n April of 2013, we sold our Florida Home and departed for Ohio.  We had been searching the internet for homes in about a 50 mile radius of Columbus, but kept coming back to homes in the London, Ohio area.  One in particular in London caught our attention.  It was large; but unusual looking because the garage was in the middle of the house.  We contacted the realtor and made an appointment to see that home and one other in Fairborn.  When we saw the London home, we immediately saw that this was to be our new home.  It was one block away from the chapel and two blocks away from a shopping center.  We put an offer on the home, and after counter-offers, finally settled on $140,000.  Since we had sold our home in Florida for $260,000 – after realtors fees, taxes and paying off all existing debts we still had over $45,000 left in savings.  We spent about $10,000 on various needs for the new home (furniture, electronics, new central air and furnace) and took possession on May 17.

The house is quite large for a ranch-style, just over 2,000 square feet living space.  if the garage is added in, the home is over 2,600 square feet.  It has three bedrooms, one of which we converted to an office, a large double garage, a family room and a storage room both 15 x 20.  The kitchen and dining room are combined and is 15 x 30.  The property size is over two-tenths of an acre.  I found out just big that is when I mowed the lawn!  The home was built in 1998.

In 2017, I added an Amish built storage shed (8 x 12) in the fenced-in area.  The shed’s siding matches the home.  I needed it for seasonal supplies and equipment such as lawn mower and snow blower, fertilizer, fuel, etc.

The neighborhood is very nice, with many of the homes having been built in the since 2010.  The London schools complex is less than a half-mile away.   

London has a population of about 10,000 and combines the atmosphere of a farming community with many of the amenities of a much larger city.  It is the county seat of Madison County and has the County Fairgrounds, courthouse and sheriff’s department.  The city has its own police force and the usual government offices and utilities.  London has a very nice library and senior citizens center.  We joined both.  The Madison County Hospital  is located in London.  It is fine for some problems, but there are several very large and well-known hospitals in the Columbus area.  Access to Columbus by either Life Flight or ambulance is no more than 30 minutes.   The community newspaper is typical small-town America, but the Columbus Dispatch is also delivered in London.  London also is the host to two prisons; one is a county facility, the other a state. The Ohio Highway Patrol Academy and the Sheriffs Academy are housed in London as is the facility that conducts background investigations for the State of Ohio (BCI).

There are no local TV or radio stations, but since London is only 20 miles from Columbus, that is not a problem.   We personally opted for AT&T for TV, internet and phone service.  There are five  highways that run through or terminate in London – U.S. 42, and Ohio 38, 56, 142, and 665. There is no city taxi or bus service, although in 2017, several individuals began providing uber service.

At one time, the town was served by two major railroads, but now only one remains, the Norfolk Southern Railroad.  The second line  has been converted to a bike and hiking path.  Ohio has converted many of its old rail lines to hiking trails, providing great recreational facilities.  The Prairie Grass Trail is an important piece of the Ohio to Erie Trail, the extensive cross-state, 320-mile trail. This beautifully maintained asphalt rail-trail segment stretches 29 miles between London and Xenia, generally following US 42. The northern trailhead is located in London, behind the senior citizen’s center, and has a picnic pavilion and public restroom.

Because of the railroad, London has a large number of industries for a city its size.   These include:

• London Industries, Inc., an Ohio based plastic injection molding company supplying quality plastic molded products.
• Nissen Chemitec America (NCA), producing high quality plastic injection molded parts for the automotive industry.
• Matco Industries provides jobs for handicapped adults and specialized in Kit assembly, Collating Services, sub-assembly, Janitorial and Housekeeping services, repacking and commercial shredding.
  
• Creamer Metal, Inc.,  manufactures storage equipment for farmers such as grain elevators, conveyors and other accessories for storing and processing grain.
• Office Max Distribution Warehouse is in London and ships products nation-wide.
• Advanced Drainage Systems Inc., manufactures state-of-the-art products and services that help solve storm water management and sanitary sewer challenges including plastic and concrete pipes and storage tanks.
• Stanley Electric U.S. Co., Inc., develops cutting-edge products for use in automobiles. Stanley Electric is highly specialized in the design and production of lighting equipment, accessories, and electronic components.
• Fastenal Inc., manufactures  machined, hot forged and cold formed Nuts, bolts, pins, screws and other fasteners, tools, packaging materials, ladders, chemicals and paints use in the construction industry.
• Intelligrated manufactures and installs complete material handling automation solutions including industrial robotics.
• Church and Dwight (Arm and Hammer) manufactures personal care products including Trojan, First Response, Arrid, Nair, Spinbrush, Close-Up, Brillo, Scrub Free, Oxi Clean, Xtra and more.

