By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County just celebrated the lives of those who outlived many in their generation. They made it through wars and the Great Depression. They raised big families and big gardens to feed them.
Last week, the Wood County Committee on Aging recognized more than 130 local residents who have made it through at least nine decades with the annual “90 Plus Spectacular” held at the Wood County Senior Center in Bowling Green.
“Ninety is a milestone,” said Denise Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging. “At 90 you need to celebrate that milestone.”
The two oldest people recognized were Virginia Johnson and Herbert Kratzer, both 102. Mr. Kratzer died on Sept. 21.
Improved supportive services and medical care help people live longer lives, Niese said.
“It’s helping people embrace their later years,” she said. “Look around that room and you see some of the 90-year-olds, who could easily pass for 70.”
The nonagenarians and centenarians were asked to tell about their younger years, their jobs, strong memories and advice for future generations. Thee were submitted beforehand and shared at the event.
Several shared lingering memories from their childhoods.
Shelia Rose Damschroder, 90, recalled a Christmas when her dad tried to talk her into asking Santa for a train but she really wanted a doll. On Christmas morning she found a doll sitting in the middle of train tracks under the tree.
Stephen McEwen, 90, who was president and CEO at Henry Filters, remembers the Great Depression years when tramps would visit his family home for a meal.
Alice Ann Stawick, 92, recalled growing up on a farm, working hard to help her dad when her brother went into the Army. Stawick went on to serve in the Air Force for two years, worked as a cashier at a bakery and drove a bus for three years, and then worked in their commercial department for two years. She met U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, and started golfing at age 64 and got a hole in one at 72.
Ramona Sanchez, 93, grew up in Houston, Texas, and was one of 12 children. She attended very little schooling growing up as she helped her family in the fields. As an adult she worked at a pizza factory and cleaned dorms at BGSU. Her significant memories include sneaking out of the house to go fishing with her husband, Marcus.
Rosemary Espen, 94, remembered working for a blind man making brooms in her teenage years. Her advice to future generations is to treat others better than they treat you.
Luette Feasal, 92, recalled when her father was working on the high level bridge in 1930. Someone accidentally set off dynamite, causing her father to be in the hospital for several weeks.
Mary Foster, 91, was the youngest of 14 children. They lived on a farm near Wayne and grew all their own food. Not having a freezer, she did a lot of canning.
Phyllis Dibling, 90, remembers her father buying a tractor and bailer after the war. It took three kids to run it. They went to different farms each day and ran it for a few years.
Marjorie Terry, 99, skipped first grade because she was so far ahead of all of her peers. Her father taught her to read and do math before she was 6.
Families were the pride and joy of many in the oldest generation.
Dennis Barrett, 92, shared his significant memories of the birth of his first child in 1958 and his last in 1971 – with one was adopted, but he can’t remember which one. His piece of advice is to love your children when they are young and they will love you when they are old.
Patti Dunn, 93, recalled flying with her husband in a small two-seater plane, which landed in her father’s hay field to pick her up.
Maxine Cross, 91, told of going to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey in 1953 where she met her husband who was in the U.S. Army and had been away for two years. They were only able to communicate through letters – at the cost of 3 cents per letter.
Alta Codding, 93, recalled getting married the day after the Korean War started. The day after she was wed, a telegram came for her husband, Chuck, to be recalled for another two years as an officer in the Navy.
Many worked the land for years, while others chose the classroom and government service.
Kern Ackerman, 91, born in Cygnet, spent more than 20 years raising and selling gourds.
Emily Cronenwett, 95, worked as a public school music teacher. Her significant memories include producing several annual musical performances – especially the Christmas performances. She still hears from students who participated in them.
Patricia McGinnis, 94, worked as a kindergarten teacher and elementary school principal. She also worked for WBGU Channel 27, completing workshops and for several years supervising future teachers at BGSU. Her significant memories include serving on Bowling Green City Council for two terms.
Sue Potter, 92, worked at the U.S. State Department in the foreign services sector. Her significant memories include working at embassies and consulates in Africa, Europe, Asia and finishing in Toronto.
