SUSAN AND KEN WILLIAMS

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — “I haven’t even lived here a month and you’re trying to make me famous,” joked one of Kosciusko County’s newest residents, Ken Williams.

Ordinarily when seniors buy a second home for their retirement years, the move is from north to south, not the other way around. As Williams put it, “I already have a house in Florida, so why would I want another one there?”

Williams was born and raised in Jacksonville. Until five years ago, he said he probably couldn’t have even pointed out Indiana on a map, much less Winona Lake. All that changed when his only child, Sarah, fell in love with Dennis Smith, a Navy lieutenant from South Bend. After his discharge, the young couple married and moved to the Warsaw area, where Dennis took a job in the orthopedics field.

Last November, the Smiths had their first child, which also represented the first grandchild for Williams and his wife, Susan. While the Williamses were able to be here for the birth, they eventually had to return to Florida. It didn’t take long, however, for them to realize that Zoom calls and occasional visits were not going to be enough to satisfy their need to see their granddaughter.

“We knew from the moment we met Emma that we didn’t want to be a thousand miles away,” said Williams. “How were we going to solve that, since it was obvious the kids weren’t coming to Florida to live any time soon.”

It took a few trips to the area, but the Williamses finally found a house to suit their needs. He said it was definitely a downsize from their house in Jacksonville, but it was perfect for the two of them — of course with an extra bedroom for a nursery.

“We still have our house in Florida, which is paid off,” he said. For now, we’re planning to go back there during the winter and maybe get in a few rounds of golf to keep our games sharp.”

Williams, a retired golf professional who has spent his adult life working at a variety of golf courses and country clubs in northern Florida, said he is excited to check out some of the courses in northern Indiana. He said he might even try to find a part-time job helping out at one of the local clubs.

“The golf courses I’ve played here so far have been nice, but I definitely miss the palm trees and year round soft grass that I’m accustomed to in Florida,” he said. “It’s always fund to play at different places, though, and see how the courses are built to fit into the existing terrain and climate.”

The Williamses said they’ve also enjoyed trying new restaurants in the area, as well as the local cuisine. Ken recently ate his first pork tenderloin sandwich, a Hoosier staple, and vowed that he would be ordering it often.

“This was definitely the right decision for us,” Williams said. “Any time you get to be with your family, you should. Time flies by way too quickly.”