FAIRMONT — Lynn Ebbert enjoys being with her family.

And that means her family at home — husband George and son Michael — and her church family — the youngsters at Faith United Methodist Church where she volunteers in numerous areas.

The person who nominated Lynn for this honor said in an e-mail, “for years Lynn volunteered for the Arbors Nursing Home and was also the children’s choir director at Diamond Temple United Methodist Church and now is attending Faith UM Church and works with the youth there. She is such an inspiration and remains quietly behind the scene.”

Lynn Ebbert’s story follows.

She and son volunteer

Much of Lynn Ebbert’s volunteer work began soon after her son Michael was born.

“Michael and I volunteered at the Fairmont Arbors from April 1991 through April 2001,” she said. “Michael was born in July of 1991, so I had a few weeks off, but he was always with me when I went to play bingo every week. In fact, the Times WV did an article on Michael and his ‘volunteering’ at The Arbors. He went with me until he was 5. He was a big part of their life.

“I used to think they liked to see me,” she said, “but I think they just liked to see him, being a baby.”



Helps in schools

She said she moved from The Arbors to volunteering at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

“I was allowed to assist with the classroom parties, crafts, and the Do Something program centered around Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday celebration,” she continued. “I am proud to say that we took the program from one classroom the first year to include the entire school the next year. I also had the privilege of assisting Mary DeBalski start an after-school reading program in my son’s third-grade year.”

She said that Michael’s high school years, “have afforded me the opportunity to volunteer within the soccer boosters and the East Fairmont Runners’ Club. As he was growing up, I volunteered a lot in the classroom,” she said.

“I’ve taken on less so I could see him run cross-country, play soccer and run track,” she said of her son, who is now a senior.

But church had and continues to be a huge part of her life.

“I started working with the kids at Diamond Street Church (then Diamond Temple) back in the mid-1980s,” Ebbert said. “I helped with VBS, Sunday morning classes, the children’s Christmas programs and with Peggy Scharff Petrich’s direction, I started the children’s choir, ‘Diamonds in the Rough.’”

She now attends Faith United Methodist Church.

“The merger (of the churches) didn’t go just as it was planned. So I went on to working with the children at Faith,” she said.

“I’m blessed to lead the children’s Wednesday night program,” she said. “We sing, have a lesson, make crafts, play games or act out skits. I have assisted with the Vacation Bible School programs and the children’s Christmas programs, as well.”



Philosophy of life

She was asked about her philosophy of life.

Thinking for a moment, she replied:

“It isn’t what I accumulate in possessions or what kind of car I drive or the title of my job that’s important,” she said. “What matters to me is whether I’ve made a difference in someone’s life, children in particular. I have received far more that I have given, and I am thankful everyday for my family and friends who surround me and support me in my volunteer efforts.”

Ebbert said she was very “touched and honored” at being selected and wanted a great big “thank you” to be extended to that person. “I agree that I am an “everyday” kind of person; hero, not at all,” she said.



Ford family praised

Ebbert said she would be remiss, “if I did not mention the Ford family and what an important role they all have played in our lives here in Fairmont.

“My husband George and I married in July 1983, and that’s when I moved to Fairmont from Bridgeport, Ohio. We purchased our home in November of 1984. My husband also grew up in Ohio, so we didn’t know very many people in Fairmont. Shortly after moving in to our Pleasant Valley home, we met some very special neighbors — Bill and Patty Ford.

“They welcomed us into their family and included us in many of their family functions. Patty told me about the Junior League of Fairmont and invited me to attend a meeting. I was hooked, and this is where my community service began.

“The Fords invited us to church, and that’s how we started at Diamond Street United Methodist. As our children grow up, sometimes friends take different paths in life; however, I am forever thankful that God put the entire Ford family in our lives.”

“I take great satisfaction of serving others,” Ebbert reiterated, and then with a little bit of humor said, “and baking cookies. The people close to me call me the cookie baker.”

E-mail John Veasey at jcveasey@timeswv.com.