90-Something couple shows how to give from the heart

Olen and Gladys Reding's hearts were fairly broken in two when they moved to Gainesville last May. It was not a move they had planned, nor was it one the two were ready to make. But the events of May 22, 2011, in Joplin forced their hand, and move they did.
"It seems that it took a tornado to get us out of Joplin!" Olen concedes with a smile. "We were deeply rooted there and never planned to leave."
Of the devastation suffered that day, Olen recalls, "We were some of the fortunate ones. Our home, where we had lived for more than 60 years, was only mostly destroyed. The two houses on our right were completely leveled, as were most of the homes on our street. Our house and the one on our left still had a few walls standing here and there. That is why we were able to save some of our possessions."
The Redings credit the fact that they were visiting their daughter, AnnE Shields, and her family in Thornfield as the reason their lives were spared that awful day. As they look back on the events of that horrific Sunday afternoon, the Redings know where they would have taken refuge had they been at home. They would have huddled in a first-floor bathroom or closet for safety - two places that were completely demolished in the storm.
"As it turned out, we saved several things that are very meaningful to us," Gladys points out, putting a positive spin on a sad tale. "My china cabinet full of china was not touched, and Olen's grandfather's watch and his mother's sewing table were unharmed. I still have my chifferobe and my mother's Double Wedding Ring quilt. But we are still remembering things we lost. You don't think of them until you need them. And some things we lost were treasured keepsakes, like Olen's military medals. Those can't be replaced."

<strong>Lives lived with purpose</strong>
Both Olen and Gladys have deep roots in Joplin. They grew up, went to school and lived there all their lives there, except for the World War II years, when Olen was serving his country. From 1942 through 1945, he was a member of the U.S. Army, traveling the world as he served as a cargo security officer on merchant marine ships and later on troop transport ships. The couple married while he was on leave in 1944, and their only child, daughter Ann E. (who prefers to spell her name AnnE), was born in Joplin on the day he mustered out in St. Louis in 1945. Olen's subsequent working career was spent in various endeavors in Joplin, including 28 years with Vickers Hydraulics, the company from which he retired. 
In the days following the tornado, AnnE Shields quickly arranged for her 90-something parents to move into an apartment in Gainesville, and Olen and Gladys have turned their new living quarters into a warm and inviting home. While it is much smaller than the house they called home for so many years, they have made the best of the situation and, after nine months of being Ozark Countians, feel quite comfortably settled. The two share a deep faith in God and believe that all things do work together for His good, even a seeming tragedy.
But it was not the loss of prized possessions in the storm that caused the Redings to come away from their longtime home with broken hearts. The hardest part of this whole experience for Olen and Gladys has been giving up a slew of meaningful activities that were so important to them and to their hometown community.
"When we retired, we knew we didn't want to just sit and watch the boob tube," Olen chuckles. "We've always been involved, and that just gave us more time for volunteering."
Both of the Redings earned the designation of Elder Emeritus in the South Joplin Christian Church, where they attended services since childhood; they also served as deacons, choir members and Olen as choir director. In addition, Gladys was the church's secretary for 28 years. If the church was open, the Redings were there.
Outside their church, many organizations in Joplin were fortunate to benefit from the Redings' volunteer efforts. Olen served on the executive board of Crosslines, a large food pantry and clothing distribution center sponsored by 60 churches in the city. He helped build the organization's building and is a lifetime adviser for their work, and Gladys spent years helping with the organization's activities.
The Joplin Historical Society, of which Olen is also a board member, benefited from hours and hours of help given by the Redings, who donated time and work to help build the society's museum. And the Joplin Rifle and Pistol Club was another favorite group. It all added up to a very busy, rewarding life for the Olen and Gladys, and they miss it all.

<strong>‘Where there's a need, yes'</strong>
But Olen still holds to his theory of not sitting down for too long. The Redings have become involved in the Gainesville's First Christian Church, where they found an old friend in Pastor Bobby Jo Wade.
"Bobby Jo's husband, Ron, was pastor of our church in Joplin for a while," Gladys recalls. "We became very close to them then, and coming to this church has been easier because of Bobby Jo being here. And our daughter and her family are members here, too, so it is nice to be in church with them."
On the first Wednesday morning of February, Olen was at the church bright and early, ready to go to work. While Gladys attended Bible study with the ladies, he loaded eight bushels of soup and chili that the church gathered during its January soup drive and carried the goods to the local food pantry in the former Hodgson Mill Enterprises building on the west side of town, where he stocked shelves with the much-needed supplies.
"It's a lot like what we did at Crosslines, only on a much smaller scale," Olen notes. "This food pantry could use a little help."
In addition to helping with the food pantry, Gladys contributes to the church by writing letters and sending cards to shut-ins, and Olen accepted an appointment as Elder of the church in January, a role he thought he had given up years ago. The Redings' motto seems to be, "Where there's a need, yes, I'll help."
It is in giving just that sort of help - from their hearts - that Olen and Gladys Reding are finding a cure for the real damage done by that tornado. As they look forward to celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary on March 10, this caring couple have made the choice to get involved in Ozark County and find ways to replace the activities they were forced to give up by last May's storm.
It has never occurred to the two that being over 90 might entitle them to rest on their laurels. Their friends and family would all agree that it will take more than a little ole tornado to keep Olen and Gladys Reding down!

<p>Olen and Gladys Reding were grateful to save a few of their most
treasured possessions after their home was badly damaged by the
Joplin tornado last May. This china cabinet was intact, along with
all the fragile dishes inside it, while everything around it was
destroyed.</p>