After moving to rural Putnam County in 1984, Gail Thompson first devoted her energies to fixing a run-down farm house. Then she started helping adults repair their reading skills.
Now, 16 years after Gail first signed up as a Literacy Volunteers tutor in Putnam County, her husband, Walker, has retired and joined her in as a partner in the organization.
"I wanted to use my education and give something back to the community," said Walker, 60. "I had seen some of the rewarding situations she has had with her students."
A chemical engineer with a master's degree in industrial management, he retired about 18 months ago after 38 years with Union Carbide.
Literacy Volunteers requires a 10-hour training course for tutors -- one that his wife was teaching at the time Walker signed up.
"We kind of enjoyed it. She used me as a test subject," he said.
Initially, Walker hopes to work with foreign-born Putnam residents seeking help in gaining proficiency in English as a second language. But the first student he was assigned sought help both in reading and math.
The Thompsons teamed up to help her. Gail brought out the phonics program she found at a national Literacy Volunteers convention, and Walker provided tutoring in math.
While it is not the focus for Literacy Volunteers, the organization provides math tutoring as needed.
The student the Walkers were assigned already was reading at a reasonable level, but after a few months she had to drop out to take a job because of her family situation. That, too, is not unusual.
Now the Thompsons are waiting for another assignment.
"I would like very much to pick up another student," Walker said.
"There are certainly a lot of people who can use it, but there is a lot of reluctance to come forward."
He knows from his wife's experience that many adults are both hesitant to seek help or drop out.
But Gail has savored successes as well.
"One of my students was a high school graduate, but she came in at a third- grade reading level," Gail said. "When we finished, she was reading at a high seventh-grade level.
"She was gung-ho that her sons were not going to be left behind and unable to read like herself. She came twice a week. She always was prepared. She always had done her homework. She always had questions.
"That's what keeps me going."
Students generally have missed out on years of reading gains, either because they missed school because of illness, moves or other reasons, had learning disabilities or some other factor.
"You can't make up in six months what you lost over years," Gail said.
"I've had a student for four or five years at a time. You have to understand, it's a slow process."
Tutors and their students now have an additional resource at the Putnam County Library, where Literacy Volunteers has its office.
The state Library Commission, using federal funding, purchased almost $2,800 of computer programs designed to help struggling readers at the library.
The programs provide individualized instruction in reading, writing and math skills for everyday living, Library Director Peggy Bias said.
"We are really excited about having it. It will allow literacy students to come into the library and sit down at a computer and improve their skills," Bias said. "We are just getting the word out to the students through the tutors."
The tutors have viewed the programs and several have introduced their students to it, said Lois Martin, assistant director of the Putnam Literacy America program.
About 50 students and 40 tutors currently are on the roster of the program.