By Bruce McKenzie
Most people look forward to springtime, as the days begin to grow longer and warmer, and weekends begin to open up possibilities for outdoor cookouts, reunions, weddings, and so much more.
It’s also the season when one young couple, by the names of Cynthia and Bill Willhelm, found themselves meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding in the spring of 1969. Neither realized that this was not only the beginning of a long-term relationship, but also the start of a future which would positively impact many throughout their community.
Bill had graduated from Ohio Northern School of Pharmacy in 1966 and had worked at various pharmacies in and around the Dayton area after graduating, eventually partnering with Ken Farst of Ken’s Pharmacy in Vandalia. Cynthia, who had immersed herself in her studies at Wright State University, was soon working as a travel agent at AAA and later at Winters Bank Travel.
In September 1971, Cynthia and Bill were married. The following year, Bill and Ken purchased Smith’s Drugs, in downtown Tipp City, and renamed it Tip Top Drugs. Bill and Ken’s drugstore was one of those small, reliable hometown shops and quickly became a staple in the Tipp City area. Eventually, the Tip Top pharmacy was moved to the southwest corner of Hyatt and Main, where it stood as a pinnacle for many years.
The Willhelms became involved in local activities and soon found their family growing with the addition of son Andy and daughter Courtney. During this time, Cynthia, with Bill’s blessing, decided to stay home as a full-time homemaker to raise their children. Andy, a 1993 graduate of Tipp, and Courtney, a Tipp alumna class of 1995, currently live in the Dayton area with their families.
Bill and Cynthia were fortunate to have many loyal customers throughout the 28 years of Tip Top Drugs. Finally, after a long and thoughtful decision, the time came to sell the business, and that sale was completed in September 2000. Greenville Bank now sits where the drugstore once overlooked Tipp’s main intersection.
Cynthia and Bill felt so blessed that they wanted to give back to the community that had been good to them throughout the years. Working with the Tipp City Foundation, which welcomed this dream, the Willhelms created The Willhelm Family Scholarship Fund in 2021. The fund benefits those who are entering a science, math, or technology field, because both Bill and Cynthia believe those fields enable individuals to be the core of a strong community. Even though it was a new fund, the Willhelms were excited to be able to hand out the first scholarship to a Tipp graduate of the Class of 2022.
Bill and Cynthia passionately believe that every student should have the opportunity to further their education and were motivated by the knowledge that some hard-working students may not qualify for other scholarships. Their focus was to change that as best as they could through the Willhelm Family Scholarship fund. And what better way could they make an impact to the community they have called home for more than half a century? It’s a prescription for a lasting legacy.
See how you can leave a legacy for years to come with a fund through the Tipp City Foundation. Contact us today.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Tipp City Foundation is a member fund of The Troy Foundation. You can make a difference with your dollars in our community by:
- Donating online here.
- Making your check payable to the Tipp City Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.
- Setting up a fund or legacy plan by contacting Heather Bailey at (937) 528-2482.
STAY CONNECTED
We’d love to stay in touch. Stay connected with the Tipp City Foundation by:
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
All marketing activities of the Foundation is 100% underwritten by generous sponsors. Please contact us at info@tippfoundation.org for information on how your business or organization can become our partner in philanthropy.
- Silver Sponsor – Thrivent Financial (Matt Buehrer)
- Bronze Sponsors – Dunaway Family Foundation; Dungan & LeFevre; Ever-Green Turf & Landscape; Gibson Law Offices; Monroe Federal Savings and Loan; New Carlisle Federal Savings Bank; Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling; Unity National Bank
- Friend Sponsors – Captor Corp.; Edward Jones (Neil Nehring); Frings & Bayliff Funeral Home; Minster Bank; RSM US; Turnstone Financial; US Bank
- Media Sponsor – Tippecanoe Gazette
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