By Suzanne Yowler
Special to the NKyTribune from BCPL
Avid readers John and Joanne Gillespie, who have been married for 65 years, joined the library when they moved to Florence in 2007.
A self-proclaimed lifetime reader, Joanne chooses her books based on the subject. She loves Amish books and Southern historical fiction. John prefers his books action-packed and favors authors like James Patterson, John Grisham and Lee Child.
He brought a bit of that action to his real life when he went skydiving last year at 90.
John, 91, really didn’t start reading until after he retired from a long and varied work life. He served in the Navy during World War II from 1943-46 as a gunner’s mate. He worked as a lineman for Cincinnati Bell for almost three years, owned a Mom and Pop store and drove a truck on a local route for 35 years.
He has made up for lost time by reading 700 books since retiring. He keeps track of all the books he has read and wants to read in a notebook.
Not to be outdone, Joanne, 89, also keeps a notebook listing what she has read, and it is alphabetized. Even though the couple raised four children, Joanne was never a stay-at-home mother. She worked as a nurse for 50 years at St. Elizabeth in Covington, then spent 17 years as a teacher at the Northern Kentucky Vocational School.
“We couldn’t do without the library,” said Joanne. “We appreciate everything about it. We love the people. We love this branch (Florence).”
“Everyone treats us respectfully,” John added. “The people here are very courteous and helpful. They suggest authors and book series. If they don’t have something, they will get it for you (from another branch or through an interlibrary loan).”
According to Joanne, “There’s something for everyone at the library, no matter what age they are.”
A Circulation Assistant at the Florence Branch of the Boone County Public Library, Suzanne Yowler started her career in journalism and public relations
Great Family, great kids and great grandkids.
Have known them over 40 years!