Phone pals meet for first time at Dunlap Supply

Former Batesville resident returns to his favorite place

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – A special meeting took place at Dunlap Supply in Batesville on Tuesday. 

Ronnie Turner has special needs and used to live in Batesville in the 1990’s. 

He was often seen riding his bike around town and would stop by Dunlap Supply nearly everyday. 

The manager at the time was Mark Fullenkamp who welcomed Ronnie with open arms. 

“Ronnie quickly became friends with contractors and customers alike, and his mother often baked goodies to thank the Dunlap crew for showing Ronnie such love and inclusion,” said office manager Samantha Giesting. 

When his mother could no longer care for herself or Ronnie, he moved to Alabama to live with his brother. 

Despite being states away, Ronnie called Dunlap Supply every weekday to chat with Mark.

They would discuss the weather, how work was going and what was happening around town. 

Mark retired in 2021 and Ronnie was crushed. 

“After a few weeks without calls, he finally rang again—this time asking for the 'boss lady,' which turned out to be me,” Giesting said. 

Since then, Ronnie has called Dunlap Supply every weekday to talk with Samantha.

“He tells me about the weather, what he won at bingo, his dinner plans, and how his doctor appointments go,” she said. 

Samantha recently found out that Ronnie would be making a trip from Alabama back to Batesville for the very first time. 

Ronnie had one special request. To visit Dunlap Supply and meet the woman he talks with everyday. 

He walked into the hardware store on Tuesday where he and Samantha embraced for the very first time.

“The man who had only been a voice on the line, a laugh in my ear, a kiss sent through static… stood right in front of me. Flesh and blood. Smile and soul,” she said.

Samantha says the friendship that began with a phone call is one that she will never forget. 

“And I realized—some friendships don’t follow the usual script. Some arrive like a surprise phone call, grow steady like a weekly tradition, and then one day become a memory you know you’ll carry for the rest of your life,” she said. 

“Today, Ronnie reminded me that distance is nothing to love, time is nothing to joy, and connection is always worth answering the call for.”