Kruse Village resident played vital role
in history-making life-or-death drama

For many of those who were old enough to witness and understand the gravity of the situation that fateful day on April 13, 1970, the words, “Houston we have a problem,” will remain a permanent part of our memory.

For Kruse Village residents Arthur and Ruth Ellen Hinner, those words, spoken by astronaut James Lovell, dramatically affected their lives for the next four days. Hinner, an aeronautical engineer working for NASA at the time, was actively involved in the effort to bring the three American astronauts aboard Apollo 13 safely back to Earth.

Hinner would not have been caught in the middle of this life-or-death drama had he passed his eye exam and become a pilot in World War II as he had hoped. Instead, the military sent him to engineering school, and after the war he became part of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of today’s NASA.

By 1963, Hinner and his wife, known by everyone as “Smitty,” had settled down in Seabrook, a suburb of Houston. Then, “NASA was scattered around in several buildings in different locations,” said Hinner.

“After the explosion aboard Apollo 13, I was put in charge of testing all of the ideas we came up with for making sure our astronauts would return safely,” said Hinner. It was a responsibility he gladly took on. He, along with the rest of the NASA team, made history, and were successful in bringing home astronauts Lovell, John Swigert Jr. and Fred Haise Jr.

But Hinner almost changed history during the early days of America’s space program.

“One very foggy morning in Houston, as I drove to work, I suddenly noticed someone jogging in the middle of the street,” explained Hinner. “But I managed to swerve in time, missing the man who turned out to be John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth during the Mercury program!”

Decades later, it was the mandatory evacuation order during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that got them thinking about making the move to a retirement community further inland. “I read about Kruse Village online after a friend of ours mentioned it. His mother had been cared for in the Kruse Village Health Care Center, and he was impressed,” Hinner said.

The Hinners liked the idea that Kruse Village offers various levels of care, from independent living to assisted living and skilled nursing care to memory care. “We will probably need more care someday,” Hinner said. The Hinners moved into their cottage duplex at Kruse Village late last year.

“We love the floor plan,” said Mrs. Hinner, a retired registered nurse. “As soon as I saw the sun room I thought that would be perfect for my sewing room.”

“The grounds are kept so beautiful,” said Mrs. Hinner. “I love the views we have.”

“The kindness of the people in Brenham overwhelms us,” said Hinner.

The Hinners love to travel. They have always been active in their community. He was a Scout leader and she a den mother. They volunteer at Brenham United Methodist Church, where they are members. Hinner also spends time at the Kruse Village wood shop where he is working on Bible shelves for a small local church.

Kruse Village assisted living resident has “royal” background

Kruse Village resident, Hester Lockett

Born and raised in Brenham, Hester Lockett, a resident of La Roche Manor at Kruse Village, has received the “royal treatment” several times during her more than 102 years. In 1923, she was chosen as the queen of Maifest, an annual festival that has been a tradition in Brenham for decades. Lockett’s mother and daughter also held the title.

In 2001, Lockett was chosen for another honor when she was picked to be on the box of Blue Bell Creamery’s Country Cones Variety Pack (above).

“Living at Kruse Village is such a blessing, because they take good care of me,” said Lockett.

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