Nancy Seifert, 92, first worked as a chemist, then as a fourth grade teacher, then was a PhD student to become a population ecologist. She later was a tax preparer and a special IRS agent.
Some never got far from their roots that they love, while others traveled the world.
Connie Clark, 93, who grew up on a farm near Weston, remembered spending the night in a tent in Morocco with her sister and riding on a camel to get to the site.
Helen Dermer, 91, taught in military schools in Sasebo, Japan, and Naples, Italy.
Joyce Grimshaw, 92, recalled going on a trip with her daughter and picking up two hitchhikers who stayed with them for three days. Thirty-nine years later they looked them up online and found them. The two hitchhikers had pictures of Joyce and her daughter on their webpage.
George Seifert, 95, said one of his most significant memories was when he happened upon an organ recital of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor at the cathedral in Regensburg. “What an experience. I heard this masterwork as Bach intended – played on an acoustic organ in a gothic cathedral. The downside – I don’t enjoy my recording of this work anymore. It sounds dead. No orchestral version of this work satisfies me anymore.”
Eloise Reitzel, 92, traveled to Alaska with her husband, who worked for Sohio and BP oil companies, and needed to check on the start of the Alaska pipeline.
Nancy Lou Stockner, 90, a primary school teacher, traveled to 39 different countries. Her advice for future generations is to do a lot of traveling while you are physically able.
Many of the seniors witnessed pivotal points in history.
Raymond Hoepf, 98, was in the Navy during WWII, serving on a tank landing ship in South Pacific, during the invasion of Iwo Jima, and witnessed the flag raising on Mount Suribachi.
Emmy Hann, 91, worked with the women’s Medical Specialist Corps of the U.S. Army, stationed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She remembered being in the basement of her home in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 22, 1963, when her father-in-law came down to tell them that President John F Kennedy had been assassinated. Besides feelings of shock and unbelief, her first question was “What kind of world am I bringing a child into?” Her fourth child arrived four days later and has given them the answer: “What kind of world will this child help to make?” Her advice is let go of languishing – go forth and flourish.
Loren Phillips, 91, recalled attending the U.S. Coast Guard boot camp in New Orleans. He witnessed full segregation for the first time – a shocking event for a white farm boy from northern Ohio.
Some of the seniors developed lifelong hobbies.
Paul Huff, 95, restored 40 old cars, with a Model A Ford being his favorite. And Dale Johnson, 91, played an accordion in a dance band for 50 years.
Each senior was asked to share advice for future generations. Here is some of that advice:
- Buy life insurance when you’re young, invest in saving when you’re young. It will never be enough – plus you get the power of compounding – Phyllis Dibling, 90.
- Don’t be afraid to go into debt – Richard Adler, 93.
- Take good care of the planet – Stephen McEwen, 90.
- Be kind, listen to others and try to understand where they are coming from – Pat Brenneman, 90.
- Be honest. If married, stay true to your spouse and don’t cheat on them – Peggy Carsey, 90. Advice from her husband, Seldon Carsey, 90, was aligned – Never tell a lie.
- Be active in your church and community, and vote in every election. Always vote for the best candidate regardless of their political party. Try to follow the Ten Commandments and love one another – never be hateful – William Crone, 93.
- Get married young – Eileen Davis, 94.
- From your first job to your last job, prepare for your senior years. Save 10% of each paycheck – Wallace “Bud” Dennis, 96.
- Keep dancing as long as you can – Betty Jones, 95. Mrs. Jones died on Sept. 16.
- Get a good education. Don’t drink, smoke or do drugs. Get married, raise a family and enjoy your work – Harold Mercer, 98.
- We must all learn to get along and treat each other with respect. That is the only way this country will survive – Robert Lee Smith, 93.
- The more you help others the more your life has value – Joyce Grimshaw, 92.
- A democratic system of government is very fragile. Keep alert. Be sensitive to political issues and vote. Don’t complain about them, those or they. Remember you are part of them, those and they – George Seifert, 95.
- Live life to the fullest, don’t wait too late, and don’t forget to exercise every day – Patti Dunn, 93.
