Bus Ride of a Lifetime

Bus Ride of a Lifetime
Posted on 04/26/2016
This is the image for the news article titled Bus Ride of a Lifetime.....
90-year old Indian Lake resident and World War II veteran Roger Timmons got the bus ride of a lifetime recently. 
"Do I get to ride with the kids?" he asked as the bus and police escort pulled in front of his Seminole Island home. 
Indian Lake Schools Bus #31, driven by Elizabeth Grube, picked him up at his residence and took him for his first ever ride on a school bus. In all his many years, Timmons had never ridden a school bus because as a child he lived right next to the school house. Later he served in the Navy in the South Pacific during the second World War.
His daughter, Kelly Shaw, knew riding a bus was a lifelong dream. 
"He always says he never got the opportunity to ride a bus...we thought it would be a treat for him." 
She contacted Indian Lake Local School's Transportation Director, Pat Smith, who agreed to give her father his dream ride. Smith said, "Anybody that served our country the way he did deserves the upmost respect. Frankly, if a guy wants to do something like this that he's never done in his life and I have the means to provide it so easily, why wouldn't I? It really is a privilege to be able to do it."
Several members of the Indian Lake Elementary School Student Council and other Indian Lake bus drivers accompanied Timmons on the ride. Many students and families who live along Grube's route also stood out waving flags and signs to thank Timmons for his service to our country. 
Grube made sure Timmons got to experience traditional school bus fun, like going over bumps and honking while going through the covered bridge before bringing him back home. 
Timmons said he is glad he can scratch this off his bucket list.
"It was wonderful, I enjoyed it!" He said he hopes to ride again sometime, maybe when he turns 100. 

To see video of the ride and hear comments from Timmons click on https://youtu.be/nB1DdSx-wlk