red Cross from May 1952 to September 1969. When she first started, her title was executive secretary as the term director did not exist.
Linnet Lowe, who is Brandel’s granddaughter, also remembers her dedication to the Red Cross.
“Grandma had two phones and I remember when the one for the Red Cross rang we knew we had to be quiet because grandma had work to do,” Lowe said.
Brandel’s commitment to the Red Cross was honored by Clary when she donated a door with stained glass in it to hang in the organization’s former office on Fourth Street. That door came with the Red Cross when it moved to its new location on Main Street.
“I just wanted to do something like this for her,” Clary said. “It symbolizes the Red Cross.”
When Red Cross volunteer Sher Alloway asked Executive Director Matt Riddle if the door could come with them, he didn’t hesitate.
“He went right over to look at the hinges and see how we could get it off,” Alloway said.
She and Riddle both agreed that the door is part of the Red Cross’ history.
“There is a lot of history to our organization and the door symbolizes that,” Riddle said. “When people see it, they will ask questions. We can tell them the story of the door and our story.”
The Red Cross recently held a small reception thanking Clary for donating the door and for her monetary donations over the years.
“Several times a year when Beth sees a story on a national disaster on TV she will call (the Red Cross) and ask for Kay (Hart),” Alloway said. “Beth has done this for as far back as I can remember and I’ve been around for 20 plus years. She tells us that she is going to send a check for the disaster. She then calls a few days later to make sure Kay got the check. Beth has a deep love for the Red Cross and always thinks of us.”
Category: Clubs & Organizations
