“My family loves to give back, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. Even after moving to Cedarhurst of Lebanon, Barbara never considered stepping away from volunteering. Though she initially resisted the move, she now proudly tells others how much she loves being part of the community. “It’s fun and I’m not going to stop anytime soon,” she said. “If I can move and get around, I want to help people.” Nearly 500 miles away at Cedarhurst of Salina, Bob Walters is also still showing up for others — one song at a time. Every Sunday morning, Bob carries his guitar into Memory Care and begins singing hymns beside his wife, Becky, who lives in the community. What started as a quiet moment of worship between husband and wife has slowly become something much larger for residents, families, and staff. “When we begin to sing, I feel like there is a certain peace that comes over the residents,” Bob said. Bob and Becky’s story began on a hot August night in 1975 at a demolition derby in Abilene, Kansas. They married exactly one year later and built a life centered around faith, family, music, and caring for others. Today, after nearly 50 years of marriage, Bob still spends nearly every day by Becky’s side. “When I see Becky for the first time each day, my heart leaps with excitement just as it did when we first met,” he said. Inside Memory Care, Bob’s music often unlocks moments that words no longer can. Residents
clap along, hum softly, dance, or brighten at the sound of familiar hymns. Becky herself occasionally joins in. “On certain songs, my wife’s face will brighten up, and she will sing a few notes,” Bob said. “It is heartwarming for me to see that.” Beyond the music, Bob has become part of the rhythm of the community itself—visiting with residents, encouraging families, and quietly praying for neighbors as he walks the halls with Becky. “I hope they feel loved,” he said. “I hope they feel like we are friends.” For both Barbara and Bob, showing up for others is not about grand gestures. It is found in consistency. In conversation. In kindness. In simply being present. Their stories are reminders that purpose does not disappear with age. In
many ways, it becomes even clearer. As Barbara puts it, “It’s never too late.”
And as Bob has learned throughout his journey with Becky, “If you don’t show up, you will miss blessings.”
CEDARHURST SENIOR LIVING | SUMMER FLOURISH 2026 29
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