On a Musical Mission

Music has always been a huge part of George Ginther’s life, and he hasn’t missed a beat since moving to the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill.

George plays the piano five to seven times a month for health care residents, during Sunday worship services and outside the dining room as retirement living residents head in for dinner. He also plays at some special events, like the annual Spring Fling.

“If playing music makes other people happy, then it makes me happy,” he said. “Most people seem to enjoy the music. I get favorable comments from my fellow residents.”

At 92 years old, George still reads music “by shorthand” through letters and key signatures printed on a piece of paper, rather than standard musical notes. Some of his favorite songs to play are hymns, as well as more popular tunes from his youth like “Harvest Moon,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “Sweet Adeline.”

George grew up in a musical family in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. One of his main activities was going to church and playing hymns for Sunday school. His two uncles played Hawaiian guitar and violin. His mother, father and sister all played the piano.

“On Friday nights while growing up, we’d go to one of my uncle’s houses and play music,” he said. “I was 8 or 9 when I first started playing and taking lessons. I grew up playing hymns in church, but I like other music, too.”

George has several large binders of music in his apartment. He listens to all types of music on his radio, from popular to spiritual. He watches a music channel on television as well.

“Music is deeply involved in my life,” he said. “I don’t know if [playing the piano] keeps my mind sharp, but I keep doing it. I can tell that I’m slowing down. My memory fails me in many areas. But I’m still doing it.”

Before he retired, George was a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania. He designed machines such as cranes, packaging equipment, etc.

George has lived at Masonic Village for the past 17 years. He was married twice – first to his wife, Mildred, for 57 years, and then to his wife Pat, for five years. She died following a long illness.

Of Pat, whom he met at Masonic Village, George said the Lord spoke to him and told him to “pay attention to a particular lady at the Village,” so he did.

“The next thing you know we were married,” he said. “I was sent to take care of her, which I did.”

George has four sons and a daughter who died as an infant. His son, John, who lives in King of Prussia, takes George everywhere he needs to go since he doesn’t drive. A 70-year Mason and member of Fritz Lodge No. 308, he occasionally attends meetings with his son, Bryce, at Palestine Roxborough Lodge No. 135, which meets at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill. George proudly displays a plaque from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania commemorating his decades of “dedicated and devoted service to Masonry.”

“I still really enjoy being a Mason,” he said “and making music.”

Fortunately, at Masonic Village, George can continue to do both in harmony.