By Genie (Forst) Boyer
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Another of our Angels
Vicki Jane (Hull) Wardwell '65
aka Mama Duck
February 2001 The Megaphone Page 3
Our 4th in the lineup of Moderators is Vicki Wardwell, our Mama Duck. She does seem like a mother to each of us in turn whenever we have problems and/or need help. We can always count on our Mama Duck to be there with just the right comments and offers of help.
Vicki’s helping has stemmed far beyond the Panther Den. She was cited by WRTV Channel 6 Television in Indianapolis for her charitable work in Alexandria by being presented with a 1999 Leadership Award. Vicki founded the Agape Barn (Alexandria Community Closets), which is located in an old barn behind the Alexandria Community Center. This old barn was not heated or air-conditioned. It came supplied with a populace of bees and other critters. But that didn't deter Vicki who labored on regardless providing gently warn clothing and bedding to fire victims and other needy folk. Through the years, the program grew to include other endeavors such as Angel Coats for Christmas, Sweethearts Bake Sale for local pantry needs, Back to School Ready Kits to provide school supplies to needy children, and Make A Difference Day for which she was honored by the Anderson Herald and Excess Give-away during the Small Town U.S.A. Festival, which gave away "tens of thousands of items to anyone, who came." It was for these efforts that Vicki was given the Leadership Award.
Unfortunately Vicki’s participation in these endeavors came to a halt when she fell. The fall was called "Shaken Grandma Syndrome" and re-damaged her rehabbed stroke area. Following her forced retirement, volunteers have continued the Community Closets, but the rest of the projects have been discontinued.
Vicki has lived in the Elwood/Alexandria area all of her life. She attended school in Alexandria, Anderson, and Elwood Schools where she was a member of the Class of 1965. After school, Vicki became a barber's apprentice under Myron Orbaugh at The Wedge in Elwood. Following a move to Florida where she obtained her barbering license, Vicki owned her own shop in Alexandria until 1984, when a massive stroke forced her to retire from the hair business.
Since rehabilitation from her stroke, Vicki has devoted herself to her family, quilting, photography, her charitable work and finally, to our everlasting benefit, the Panther Den. She doesn't remember just exactly how she found out about The Den, but says, "I thank God for the warmth of so many new REAL friends."
She and her husband Bob, Elwood High School Class of ‘56, have a "blended family" of 5 boys, 4 grandsons and 4 granddaughters affectionately referred to as the "Grands." They put lots of their spare time and energies to the "Who Cares Cabin" located on Silver Lake north of Wabash that they bought last year. Vicki is very busy decorating it with items she finds in her own words "Who Cares Where" and reconditions for the cabin.
Much of Vicki's spare time -- when Marvin lets her free from her moderator duties -- is spent making quilts. She is making a "Papaw Quilt" for each her Grands. These quilts each of which is made from Bob's old shirts will be accompanied by a story telling the history of the love Papaw and Grandma in the making.
Vicki's final comment to us is vintage Vicki. Full of her love and understanding for each of us and her wishes for a better world. "If everyone would improve their own little corner of the world, eventually our corners would meet! What a wonderful world quilt we could make! What can you do today in your patchwork piece?"