×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Oglebay Park helps family come home

Back in 1988, I wrote a letter that ended up on the editorial page. It was titled “There’s No Place Like Home.” It was basically an open letter to Randy Worls, CEO of Oglebay Park.

I had married in 1988 and moved to Dayton, Ohio and told Randy that I was really missing the fine parks in Wheeling, W.Va.

My dear mother, Janet Farley, died on Dec. 29, 2012. I called Oglebay from Hospice of Dayton and explained the situation and that we would most likely be having a funeral sometime after the 1st of the year, but that we no longer had a place to “gather.”

My dad (Robert J. Farley) had died in 2007 and we had sold the house. The Oglebay staff arranged for us to rent the Hess cabin. It was wonderful that our entire family – three daughters (Barbara, Janey and Beth), eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and some spouses, too – were able to be together “under one magnificent roof” for four days.

The younger kids loved the snow, deer, zoo, train display and, of course, the fantastic Christmas lights that were still up when we were there.

The adults just enjoyed being together and relaxing during a very difficult and stressful time.

We didn’t go to the Alpha or Coleman’s Fish Market or any other special memorable places.

The Farley family has enjoyed Wheeling and Oglebay Parks for a “zillion” years, it seems. The “country roads took us home to a place we belong.” We were in Almost Heaven, West Virginia. We were in Oglebay Park – in a cabin – and we were all together.

Janet Farley Ruminski

Beavercreek, Ohio

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today