The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — As a military wife and mother of five, Theresa Ludwig learned early on how to multi-task and be efficient.

She carried it over into other areas of her life, including her 31 years of working for six different government agencies. Among her jobs, she served as management analysis officer involved in efficiency reviews. She saw what needed to be streamlined, saved Uncle Sam $100,000, and was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Navy for her efforts.

Her last assignment was working for the Navy at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

A variety of plaques lines the walls of her Village of Rio Ponderosa home that she shares with her husband, Frank.

“She can do anything,” Frank said proudly, marveling over the many talents of his wife of 57 years. He rattles off her past honors of being named Woman of the Year, Manager of the Year, Mrs. Congeniality in a Mrs. South Florida contest, one of the winners in a Beef Cook-Off.

She also ran for mayor in Key West, went back to college after retirement, and graduated summa cum laude.

“Now, she takes good care of me,” Frank said.

He means those words literally. Theresa is his caregiver as Frank battles health woes and is wheelchair-bound.

“We met in biology class, cutting up frogs,” Theresa recalled with a chuckle of their high school days in Pitcairn, Pa. “I told my best girlfriend, ‘That’s the one I’m going to marry.’”

During Frank’s years in the Navy, followed by a tenure in the Air Force, the pair moved 30 times, lived in six different states and three countries.

They were in Key West for 24 years, before moving north to The Villages in September 2001.

“It was getting kind of expensive and not much for senior citizens,” Theresa said of life in Key West. “The best part of being in The Villages is the availability of all the different activities. Anything you want to do, you can do it.”

She loves being active in dance, drama and golf.

“I just love life,” Theresa said. “I want to do what I can and make each day full.”

She is involved in dance practices Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Connie Waldron, in preparation for performing in several numbers in the Show Biz production in March. She also dances away on Mondays, preparing for the Calico Capers show that will be performed in May through the Make Someone Happy group with Betty Ganz.

Theresa also is a member of the Red Hats group, Bahama Mama’s, acts with The Villages Theater Company, and has been a Senior Games athlete, where she’s competed in racewalking.

Frank is supportive of Theresa being active and taking time for herself. And she believes that dancing provides her with the exercise and strength she needs for her caregiver role.

Her advice to other caregivers is to find what gives them joy in their lives.

“Get into some activities that you enjoy,” Theresa said. “Make sure you allow time for yourself, because life is too short, and if you don’t enjoy each day, then it’s lost.”

Among her proudest achievements was going back to college after retirement.

“I always wanted to get a college degree,” she said. “I just didn’t have the opportunity nor the money when I was younger.”

Theresa received her associate’s degree after raising her children. When she retired, she went back to Key West to go through a St. Leo College program where professors would fly out to the base to teach. She graduated summa cum laude from St. Leo in 1997, as the oldest graduate at age 66, with a bachelor of arts degree in management and business administration.

“That was a highlight of my life,” she said, recalling that her children came to her graduation ceremony.

She also was the oldest student when she graduated from junior college with her associate’s degree, and was the oldest contestant at age 49 when she participated in the Mrs. South Florida pageant in 1980.

Through the years, people have told Theresa that they admire her drive and zest to live life fully.

“People say that I inspire them,” she said.

Theresa Campbell is a senior features writer with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9260, or theresa.campbell@thevillagesmedia.com.