Elaine Peter of New Tripoli and Gloria Zimmerman, formerly of Weisenberg Township, now of South Whitehall, were among 17 Lehigh County residents who were recognized May 21 at the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services 14th annual tribute to Unsung Heroes in honor of Older Americans Month.

This tribute, held at Asbury United Methodist Chuch, South Whitehall, honored older adults in the Lehigh Valley who have exhibited exceptional generosity with their time and talents to enhance the lives of others.

Elaine Peter, 83, was born Nov. 24, 1930.

She and her late husband married in 1951. They opened the Carl W. Peter Insurance Agency four years later in New Tripoli.

Peter was widowed at age 49 and ran the business until she retired at age 80.

Sharon Duncan, who nominated Peter, was going through a tough period in her life when she met Peter at Livingstone Fellowship Church, New Tripoli.

Peter guided and supported Duncan through an arduous six-year period in her life and taught her how to accept God and put her problems in His hands.

Peter says by placing God before all else, He will bring good.

She advises others not to look back because what is past was God's plan for a better life in the future.

A Christian woman, Peter's goal in life is to serve the Lord. She has an optimistic attitude, despite adversity in her life.

Peter was appointed by her church to minister to those in need and is an inspirational role model to others.

She is passionate about her church, her family and her community.

Peter visits shut-ins in their homes in the community, residents in nursing facilities, and patients in hospitals,.

She brings them goodies and prepared meals, and prays for all of their needs. Peter volunteered to be the designated driver for all Livingstone Fellowship Church programs, including the women's ministry, "Gemstones."

She donated land on which Livingstone Fellowship was built for non-denominational people to attend.

She sang with the church choir more than 50 years, and taught Sunday School to adults and children from the time she was a teenager until she retired.

She also had Bible studies in her home throughout the years and was a board member at the Livingstone Fellowship Church for six years.

Her favorite pastime is going to car races and she loves to attend musical performances at various churches.

Peter says her strength and wisdom generate from her father, who taught her to believe in God.

Gloria Zimmerman, 63, received the award for her attributes and accomplishments achieved in the name of anonymity, which has always been her preference.

For decades prior to his death in 2000, Zimmerman's father, Sterling, was a pillar in maintaining the proud heritage of the Pennsylvania Germans in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.

The pride and preservation of local ancestry also runs in her veins, a lifelong resident of Lehigh County.

Zimmerman gathered with other local historians in 2002 to form the Weisenberg Lowhill Township Historical Society.

With the passing of her parents and only sibling, Kenneth, Zimmerman deeded her childhood home, Zimmerman's Hotel, also known as Werley's Corner Hotel, to the historical society to serve as its headquarters to house the area's historical artifacts as well as an educational and genealogy center.

A well-maintained large German bank barn with hex signs and several storage buildings on the 2.9-acre tract were also preserved.

Another legacy of her dad's just before his passing, was being among the founders of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University.

Zimmerman fulfilled her father's wishes by being a benefactor in their preservation of a 60-acre 19th century farmstead near the university likewise serving as an educational and archival center.

A Rotarian with the Allentown West Rotary Club for the past 24 years, a past president and currently chairing the service committee, Zimmerman had urged the formation of a centennial committee and the installation of the flagpoles at the entrance to Ontelaunee Park, Lynn Township.

Her Rotary group financed the construction of two flagpoles while Zimmerman personally financed a third flagpole specifically to fly the official Pennsylvania German flag, which her father helped design, dedicating the pole to the memory of Sterling and Florence Zimmerman.

She topped this off by being a gold sponsor toward the $66,000 project goal, which her Rotary Club led for the construction of a now heavily used concert band shell in the park.

Parkland, East Penn and Northwestern Lehigh school districts benefited by another local Rotary project, guaranteeing dictionaries to each third grade student.

Zimmerman financially participates and each year is on site to assist in the distribution at Weisenberg Elementary School.

Appreciative of the sacrifices of the men and women who answered their nation's call to military service, Zimmerman worked for and contributed to the granite veterans' monument constructed on the grounds of Ziegels Union Church, Breinigsville, by the Union Church Cemetery Board for which she serves as treasurer.

The Christ's Church at Lowhill Church Food Pantry, serving the needy of Northwestern Lehigh County, is regularly the recipient of fresh produce and financial support from the Rotary Club of Allentown West under Zimmerman's tenure as club service committee chairperson.

Giving of her personal time, Zimmerman also combs outlets locally and in outlying counties for clothes, books and toys for children as well as household items she donates to the "Blessing Room" of the food pantry.

In addition to the Weisenberg Lowhill Township Historical Society's Board of Directors, Zimmerman serves or has served on the boards of the Community Music School, the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation, the Northwestern Lehigh Alumni Association and Meals on Wheels.

She is also a very engrossed family genealogist and is always willing to give a beginning genealogist a helping hand.

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Editor's note: The information in this article on the Unsung Heroes was provided by Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services.