Being a centenarian is no easy feat, even in these modern times. After all, the average life expectancy of Americans in 2015 is 78. Read on and meet three local centenarians who are breaking the mold for what it means to grow old and who are shining examples of what it means to live life to its fullest.
DUTCH, 105
At 105, this centenarian still drives both a car and a tractor, cares for his rental properties and enjoys hunting season.
Whether it’s mowing acreage at the family farmhouse in Dushore, PA, or trimming shrubbery and checking on tenants in West Chester, Dutch isn’t letting age slow him down.
He was born March 22, 1910, near Honey Brook, and the nickname Dutch was given to him when he was a boy by a helper on his family’s farm.
Spend time chatting with Dutch and he’ll spin stories of a simple life growing up on the farm with loving parents, five brothers and two sisters. He remembers very specific details about his childhood, like buying fresh milk from local farmers, the train coming through town and the tiny post office in Cuplo, PA.
He’ll tell you about the one-room schoolhouse he attended on Church Hill and his K-8 teacher, Miss Helen Arters.
Dutch’s father passed away unexpectedly when he was just 11, so he dropped out of school and he and his older brother took over running the family’s 100-acre farm for two years.
“The crops were planted when dad died. There were crops to get in. It was done with horses. Forty acres of plowing with two horses,” he recalls. “I did work hard. I think it really shaped me.”
Dutch eventually went on to have his own heating and cooling business, which he ran with his son.
In 1930, Dutch married Margaret Armstrong. They had two children, a son and daughter, and were married 78 years until she passed away. “We got along great. I don’t ever remember a strong argument between us,” he recalls. He says he is most proud of his wife and his family when he thinks back on his life.
And if you ask Dutch his secret to longevity and vitality at 105, he’ll smile and say, “A lot of people ask me that. I don’t have an answer,” but he points to healthy farm living early in his life.
“On the farm, we had a big garden and fresh vegetables. My mom did up jars and jars; we had our own pork and beef.”
Ask him about the world today and he’ll say he’s just old fashioned, and he thinks we all should get along. He doesn’t like the arguing back and forth during election time and within politics. And he still believes in the power of a good, strong handshake to seal an agreement.
“It used to be that when you bought something or made a deal, you shook hands. A handshake was permanent. There weren’t five or six sheets of paper,” he says.
He credits his wonderful mother, who lived to almost 100, for giving him the foundation for a good life.
Dutch lives in The Highlands at Wyomissing, when he isn’t on his tractor or at the family farmhouse.
GRACE, 101
This is a centenarian who clearly has a spark. She loves to share stories of growing up in Berks County and raising her family here.
Grace Gabel Hunter was born in Reading and grew up in West Reading, attending West Reading High School, class of 1930.
She and her late husband, Dr. Hunter, moved into The Highlands at Wyomissing just four days after it opened in 1989. “I love it here,” she says of the retirement community.
Before moving into The Highlands, she and Dr. Hunter lived in the well-known childhood home of John Updike in Shillington for 35 years. “Longer than John did,” she says.
While she was initially sad to leave her beautiful home, she quickly adapted to her new life, volunteering for many jobs including working in the gift shop for 23 years.
“Volunteering is a great thing,” she says, recalling that she helped keep fresh flowers on the tables every day in the common areas, greeted new residents and sang in the chorus.
Mrs. Hunter taught first grade for six years before having her own children. She remembers how many of her students didn’t know colors or shapes or even how to write their names, and she relished the opportunity to teach them all.
She’s had the opportunity to reconnect with some of her former students who are now also living in the Highlands. “It’s amazing how much they remember about first grade!” she smiles proudly.
Her son is a retired doctor and her daughter a retired teacher. She has six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Recently a long time friend at The Highlands who used to volunteer with her stopped in for a quick visit. “She came for five minutes and stayed for two hours,” she laughs. “We talked about everything we used to do, and it was so fun.”
She believes in staying active mentally and physically, and while she talks about her body giving way to age, she’ll point her finger to her head and say, “I still have this left, and that’s good!”
These days she likes a mean game of Scrabble and a good book.
“I like to read,” she says. “Mostly fiction because in my day and my husband’s day, he was a doctor and he worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week! I had two children and a home to care for, and I had a lot to do in the day. I wanted to read something that could take me away for a little bit.”
It’s clear her life’s work has been her family and children.
“Well, maybe this doesn’t seem much to you, but my greatest pride and my husband’s greatest pride was in raising good children and a good family, with no problems; that’s not easy to say,” she notes. “The children are well-educated, morally straight. That’s what I am proud of.”
MARY, 104
She was born on Spring Street in Reading in 1911 at her family home. “No one had money to go to a hospital back then,” she says.
She grew up playing baseball with her cousins and pulling weeds out of her father’s garden. “That was our summer,” she says fondly.
Her grandmother sent her to the butcher shop every week and it always earned her a 2-cent tip.
Mary grew up enjoying knitting and embroidery work, and later in life she would knit bed socks for the veterans at the VW hospital.
She worked in textiles for Busy Bee Knitters Mill and the Berkshire Knitting mills. She remembers that five-and-a-half days of work got her $10.90 a week back in the 1930s.
For the Berkshire Knitting Mills, she worked as a seamer. “The seam went in the foot of the stocking first and then the leg. The knitters made the legging. Everyone wore seams,” she says of stockings of the time.
A longtime member of the Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR), Mary volunteered as the recording secretary and correspondence secretary. Her membership in DAR is thanks to her family history that includes an ancestor named Rachel, whose husband fought in the American Revolution.
Mary’s lineage also clearly shows that longevity is a family trait. Records show that Rachel lived from 1766-1868. Mary’s sister passed away this past May at the age of 106. “My sister and I outlived our ancestors,” she says.
Her secret to her long life and independent living at 104 isn’t what you’d think.
“I have no idea,” she says with a laugh. “None at all! That’s my standard answer and the only one I’ll give you.”
The local Berks chapter of DAR celebrated Mary four years ago on her 100th birthday for her many years of service. The story put her picture on the front page of the Reading Eagle, something she is very proud of.
She still enjoys reading a good mystery or romance book, although she says it takes her a little longer these days to finish.
She has two nieces and family that live close by and still resides independently in her home.
“I don’t have any regrets, she says of her life.
And if she’s doling out words of wisdom, she’ll tell you the best advice is very simple, asserting, “Don’t waste your time on foolish things.”
By Rebecca Doubek | Photos by Heidi Reuter
