A lasting legacy

In his third book, Lewis Coiner, 90, of Waynesboro, implores senior citizens to pass on their stories and heritage to younger generations.

But it was what Coiner never heard from a close friend, who died at age 100 in August, that surprised him last week.

He’s been flying high ever since learning the late Leonard Penland left $100,000 in Coiner’s honor to create an endowment fund through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge that will benefit the Valley Program for Aging Services.

“Complete shock,” Coiner said of the contribution. “I’ve been on cloud nine ever since.”

Coiner helped hundreds of senior citizens while volunteering with the Waynesboro Elderly Commission and was the first executive director of the Community Foundation.

He got together with Penland each week for six years at Summit Square, the assisted-living facility where they lived, but never knew his friend’s intentions.

Coiner and Penland are leaving big legacies within Waynesboro’s elderly community, but in different ways, said Paul Lavigne, CEO of the aging agency.

“I kind of looked at the money as a representation of [Penland’s] whole life,” Lavigne said. “His life ended, but he’s left this tremendous legacy to the foundation. It will go on forever.”

Coiner shared lunch with Lavigne and community foundation President Becky Kohler on Friday, where he described his friend’s contribution as one of the best things that has ever happened to him.

“And he’s had quite a life,” Lavigne said of Coiner.

Formation of the endowment comes just a month before Coiner will release his third book, “Pass It On Or Lose It,” in which he asks seniors to share their life stories.

“We have not done a good job of passing on our culture, heritage, and religion to the succeeding generations,” he wrote.

Coiner said seniors should keep notebooks handy to jot memories, or find a book that prompts seniors to write down answers to questions. He recently asked Bethan Lutheran congregation members to take up his advice.

“I am sold on the idea that every old person should write their history,” he said. “I know some children don’t give a hoot, but most do.

“If I can get 100 people to write their memories for their kids, that’d be great,” Coiner said.

Yet Penland remains a mystery.

Born near Asheville, N.C., he worked as a DuPont engineer. His wife Jane preceeded him in death. They had no children.

“He knew more info about the railroads … ” Coiner said. “He was smart, there ain’t no doubt about it.”

Lavigne said the contribution to his agency was a surprise, but not that in came in Coiner’s honor.

He said the fund, which will allow the agency to draw out about $4,000 each year, will go a long way in covering likely state and local funding cuts.

“It could very well save us from not serving somebody,” he said.