PERKINS TWP.

A Parma Heights firm has donated more than $50,000 in computers and furniture to set up a computer lab at Ohio Veterans Home.

Computer Quest Ltd. also donated the cost of the salary for teacher Bill Corcuera, who will train two OVH residents to be instructors so they can take over and eventually run the program themselves.

The lab is in a former TV room in the OVH recreation center.

Classes started Thursday with eight new computers for 16 students in two class sessions.

Interest is so high instructors are considering adding an additional session.

"This computer lab opens up a whole new world to the residents here," said Gary Chetwood, OVH's Director of Public Affairs. "And it challenges the brain, too."

Computer Quest Ltd. is owned by Gary Holodnak, a retired Ford Motor Co. employee and disabled Vietnam-era veteran. At least half of Holodnak's teaching staff are also disabled vets, including Corcuera.

"They have been through some of the same things that our students have -- so they can relate to them," Holodnak said.

The program is funded in part by Chapter 31 money distributed by the Veterans Administration. To qualify for funding, a veteran must be 20-percent or more disabled. Most of the 16 participants in the class qualify for Chapter 31 funds.

There was already a line of students forming outside the classroom 30 minutes before the class was scheduled to start. Residents couldn't wait to get at those new computers.

"I've been waiting for this to happen -- I asked about getting computers a long time ago. I appreciate that they're finally here now," said Elmer Harmon, a 52-year-old Army veteran.

"I want to surprise my son in Atlanta with an e-mail message, letting him know that I can operate a computer now, too," Harmon said.

Harmon recognizes the importance of life-long learning and the need for computer skills, even for older folks.

"I want to learn all I can," he said. "You're gonna be a lost soul without computers nowadays."

For 56-year-old Army vet William Funderburk, using a computer will make communicating with family and friends a lot easier.

"Since I had an operation to remove both of my vocal chords, I can't talk too much on the phone," he said in a handwritten note.

Joseph Wayma, a 76-year-old Navy veteran, was surprised that learning about computers was so painless.

"It's interesting -- I didn't think my learning capacities were still there anymore, but I guess they are because I understood everything."

Wayma's ambition is to learn more about CAD-CAM, software used by engineers to create mechanical drawings. Wayma helped design the JT-8 jet engine that powered fighter jets in Korea.

"The stealth bomber was the last one that I worked on before retiring," he said.

Wayma wouldn't confirm whether there would be invention patents emanating from OVH in the future, but he wouldn't rule out the possibility, either.

"You never know," Wayma said, grinning.

Janet Overhuls, 87, a former Navy WAVE who served as an aviation machinist's mate, plans to use the new computers for e-mail and surfing the Internet.

"I like to look up and learn stuff," she said. "My daughter can do anything with a computer. I want to learn, too. Besides, you have to know something about computers nowadays."

Steve Jett, a 49-year-old Army veteran, is training to become one of the resident instructors for the class. Bob Dunnigan is the other instructor-in-training at OVH.

Jett is excited about his new job and is already taking reams of notes on instructor Bill Corcuera's teaching style.

"I like the way Bill makes learning easy -- and fun, too. I took lots of notes yesterday and brought my tape recorder to class so I can learn from him," Jett said.

Jett's interests include communicating via e-mail with family and friends, learning how to build Websites, and using the Internet to support his hobbies of photography and astronomy.

"I like to e-mail photos to my daughter -- and the Hubble Telescope Web site has some great photographs on it," he said.

The ultimate goal at OVH is to have a computer in the room of every resident who wants one, according to Jett. His dream is to learn how to build computers himself so they can be affordable for everyone.

"You can explore the entire world and beyond -- all from your room," Jett said.

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