Through Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV), you’re changing lives for military widows like Yvonne who moved into Bob Hope Village just one year ago.
Yvonne met her husband, Frank, in Tampa. It was his sharp, blue Air Force uniform that first caught her eye. The two would soon marry and have three children.
The family was stationed at Eglin AFB here in Florida’s panhandle for nine years before Frank got orders to New Mexico and later deployed to Thailand. Tragically, while serving overseas, Frank had a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away …
It’s been 50 years since Yvonne lost her beloved husband and was left behind to raise the couple’s three young children (ages 10, 12 and 14 at the time). While being a single mother wasn’t easy, Yvonne managed to take care of and provide for her family while working as a dental assistant up until just a couple of years ago.
Even while juggling a full-time job and raising her kids alone, Yvonne always made time to give back. “Besides my job, I also volunteered to help the homeless for over 20 years through different churches. We also made dentures for the homeless,” Yvonne says.
At the urging of her daughter, Yvonne moved to AFEV last summer. It’s the comradeship she has found here that she enjoys and cherishes most.
“If I wasn’t at Bob Hope Village, I’d be all by myself. Now, I look forward to bingo on Tuesdays and (Wii) bowling on Wednesdays. It’s just great to be around so many wonderful people here,” says Yvonne with a big smile!
As you know, the military has always prided itself on this truth: “We take care of our own.” Five decades after Frank’s passing and the couple’s 17 years of service, the Air Force still takes care of our own today by providing Yvonne and other military widows with a safe and secure community in the twilight of their lives …
We are proud to honor the sacrifices these military widows have made for our nation. And we hope your heart swells with pride too.
Thanks to your kindness, Yvonne is surrounded by so many other grateful residents just like her – and a caring staff – here at AFEV.
“I just love being here,” Yvonne says. “The staff provides such great care for us. They’re always there for me for whatever I need. They provide transportation and take me to my doctor appointments. It’s just such a great place to be!”
Thank you for your kind heart and for your willingness to better the lives of military widows like Yvonne. Your most generous gift now will be a blessing and will help us meet critical needs for our residents. Please click HERE to give today.
