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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 25, 2001
Eighty-year-old Bea Armstrong was born in Britt, Ont., population 1,500.
After finishing high school, she worked 12-hour shifts in a general store for 25 years.
At the general store, Bea met her husband, Arthur, who was a ship captain for many years.
The couple had no children of their own but were blessed with many nieces and nephews, proud of their aunt's interest in sports, walking and helping seniors.
After her husband's death, Bea Armstrong moved to St. Petersburg in 1974.
"I love St. Petersburg because the city has so many activities for senior citizens," she said. "I especially enjoyed dancing and bowling. I bowled for the Sunshine Center Bowling League since the inception of the Sunshine Center 25 years ago. Our bowling team, the All Stars, left the center in a small bus with eight bowlers.
As time passed, the Sunshine Center Bowling League increased to 14 teams. I was responsible for our Sunshine Center high series of 559.
My final year of bowling in 1998, I brought home the first- place team prize. I accumulated over 3,000 hours of bowling."
Three afternoons a week, Armstrong volunteers as a receptionist on the main floor at the Sunshine Center in downtown St. Petersburg. She greets participants, answers inquiries about the city of St. Petersburg and the Sunshine Center, folds the monthly newsletter and gives tours of the center.
"I enjoy helping others in any way that I can," Armstrong said. "I love the Sunshine Center. It is my No. 1 priority and home away from home. The staff is very kind and continues to show appreciation to all the Sunshine Center volunteers, treating volunteers like staff."
The Sunshine Center is one of the programs that operates under the City of St. Petersburg Leisure Services Agency. According to volunteer service coordinator, George Billias, the agency offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages and areas of interest. "If you enjoy the outdoors, our parks, recreation and golf courses facilities offer diverse selection of volunteer opportunities," he said.
"In addition, our senior/intergenerational centers offer unique areas of service. For those who enjoy books, our libraries offer a variety of challenging programs to lend one's talents." Categories of volunteers include regular service, occasional, special/project or boards, committees and commissions.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Pinellas County is a non-profit organization that enlists people 55 and older to volunteer in their communities. If you are interested in volunteering or want more information, please come to see us at our two locations: 3443 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, (727) 327-8690, ext. 22, or at the Martin Luther King Center, 1201 Martin Luther King Ave., Clearwater, (727) 443-1916. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
- Betty Hayward is the director for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in Pinellas County. You can write to her c/o Seniority, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: (727) 327-8690, ext. 22, or (727) 443-1916.
Volunteer Action Center: (727) 893-1140