Senior Commons at Powder Mill

Celebrating their 66^th wedding anniversary on February 23, Gladys and Philip Bentzel started out already having a lot in common. Both were born in 1920, are from large families, grew up in the York area and graduated from York High School. It seemed like fate was already planning their destiny. Their paths crossed when they met at the Shiloh Lutheran Church and from there they made their own combined history including exchanging vows in 1946.

One of their earliest married memories was having to curtail their honeymoon at the Gettysburg Hotel to two days, as Philip’s father needed the family car back. They had planned to stay four! They drove home and moved in with Philip’s parents for nine months until they purchased a family-owned home on Carlisle Road. They stayed in the Shiloh area most of their lives before moving to Senior Commons at Powder Mill in 2009.

Before getting married, Philip enlisted in the Marines in August, 1942 and toured from 1943-1945 on missions on the islands of the south western Pacific, Guadalcanal, Guam and Okinawa. Philip is very proud to have served his country during WWII and came home on the USS Bland arriving in San Francisco on December 3, 1945.

Gladys worked at Dental Supply for seven years. She and Philip had three sons Michael (deceased), Gary, who now lives in Texas, and Craig, who currently lives in York. When the boys started school, she worked at the Trimmer Elementary School Cafeteria before retiring in 1982.  Philip worked through the years at various factories as a machinist toolmaker.  For the last 16 years of his employment, he worked at Caterpillar as a Planning Processor before retiring. After retirement, Philip worked at several golf courses in the York area.

Gladys and Philip now have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They are enjoying carefree living at Powder Mill and follow the philosophy, “Keep life simple. Live for today and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Gladys spends time knitting and doing word searches and baking for Philip as he enjoys his wife’s Pennsylvania Dutch cakes and pies.

We congratulate our “February Lovebirds” for being selected as Powder Mill’s Residents of the Month!

Even though Shantel works inside as a server in the kitchen, she is a real outdoor girl at heart. Her fondest memories growing up are of climbing trees and camping in her backyard with her older sister Cortney (also an employee) and her younger brother Dylon (a former employee).

Shantel was born in Hanover, PA on April 28, 1993 and currently lives in Seven Valleys. She attended the Spring Grove school district and was involved in the Art Club, theater and choir in high school. She currently is attending Harrisburg Area Community College for Chemistry, but says she has no plans of leaving Senior Commons.

Her hobbies are reading, drawing and spending time with her friends and family. She loves vacationing in Florida, especially to see her aunt and uncle, and plans to visit this year. She enjoys cooking and her favorite food is Chinese. Her enjoyment of life stems from the belief in “Carpe Diem” or seize the day. Fall is her favorite season because of the cool weather and the changing leaves.

The residents and staff at Senior Commons at Powder Mill thank Shantel for all of her hard work, natural enthusiasm and dedication to her job.  We also wish her congratulations on celebrating her one-year anniversary with us on February 21!