St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 134

THEY LIKE RETIREMENT Developing Old Hobbies, New Interests Combines Activity With Leisure fe--" r- 7 St- I 1 (V, 'X I. A v4 Jf An avocation became a full-time interest for Herman Wohler of 2609 Gravois avenue when he retired last June after 50 years as an office man with the Public Service Company. He has merely extended his study of Indian iie, legend and history. For years before retirement his spare time was spent visiting Indian mounds and communities, collecting about 3000 arrow heads, some of which are shown with a club, ax. pipe and other stone implements.

Vv 1 lac- 1 Raising goats taies up much of the time of Hazel Evans (left) and her sister Helen, of 1350 Forest avenue, Kirkwood. Former clerical workers of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Helen retired in 1942, Hazel in 1945. Their doctor advised the goats when time began to hang heavily. The'y sell the milk and the kids. In addition they raise chickens and vegetables on their acre of land, take an interest in politics and civic affairs.

11 Sl R. E. LaMar, 7914 Delmar boulevard, works on a television antenna on the house trailer that figured large in years of planning for retirement. After 33 years as an executive at Stix, Baer and Fuller, he and his wife are getting ready for an extended fishing arid sightseeing tour in the West and Canada, with next winter in Florida. The trailer is equipped with radio, television, its own power plant, a water system including shower, a refrigerator.

William C. Sisco's hobby long has been raising irises, roses, delphiniums and lilies, and it has kept him well occupied since his retirement in 1949 after 37 years with the Missouri Pacific. He was a rate expert. In summer he cares for garden, in winter he catches up with voluminous correspondence due to membership in six flower societies. He lives at 6032 Clemens avenue.

TN THE ancient Incas' name for a man past 60 years of age was "old man sleeping in the sun." Those Peruvian Indians, who had a retirement system some 700 years ago, considered he had earned a rest. In this country 65 is the accepted retirement age, but few retired Americans, after years of keeping busy, are able to reconcile themselves to sitting idly in the sun or the alternative of a rocking chair and slippers. They've got to have something to occupy their minds or their hands; there is even a pretty widespread view that if they don't they "just up and die." Of course, there is often the anticipatory idea of catching up on lost sleep and generally taking it easy on retirement. It seldom hangs on very long after the break with a job. Restlessness, boredom, the sense of frustration become overpowering, and the man or woman in retirement hunts up something to do.

The new activity may be the expansion of an old hobby, the development of a chance interest, another job or a nostalgic pastime connected with the old job, or, sometimes, something the doctor orders. To some, retirement means a chance to carry out long-held desires, like extended fishing trips, travel, or going on a farm. What some retired residents of the St. Louis area do is shown on this page. Nature of post-retirement activity is frequently directed by income.

Most people depend on pensions, old age benefits like Social Security, or both. Those on Social Security face economic limitations; top benefits are $120 a month for couple, $80 for a single person past 65. Beneficiaries can receive any amount of unearned income, but can't earn more than $50 in any given month without forfeiting their benefits for that month. Photos by SAM CALDWELL of the PICTURES Staff ml ffpooKERjLJ I- --t lit I fi Some months after retirement from 40 years of work as a printer. Charles H.

Smith of 1307 St. Clair avenue. East St. Louis, dropped in on an art lecture at the St. Louis Art Museum to pass the time.

He became keenly interested, returned regularly for lectures and to study paintings. Soon he began to paint in water colors. Now his days are well filled copying masterpieces in the museum, painting landscapes, as he is doing here, in Forest Park. He has turned out about 40 water colors since he started his new interest. Wa lA 1 About three vears aao Ed G.

Pooker of Pevely, Missouri, retired after 35 Ben Diefz, former operator of an automobile glass business in St. Louis, turned a recreation project into a source of income on which to retire. He had 22 acres of land with two lakes, in which he fished a lot. 20 miles south of St. Louis on old Lemay Ferry road.

So many friends wanted to fish the lakes that he began charging for the privilege. A few years as a grocer. Before a year was out he was thoroughly unhappy in his idleness. Casting about for something to do. he bought 3000 hybrid earthworms, started a worm hatchery.

Now he keeps busy tending his seven large pits of worms above he is checking the population of one packaging his products, and shipping them to fishermen and florists in various parts of the country. The worm manure also is in heavy demand by florists for An ardent fisherman, J. C. Bain, 130 South Brentwood boulevard, Clayton, became an expert at repairing fishing eguipment. Since he retired in 1943 after 42 years as a technician with the telephone company he has had plenty to do keeping his extensive eguipment in condition, going on fishing trips with his wife.

Then there are many friends who have rods and reels to repair, and as an extra hobby he is an amateur photographer. Page Iff 4 potting flowers. Pooker estimates his pits hold about a million worms. years ago he sold his business and retired to a life of fishing and looking after his grounds. PICTURES Louii Sunday, mJ- 18, 1952.