One for the ages: Friendship thrives despite 48-year age gap

KENTON — A pair of best friends with nearly a 50-year age gap have been going on adventures around Ohio and sometimes out-of-state for the almost 20 years they’ve been friends.

Kelly Wilson, 39, of Dola, and Shirley Wies, 87, of Kenton, met at the Kenton Walmart when Wilson called Wies in for an interview when Wilson was working at the hiring center. When Wies was hired, Wilson was the department manager of housewares and Wies was one of the associates. They worked at Walmart together for 13 years.

“It was just natural,” Wies said on how their relationship developed. “Just like family.”

“I was actually pregnant right when I first started and we both started working together and after my son was born he just called her Grandma Shirley, still does to this day and he’s going to be 19 this year,” Wilson said.

They said they don’t notice the age difference in their friendship as they have a lot in common, like their love for food, sweets, traveling, trying new things, Halloween and almost sharing the same birthday. Wilson’s birthday is Oct. 1 and Wies’ birthday is Oct. 5.

For a combined birthday celebration every year Wilson tries to get Wies to do something she’s never done before. They’ve been on many modes of transportation like a golf cart and boat in Put-in-Bay — where Wies took her first selfie — the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Peninsula, buses to Tennessee and La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro and a ski lift in Gatlinburg.

Other adventures include experiencing Halloween in Gatlinburg; hiking part of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina; completing Suter’s Corn Maze in Pandora; having a picnic in Marblehead by a lighthouse; visiting the Columbus and Toledo zoos; and many craft shows and restaurants.

“A lot of craft stores,” Wies said.

“A lot of McDonald’s trips,” Wilson said. “Now every year for the birthday we have always done something super big.”

Wies said she doesn’t really have a bucket list, but “When Kelly wants to do something I’m ready to go,” just as long as it’s not flying and matching tattoos.

Wilson said Wies would like to go to Hawaii and Wilson would love to take her there eventually. Wilson would like to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan and ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Their next adventure will be BB Riverboats Dixieland Jazz Brunch Cruise on Aug. 25 organized by the Hardin County Council on Aging. They were on a waitlist and recently got a call that they had two openings. Wies is scared of water but is still excited.

Other ideas they’re considering came from the comments on a Facebook post from Wilson on the Ohio Road Trips Facebook page where she asked for ideas on what they should do for their birthdays. The post received over 3,000 likes and over 1,000 comments. Wilson said a hot air balloon ride was a good idea but they’re both afraid of heights, and they’re planning on participating in the Butler County Donut Trail by visiting the 13 local donut shops on the list.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.