In late June the village recognized Jo Souder who provided funds for the Bluffton town hall tower clock restoration. The project was donated in the memory of Lois E. Basinger (1918-2006). Dick and Jayne McGarrity provided the following information about the restoration.
Jo Souder and Lois Basinger shared a passion for antique clocks and travel, having accumulated quite a collection. Often they would purchase a clock that needed repair and take it to Cincinnati or even Chicago for repair.
According to Souder, Miss Basinger considered Bluffton's Town Hall clock a local treasure with its beautiful lighted faces and she would gaze up at the clock and comment, "What does it take to get these clocks working!"
Originally the clocks in Town Hall were not electric and depended on mechanical means to operate. In the 1930s the gears became electrified, but were difficult to maintain with power outages and other disruptions.
When Town Hall was being renovated in 2008, it was decided that the clock should run by computer and funds were solicited for this improvement.
Souder donated funds for the clock restoration in memory of Lois Basinger (1918-2006) who lived in Bluffton from childhood.
Miss Basinger, of Swiss heritage, served Bluffton for several years as Clerk of the Town Council. She worked for more than 32 years at Citizens National Bank, first as a Teller, then as Assistant Cashier. She was well-known for her warm gentle manner and welcoming smile.
Originally from Texas, Miss Souder has been a Bluffton resident since 1957, having taught music in the local schools in the 50s and 60s. She then taught in the Wapakkoneta schools (retiring in 1987), and was Principle Oboe of the Lima Symphony Orchestra until the early 90s.
MJS Photographer was her business for several years, and photography, along with reading and puzzles are favorite hobbies. Jo Souder, along with Lois Basinger, have been avid supporters of the Cloud Foundation in its efforts to save the wild horses of Our American West. Miss Souder continues to promote this cause, participating in events in Washington D.C. and Montana, and recently in Columbus, Ohio.
The 2008 Bluffton Town Hall renovation is a perfect example of the way Bluffton citizens band together to get a job done, and its clock tower will be a welcoming beacon for many years to come.
