Walker earns a bit of 'rest'

Every day - except in winter when it's slick going - 92-year-old Ruth Copley hikes from her home, where she's staying with Gaila Noel on Third Avenue in Sun Mountain Estates, to the end of Fryrear Ranch Road, about a mile away.

She's rarely alone. A big shaggy dog by the name of Corky comes along to make sure she doesn't get into trouble, and about 18 of her neighbors wave to her as she slowly makes her two-mile, round trip trek.

When Ruth reaches the end of the first leg of her daily hike she likes to rest and blow for a bit, and before Rodger Dwight - who lives at the end of her turn-around - came into her life, she would lean against the CEC electrical boxes at the Fryrear cul-de-sac.

"That's not such a good place for that dear woman to rest," Rodger thought, and got busy to change it.

Last week, when Ruth came walking up to her turn around point, she found a brand new place for her to relax, a beautifully crafted wooden bench with "Ruth's Rest" engraved on the seat.

"I thought it would be better to have a real bench to rest on," Rodger said, "maybe with lemonade."

When Ruth heard that, with a twinkle in her eyes, she said, "Yes, maybe we can even have music with it one of the days, too."

Not to be outdone, Rodger added with a laugh, "You bet, then we could dance for a while."