Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

At 93, Bob Jungers helps others by volunteering at Onvida Health

At 93 years old, Bob has been a dedicated volunteer for over 15 years, contributing approximately 4,585 hours of his time.
PHOTO COURTESY ONVIDA HEALTH
At 93 years old, Bob has been a dedicated volunteer for over 15 years, contributing approximately 4,585 hours of his time.

BY CHRIS McDANIEL
KAWC NEWS

YUMA — When he was in his late 70s, Bob Jungers wanted to drive a golf cart, but not to go golfing. So he found a way to tool around in a cart, all while helping others.

Now 93 years old, Jungers no longer drives a cart, but still volunteers every Monday morning at Onvida Health, formerly YRMC.

He is one of four volunteers at the hospital in their 90s. These volunteers have a combined 110 years of service and, between them, have contributed more than 39,500 volunteer hours to the hospital.

Now Bob drives a desk, but still gets to interact with the patients who come in. One of his goals is to get people to smile, even when facing devastating health related situations.

Over the last 16 or so years, Bob, has put in about 4,600 hours of volunteer work. Nowadays, he spends about 3 to four hours each week volunteering.

The other four volunteers are Jean Armstrong, 91, Marie Van Orden, 90, and Marilyn Griffiths, 91

Hospital officials say, Volunteers at Onvida Health play a key role in supporting patients, assisting staff, and enhancing the overall healthcare experience, adding their continued service is a testament to the lasting value of giving back, and that age is just a number.

Onvida is an underwriter of KAWC.

Chris McDaniel is a Yuma native and fourth generation graduate of Yuma High School. He began his print journalism career at the Yuma Sun as a reporter in 2009. He later worked in the Pacific Northwest as an editor for Peninsula Daily News, as arts editor for The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, and as publisher for a small weekly newspaper in the badlands of Montana. He is a graduate of Peninsula College, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Management degree. He has served as host for KAWC's Morning Edition and All Things Considered and spends much of his time gathering reports from the field in Yuma and La Paz Counties.