Some of you may not be able to read the article that was posted in the Sun City Independent today. Paywalls sometimes get in the way of articles so I thought I would share the well-written article by Diane Graettinger | Special to Independent Newsmedia. There was also a lovely photograph of all of the birthday folks, but photographs don't fare well on these pages. Read and enJOY! Think about living more than 10 decades from the bloom of innocence and youthful exuberance to the rusty and slightly corroded age of senior life, when bones creak, minds forget and backs ache. Eighteen centenarians recently celebrated that important milestone at the Royal Oaks Life Plan Community in Sun City. That time began for some under 28th president Woodrow Wilson, a time in history when Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming was elected the first woman governor and Macy’s held its first Thanksgiving parade. During those early decades, the first Miss America Pageant was held and prohibition began with the 18th amendment to the Constitution. Men and women who lived through those periods survived the misery and desolation of the Great Depression, the agony and despair of all those who were injured or died during World War II and the wars that followed. Gasoline was 30 cents a gallon, a new house cost, $4,600 and a new car, $395. It cost two cents to send a letter. And of course, the fashion at the time: men wore Knickerbockers and wing-tipped shoes and women wore felt hats and chemise dresses followed by decades of more fashion statements like bell bottoms and moo-moo dresses. But all that history is now just a mellifluous and muted memory for the 18 centenarians who celebrated 100-plus years of their lives at a recent celebration held at Royal Oaks; the youngest is 100, while the oldest is 104-years old. During the ceremony, the birthday celebrants received a commendation from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and a medal commemorating their longevity, along with cake and other goodies. The well-wishers raised their champagne glasses to all the centenarians wishing them happiness, good health and building more blocks of memories. Masuko Sata was born in 1920 in California the eldest of six children. Born in a family farming community, she later went on to serve as a translator at the United Nations. Doris Yock was born in 1922 in Minnesota and has a master’s degree in library science. She attributed her long life to a combination of pinot noir and blueberries. Vera Lauck, also born in 1922 in Indiana, contributed to the WWII effort by working on the Norden Bombsight, a critical piece of technology that helped America and its allies win the war. She also worked for the Bell System Telephone Company for 37 years. Royal Oaks residents born in 1923 include: George Soloman of the state of Washington, who after his military service worked as a civilian on the Polaris and Trident missile programs; Miriam Bedwell, who was born in Iowa but spent half her life in Arizona where she volunteered at the Heard Indian and the Phoenix Art museums; and Peggy Salisbury, who was born in New York and graduated from Cornell University. She attributed her longevity to good genes and said she had a grandmother who lived to 108-years old. Also born in 1923 was Alice Knipe of Ohio, who loves to sing and was an active member of the Sweet Adeline musical group. Her favorite song was “Show Me the Way to Go Home,” and during the recent birthday celebration she sang a few lines to the nearly 100 family, friends and residents who attended. Dorothy Hemphill grew up in Kansas in the 1920s and had a successful career as an occupational therapist. She was instrumental in the creation of the OT department at Kansas State. Residents born in 1924 include: Ruth Russell of New York, who attributes her long life to “lots of laughter;” Ellen “Cookie” Mullane grew up in Kansas where she raised 10 children and found time to make all their clothes; Frances Lewis, who was born in Missouri and during the war worked at a manufacturing company that assembled gliders as part of the war effort; and Lucille Clark, who was born in Ohio and was a high school business teacher. On her 100th birthday a former students sent her a birthday card written in shorthand. Also celebrating 1924 as their year were: Ruth Clark, who was born in South Carolina, but later moved to Washington D.C. where she secured a secretarial position working for J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI; Lester Ormsby, who was born in Florida and for three decades worked as an administrator for the Arizona Power Authority; and Audrey Olson, who was born in Iowa and worked for the Girl Scouts of America for more than a decade. Other 1924 births are Maryann Hovan, who was born in Minnesota and joined the Nurse Cadet Corps during WWII where she cared for the soldiers who had been Japanese prisoners during the Bataan Death March. She also has her pilot’s license. And Helen Kucharski, who was born in Wisconsin and attributes her long life to avoiding medical drugs and opting for natural supplements. “We are so pleased that each year we can celebrate those wonderful and amazing men and women who reached the 100-year mile marker,” said Royal Oaks Chief Executive Officer Kendra Eberhardt. “They all have had remarkable lives and they all have contributed a bit of themselves to making Royal Oaks the community we are.” Jean Totten as One Day at a Time
It was a great article and there is a back story that has been lost to the craziness that consumes us all: National politics. Thanks for posting it Jean. The other day, Ben and i gave a presentation at one of the care center/assisted living homes. It was a short (1 hour) talk on Sun City's history. As i am want to do, it became a tad unconventional. Ben gave me the reigns and i wondered about in a curious way. The speech was culled from Cotton Balls to Golf Balls using about half the slides we would normally show. The rub came when i mentioned this presentation was on Sun City's History. My wife Lori pointed out to me a year ago (seriously, it never dawned on me) History was derived from two words: "His," "Story." I elaborated and expanded it further to: His story. Her story, Our story and last and certainly not least, Their story. At which point we went around the room where those in attendance quickly told us their story. It was both fascinating and fun. It works because Sun City would never have been successful without the 100,000 plus seniors who moved into Sun City and took ownership. Of course Webb, Boswell, Meeker et al mattered, but ultimately they were going to leave and it was all going to be up those living here. It is, our story and they should never be lost or unreported. The fact 18 seniors celebrated 100 plus years of age at Royal Oak is one of those feel good stories we can all smile about. The article highlighted some of their back story. We need do more of that.