New industries are being added continually along both the Rt 142 and the U.S. 40 corridors between London and West Jefferson.  Many of them are regional warhouses such as Amazon, Target, Staples.  In addition several farming industries such as Becks and Precision Soya have been added.

Soon after we moved in, we received some tragic news.  Our brother-in-law, Richard Biron, was terminally ill with COPD.  His lungs were rapidly failing and he was moved into home hospice.  He died on May 18.  The memorial service was on Saturday, May 25 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  We took Becky and Cindy and the four of us left on the 24th and stayed in a motel until Sunday and returned to Ohio.

In 2014, Mary’s cancer returned as bone cancer which then spread into other organs.  In spite of strong cancer drugs and chemotherapy, we were informed that she could not survive the cancer.  She became steadily weaker and soon became wheelchair bound.  On January 27, 2015 she went to our local hospital for chemotherapy and her oncologist informed us that she needed to be transported to the James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University in Columbus.  The doctors at first said she had maybe two months, but every few hours they reduced the time and at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, 31 Jan 2015, she passed away.  

The devastation to our family was tragic.  She was the backbone and strength of our family.  Many our our children and myself suffered depression for months.  It wasn’t until June that I was able to overcome the depression and get on with my life.  

Dick and Lora Biron

While we were in Virginia Beach, our pod arrived in London and was waiting for us to unload.  Our family pitched in and we unloaded most of it on Monday the 27th, Memorial Day.  There were two large heavy pieces, the top and bottom of the hutch. We couldn’t unload it ourselves,  and we hired a moving company to unload and set up the last two pieces.  

In 2014, Mary’s cancer returned as bone cancer which then spread into other organs.  In spite of strong cancer drugs and chemotherapy, we were informed that she could not survive the cancer.  She became steadily weaker and soon became wheelchair bound.  On January 27, 2015 she went to our local hospital for chemotherapy and her oncologist informed us that she needed to be transported to the James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University in Columbus.  The doctors at first said she had maybe two months, but every few hours they reduced the time and at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, 31 Jan 2015, she passed away.  She was buried in the Prospect Cemetery with most of my ancestors, including my parents and grandparents.  

The devastation to our family was tragic.  She was the backbone and strength of our family.  Our children and I suffered depression for months.  It wasn’t until June that I was able to overcome the depression and get on with my life.  

 Bob and Mary Ann Penry

Following Mary’s death, I plunged into a period of despair.  I found myself unable to really function.  I was depressed and lethargic.  I spent most of my time just watching reruns on the television.  I don’t know that I absorbed any of what I watched.  I accomplished little.  I did the absolute minimum of chores and pretty much subsisted on fast food.  I continued attending church regularly.  I did not fall into any bad habits.  To be completely honest, what I really wanted was to die and be with Mary.

It was a beautiful day in June, I walked outside, looked at the sky and the beautiful lilies that were blooming in my flower beds and said to myself “Bob, what in the Hell are you doing?”  I mentally kicked myself in the behind, and realized that the way I was living would not have been what Mary would have wanted, and it certainly was not of benefit to me or to my my family.   I started walking every evening for at least an hour.  I started eating better.  I joined the American Legion and accepted a position of Service Officer and Chaplain.  I started going monthly with my grandson to the Air Force Museum in Dayton.  I started playing my guitar regularly again with my daughter Cindy and my son Andrew.  We formed a folk group “Glodrydd” which we eventually renamed as “Down the Glen.”

We continued to lose family members.  Mary’s brother William Allen Smith died on 15 Oct 2015 in  Augusta, Georgia.  Mary’s sister Lora Lee Smith Biron died on 5 Jun 2018 in Virginia Beach.   Dick and Lora’s daughter Denise Eileen Biron died on 19 Jan 2015 in Virginia Beach.

