PORT ANGELES — Rose Crumb is the founder and executive director of Hospice of Clallam County, a nonprofit group that provides service to terminally ill patients and their families — without charge to them or reimbursement from government sources.
Crumb, a registered nurse, began the hospice in 1978.
It is funded solely on contributions and grants.
And Crumb does not take a paycheck for her work.
“Are there heavenly angels who walk on this Earth?”‘ asked a Sequim man who recently lost his wife to cancer. She was cared for by hospice nurses.
“There’s certainly at least one — and her name is Rose Crumb.”
Today Crumb will be one of six recipients of the Clallam County Community Service Award for 2005, sponsored by Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club and the Peninsula Daily News.
The other recipients are:
* Rev. Charles “Charlie” Mays, a pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles who has devoted thousands of hours of unpaid community volunteer service.
Mays is out of town at a national Lutheran conference. His award will be accepted by his wife, Sandy.
* Liz Zenonian-Waud, since 1990 the unpaid volunteer co-director of Operation Uplift, a support group for cancer victims. She was also a leader of the Valley Creek Estuary project for the Soroptimist International noon club of Port Angeles.
* Rev. Mel Wilson, senior pastor of Joyce Bible Church, and his wife, Kathy.
They are longtime community leaders in Joyce, working “side-by-side in compassionate caring for those in need,” according to a nomination letter from local resident Hannah Singhose.
* Gary Colley, Port Angeles attorney and community volunteer who is a key leader of Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers, North Olympic Land Trust, Clallam County parks board, Port Angeles Citizens for Education and other groups.
The six will receive framed award certificates at a luncheon that begins noon today in the dining room at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
Lunch is $10, payable at the door.
The honorees were selected by a judging committee from among more than 40 nominations made by individuals, clubs, churches and other organizations.
The Community Service Award recognizes the dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments of “local heroes” who do extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.
This is the 25th year for the awards program.
