Some of the most memorable moments of Luella Unger’s life have revolved around transportation. It has been wheels that keep her going year to year, from traveling the country with her husband, Lester, to driving students to school and home. Unger, a resident of Elmcroft Senior Living, Reading, recently was granted a Second Wind Dream where she was remembered for her service.
For seven years, Unger drove a bus with Berks County Intermediate Unit. “I enjoyed it,” Unger recalled. “I drove mostly handicapped children [to school], on a bus with a lift.”
On Sept. 12, a BCIU lift school bus picked Unger up at her residence for a very special surprise. She was brought to the BCIU, and when Unger walked through the doors a party of people, both co-workers and current drivers, welcomed her with a round of applause, a cake and a dozen red roses.
“When she was in the door, everyone started clapping. She was so excited, she had tears in her eyes a few times,” Fran Burkhart, Elmcroft Senior Living, said.
In attendance were Darren Schlott, Program Administrator of Transportation, Eric Clemer, Program Administrator of Operations, Bob Moyer, Donna Ruth, Kellilyn Aten, Donna Kaley, Deb Weiler, Shirley Moore, Peggy Foster, Dave Schearer, Tameka Scottt, Mary Quinter, Sandra Parsons, and Lynda Zechman.
Unger came home with numerous souvenirs of her time with the bus company including a t-shirt, “stress bus,” cup, and duck stuffed toy all donning the BCIU logo.
Luella and Lester Unger were married June 28, 1947. With initial “traditional roles” in their home, Unger was in charge of keeping up with the home, while her husband focused on making a living wage. Unger chose to drive the bus, not because she needed to work, but because she wanted to work.
After her husband got out of the service in February 1942, he found a job at the Berkshire Knitting Mills, Reading. Years of just staying home did not offer Unger complete satisfaction, and she went on a search for something more.
“I told my husband ‘I’m going to look for a job,” Unger said. “He said, ‘You do whatever you wish’.”
For the Ungers, it was their solid relationship that allowed them a happy life together.
“We had a good life, and a good marriage,” Unger said. Lester passed away in 2003.
During their 56 years of marriage, the Ungers traveled across not only the country, but the globe.
“[Lester] took a month off from his job an we drove through almost all of the states,” Unger said. They also traveled overseas visiting Africa, Denmark, Switzerland, and went through Checkpoint Charlie to visit both East and West Germany.
Luella cherishes the lifetime of memories she has of her marriage with Lester. She will be celebrating her 86th birthday on Oct. 21.