Mary and I had many friends in Florida, in particular a mother and her daughter.  (I will not include their names, but to make writing easier, I will call the mother Beth and the daughter Jane). The daughter, Jane,  came up to Mary and me at church when she was nine and asked if we would be her Florida grandparents.  She became part of our life.  Beth was approaching a divorce and fought with her husband.  Jane would ask to spend evenings with us.  She enjoyed the peace of our home.  We transported her to and from school and included her in all our activities.  She became part of our life.  This connection leads to the next incident in my life, not so pleasant.

After Mary’s death and my return to Ohio.  Jane’s mom asked me to visit her in the South.  While there,  she indicated that she would like to move to Ohio for better work.  She asked if I could help.  Because Jane was so close to Mary and me, I said OK.  I rented a moving van, helped her pack and brought her to Ohio.  I let Jane and Beth use my extra bedroom until they could find a place.  Time went on, and eventually I needed for them to move on.  I purchased a home about 20 miles from where I live and leased it to Beth. I installed a $7,000 water system because the water was unusable.  Beth then became unemployed and stopped paying the lease.  I hated the thought of eviction.  Finally, after a very expensive year of property tax, paying for unpaid utilities, and purchasing a mower to mow the property (over 2 acres), hiring a contractor to cut and remove dead trees and brush (another $5,000) and helping with her car insurance, Beth finally decided to go back to the South.  Before she could leave, she had to pay a fine to stay out of jail from an automobile accident and pay to get her driver’s license restored.  Once again, she asked (or rather begged) me to help.  Jane had obtained work and did what she could.  Jane still lives here in London. Unfortunately, Jane is no longer attending church.  Beth put her furniture in storage and headed South.  I hate to admit it, but Beth took advantage of my good nature. She is gone, and all I lost was sleep, patience, mental health, and a naive trust of human nature.  Dollar cost about $30,000.  

In July 2015, I was called to serve as a Welfare Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for a two year period.  At the end of the period, we were short-handed and I extended through 12 Nov 2017.  However, manning continued to be a problem and I was called for another two year mission starting on 10 January 2018. I served as manager of the Home Storage Center, until March, 2020 when I was released early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  My Stake President, Steven Richardson, who was also my family doctor, felt that my continuing in the calling was too dangerous.  I was also removed from visiting families in the Branch.  This activity of ministering to each other is part of our religious duty.  I did find occasions to visit a couple of families in the Branch. 

I renewed by Ohio Substitute Teaching License and started teaching a London Middle and High School about 3 days each week.  I did this until the COVID-19 pandemic and actually for a few days in late 2020 at Madison Plains High School, about six miles south of London, Ohio.  

In 2016, I joined Post 201 of the American Legion in West Jefferson, Ohio.  In 2017 I was elected as Service Officer and in 2018, Chaplain was added, and I was appointed at the district chairman for Environment Services.  I became a part of the honor guard, firing the final salute at veterans’ funerals.  I also march for patriotic parades and participate in patriotic activities as a guest speaker.  In addition, I am a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).  I am a tour guide and ambassador for the National Veterans Memorial Museum (NVMM) in Columbus, Ohio. 

I am a board member for the Welsh Society of Central Ohio (WSCO) and present workshops in Family History for the society.  My family band “Down the Glen” performs for many ethnic activities in the Midwest.  We always perform for Saint David’s Day in Columbus and Radnor, and at the Welsh Society of Central Ohio summer picnic.

Volunteer work keeps me very busy.  I am also a writer.  I am constantly writing articles for inclusion in my Family History Website or as handouts for presentations.  

I love to travel and manage to take vacations a couple of times each year.  Included have been trips to Wales, and the U.S. West.  

For relaxation, I walk or spend time with my friends I found because of COVID.  These friends are Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Curiosity Stream.  I have also acquired several Great Courses programs to study history.  

I have acquired sound equipment recently for the band, including amplifiers, microphones, microphone stands and recording equipment.  I have also purchased several guitars, and percussion equipment for my son to use in the band.

Before, COVID, I would travel to Xenia weekly (about 30 miles) and perform with friends at the senior center – open-mic.  We had to quit because of COVID, but restarted in Feb 2022.  I also perform at the Yellow Springs Art Center, once a month.   I try to do a show once a month at the London Senior Center’s adult day-care program.

In December 2021, I started substitute teaching again.  London and Madison Plains high schools and Norwood Elementary pre-school program in West Jefferson.