Ruth M. Wise, 96, is presented with a 75-year membership pin and certificate from the Order of Eastern Star from fellow member Le’Ann Gibbons, an officer from the Unionport, Ohio chapter Wise joined in 1949.
Shelley Swift | Daily Reporter
McCORDSVILE — Ninety-six-year-old Ruth M. Wise looked down at the small gold pin on her soft pink sweater and beamed.
On June 6 the McCordsville resident was presented with a 75-year membership pin from the Order of the Eastern Star, a rare accomplishment for the organization.
The shiny gold pin features a five-pointed star representing each of the order’s tenants — fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love — which is exemplified by five Biblical women: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa.
Founded in 1850, Eastern Star is a nonprofit fraternal organization that aims to benefit humanity through its members’ charitable deeds.
Wise joined the organization as a 22-year-old teacher in Unionport, Ohio in 1949.
She tagged along to a meeting one day at the invitation of her roommate, who encouraged her to join.
Being an Eastern Star soon came to mean a great deal to Wise, who was a teacher and homemaker throughout the years.
“She tells me constantly not to let that membership lapse,” said her son, John Wise of Indianapolis, who attended the presentation at his mom’s assisted living facility, Traditions of Brookside.
Wise said his mother loves keeping up with her Unionport, Ohio chapter of Eastern Star through the newsletters it sends out. She had lived in Ohio all her life before moving to McCordsville five years ago.
On Thursday, an officer from the Unionport chapter made the five-hour drive to present Wise with the 75-year pin.
“It’s with great pleasure I was able to do this,” said Le’Ann Gibbons, who lives in Ohio but was raised in Rushville, Ind.
She picked up her sister — fellow Eastern Star member Sydney Snedegar of Rawlings, Ind. — on her way to McCordsville.
The sisters were planning to attend the Indiana Grand Chapter’s 149th annual session in Muncie this weekend.
Wise said the thing she enjoyed most about being an Eastern Star was the opportunity to help others. She said she could never thank Gibbons enough for making the drive to present her with her pin, which means so much.
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather have,” said Wise, as she looked down to admire the pin Gibbons affixed to her sweater.
