THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603070155
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
The combined ages of the five honorees at a recent joint birthday party at Western Branch Community Center is 456 years.
The Western Branch Senior Citizens Club recognized citizens 90 years old and older with a pot-luck luncheon.
``We did it because we had five this year,'' said Julia Tucker, who coordinated the event. ``There is a national organization of seniors over 90. We hope they will be honored by that organization in June.''
The program format featured the honorees in a ``This Is Your Life'' format. Each was given an opportunity to share a bit of his or her own story:
Helen Irwin's father hauled vegetables and other farm products to market by boat from their Craney Island home.
``When the tide went out, we saw all kinds of shaky things: fish, clams and oysters,'' said Irwin, a Western Branch resident. ``The boys got to scoot out on the mud flats in a box. They'd have one leg inside the box and push with the other leg. Some even had wheels on their boxes. I thought my parents were the meanest things because they wouldn't let me go with them.''
Although Irwin has what she refers to as ``a little heart condition,'' she doesn't let her health slow her down.
``You never know how sick you are. When you're older, taking care of yourself is a job,'' she said.
Laying one brightly manicured fingernail against her temple, she added, ``You've got to use your own bean. A lot of this is up to us. We have to know what we want.''
Irwin spoke only German until she started school, and she can still understand her native tongue.
Irwin, 90, has fond memories of attending the World's Fair in Chicago at the age of 21. After a stop at Niagara Falls, she missed her bus.
``Some lady put me up in her upstairs bedroom for the night then took me to catch my bus the next day,'' she said.
She still cooks, drives and attends Jolliff United Methodist Church.
On Jan. 21, Robert James Henry Gay celebrated 95 years.
``They completely surprised me with the celebration,'' he said. ``It was whole lot of fun.''
He grew up in the Prentis Park section of Portsmouth along with four brothers and six sisters.
Illness plagued Gay as a boy. At 1 year old, he was pronounced dead after a bout with pneumonia. But en route to the funeral home, the doctor realized the youngster was very much alive.
``I reckon my mother's prayers brought me back to life,'' said Gay, whose stamina remained low throughout his youth. ``I couldn't walk until I was 4 years old. My lungs were in bad shape, and I missed a lot of school.''
As a teenager Gay joined the YMCA. It was there that he built up his body.
Gay is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
``My grandfather belonged to the Third Virginia Regiment,'' Gay said. ``He joined the Confederate Army near Isle of Wight Courthouse, and met his wife at Monumental Methodist Church. Before the regiment moved out, he married her.'' Before the Civil War was over, Gay's grandfather was wounded in three different battles.
Gay attributes his long life to clean living.
``I never smoked my first cigarette,'' he said. ``I still don't get within 15 feet of anyone that smokes. I'm not going to breathe that stuff into my lungs.''
O.B. Thevenir, 91, grew up in Gallia County, Ohio. He recalls making sleds, which he and his peers rode down snow-covered hills. He excelled at woodworking during high school. Later, after learning the sheet metal trade, Thevenir moved his family to Portsmouth, where he worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard until the end of World War II. He also worked at the Naval Air Station, where he retired in 1971. He is a member of Highland Baptist Church.
At 14, Reba L. Gardner met her future husband, but events postponed their marriage for 13 years.
``The Depression stands out in my memory,'' Gardner said. ``That was why we waited so long to get married. That's why I'm so tight now.''
She went to work in 1927 at Morris Music Shop in Portsmouth, where she earned $9 a week.
Gardner, 90, was not allowed to dance when she was young because dancing was considered sinful. But now, she and her friends enjoy dancing at senior citizen meetings. Playing the card game ``Skippo'' is another favorite pastime.
She belongs to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, where her son Morris is choir director.
Ruth H. Johnson, 90, was ready to pack her bags and move back home after spending her first night in Portsmouth.
That was in 1939.
``We had one room and a kitchenette,'' Johnson said.
Ringing bells, ship's horns and fireworks frightened the Birmingham, Ala., native.
``I told my husband that if I lived until morning, I would be leaving for Alabama.''
When she realized that all the commotion was due to New Year's Eve revelers, Johnson decided to stick it out.
Her grandparents had a farm near Birmingham. During a yellow fever epidemic, landowners sold their land for 50 cents an acre, then fled the area.
Both sets of Johnson's grandparents lived to be over 100.
``They were long livers. I guess that's where I get my longevity. Times are easier now,'' she said. ``After I got married, we went through the Depression. Even though that was a hard time, I think people were happier then.''
Johnson likes to travel.
She is a charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Bruce Road and is a past president of World War I Widows' Club. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
These folks, all 90 or older, were recognized recently. They are
Helen Irwin, Ruth Johnson, O.B. Thevenir, Reba Gardner and Robert
Gay.
by CNB