Bourbon Woman Celebrates A Century Of Good Living
October 17, 2016 at 6:33 p.m.
By Deb McAuliffe Sprong-
The Bourbon woman, who was born Oct. 22, 1916, says longevity runs in her family. She even had a brother who lived to be 101.
Georgia was born and raised in Etna Green and attended the Pleasantview country school for five years. The one-room school had fewer than 50 students in grades 1-8, she said.
She was in high school during the Great Depression, but growing up on a small farm, she says she didn’t feel the impact. People were more self-sufficient than they are now, she says.
“We didn’t have too much to begin with, so the Depression didn’t really affect us too much,” she said. “We had all we needed.”
Georgia married Forst Lutes in February 1937. The young couple stayed with his folks for a while, she said, but “as soon as we could” they found a place in Etna Green.
During World War II, Georgia and Forst had jobs on the 40 millimeter line at the Kingsbury munitions plant. Georgia also worked at Playtime in Warsaw and was a mail carrier in Etna Green for 14 years.
The town had two mail routes, Georgia said, and she had both of them. But before she could deliver the mail she had to sort it, tie it in bundles and load it into the car by 9 or 9:30 every morning.
“The mail didn’t come in sometimes until 7:30,” she said.
After Georgia retired from the post office in 1980, she put her talent to work crocheting afghans. Marilyn Anderson, with whom Georgia lives, estimates her mother made well over 100 afghans.
“And as soon as they were done, they were gone,” Georgia said of the many pieces she gave away.
She and Forst took advantage of their retirement years to see a bit of the country. ?
“We had several years of real good travel and enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.
The couple, who shared 66 years of marriage, celebrated their 65th anniversary during a blizzard in December 2003. Despite the storm, family and friends were able to join the couple’s celebration at Atwood Methodist Church.
Georgia has another daughter, Judy Burgess, also of Bourbon, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family is having an open house in honor of Georgia’s 100 years from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Matchette Center in Bourbon.
“I’ve had a good, long life,” Georgia said. “Not real exciting, but it’s been a good life.”
The Bourbon woman, who was born Oct. 22, 1916, says longevity runs in her family. She even had a brother who lived to be 101.
Georgia was born and raised in Etna Green and attended the Pleasantview country school for five years. The one-room school had fewer than 50 students in grades 1-8, she said.
She was in high school during the Great Depression, but growing up on a small farm, she says she didn’t feel the impact. People were more self-sufficient than they are now, she says.
“We didn’t have too much to begin with, so the Depression didn’t really affect us too much,” she said. “We had all we needed.”
Georgia married Forst Lutes in February 1937. The young couple stayed with his folks for a while, she said, but “as soon as we could” they found a place in Etna Green.
During World War II, Georgia and Forst had jobs on the 40 millimeter line at the Kingsbury munitions plant. Georgia also worked at Playtime in Warsaw and was a mail carrier in Etna Green for 14 years.
The town had two mail routes, Georgia said, and she had both of them. But before she could deliver the mail she had to sort it, tie it in bundles and load it into the car by 9 or 9:30 every morning.
“The mail didn’t come in sometimes until 7:30,” she said.
After Georgia retired from the post office in 1980, she put her talent to work crocheting afghans. Marilyn Anderson, with whom Georgia lives, estimates her mother made well over 100 afghans.
“And as soon as they were done, they were gone,” Georgia said of the many pieces she gave away.
She and Forst took advantage of their retirement years to see a bit of the country. ?
“We had several years of real good travel and enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.
The couple, who shared 66 years of marriage, celebrated their 65th anniversary during a blizzard in December 2003. Despite the storm, family and friends were able to join the couple’s celebration at Atwood Methodist Church.
Georgia has another daughter, Judy Burgess, also of Bourbon, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family is having an open house in honor of Georgia’s 100 years from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Matchette Center in Bourbon.
“I’ve had a good, long life,” Georgia said. “Not real exciting, but it’s been a good life.”
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