Health Department Retirees Swap Stories and Laughter

By GCHD Communications Team

Retirees from the Garrett County Health Department gathered at the McHenry Uno Pizzeria and Grill on September 18th to mingle and catch up.

As the microphone was passed around the group for introductions, it became a comic storytelling session for some, with laughter abounding!

The group chuckled as Pauline Faucette (retired nurse) claimed she started the Health Department. Many younger retirees remembered that Pauline gave them vaccinations in their youth, either at school or at one of the Health Department’s offices.

Later, when it was Dr. William Pope’s (retired Health Officer/Deputy Health Officer) turn at the mic, he drew laughs when he said he helped Pauline start the Health Department. But, of course, Shelby Paugh had them all beat. She was the attendee who had retired the longest, having begun working at the Health Department when she was just 17 years old in 1955 and retired in 1996 as Director of Administration after 41 years of working with seven different health officers.

Anyone who worked with Brenda Pike remembers the hilarious stories from her Health Department days. Retirement has not dampened her humor. She recounted the day she was parking the mobile clinic van, a large RV, and its rooftop air conditioning unit, which didn’t fit under the overhang of the hospital/health department building. Her retelling of Dr. Pope’s reaction when he came out to see what shook the building probably left the patrons upstairs in Unos wondering about the uproar downstairs!

“It is always a nice time to see our Garrett County Health Department retirees and hear those memories,” said Donna McClintock Fost. “If we are missing any retirees, please join the Garrett County Health Department Retirement Luncheon group on Facebook. And, mark your calendars for September 17, 2025, for next year’s luncheon at Unos.”

“I think that the 31 retirees who attended this year had a great time,” said retiree Kathy Skipper. “We always made sure to hold it on a Wednesday so everyone can take advantage of the senior discount.”

“We sure had fun at the luncheon and missed the ones who couldn’t be there,” said retiree Kim Powell. Several attendees mentioned missing Norma Bolding at the event, who passed away two weeks earlier, and Martha Layton, who passed away in February.

The luncheon was organized by a small committee of retirees, including Kim Powell, Donna McClintock-Fost, Peggy Chappell, and Kathy Skipper. Please reach out to one of them if you want to be included on the list of invitees for the luncheon next year.

Cutline: A group of Health Department retirees gather for a group picture after the luncheon in September. From left to right are Carolyn Warnick, Marina Getz, Kim Powell, Janet Mosser, Shelby Paugh, and Peggy Chappell.

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