100-Year-Old Keeps Active In Atwood

ATWOOD - Verna Montel, Atwood, is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

She grew up in Illinois, and until a year ago, she was still driving a car. Montel is a 40-year resident of Atwood, where she lives on her own and supports herself.

"I was 4 years old when we moved to Indiana," she said. "I've lived in Atwood for 40 years."

Although Montel has no children, she has "lots of nieces and nephews," Esther Orcutt said. Orcutt is Montel's friend and nephew Al's wife. She said she's been in Montel's family for three years now.

"She's been a very sweet lady to me," Orcutt said. "I just think it's wonderful to know someone who is 100."

Montel was a telephone operator for 25 years and worked at a hospital during the war.

"I was a 50-year member of Messianic Lodge, Eastern Star, telephone company and the American Legion for 75 years, I guess - that's what they say," Montel said.

"She's going to be presented with a certificate for her 75 years with Atwood Legion Auxiliary (today) on her birthday," Orcutt said.

Montel said when she feels good she crochets, sews and knits. She crocheted and knitted slipper socks for the veterans with other Legion members.

"I've done a lot of sewing, knitting and crocheting," Montel said. "That was my pastime."

"My mother was a seamstress," she said, "so I guess I kind of took it up from her."

Orcutt said they took some blankets down to the nursing home about a year ago. The lap blankets were quilted out of little squares, she said.

"The president of the auxiliary and myself made, I expect, 200 lap robes for the veterans in a nursing home in Lafayette," Montel said.

The first car Montel remembers is a Ford coupe.

"We bought it in a crash line in Ohio," Montel recalls.

Her late husband, Franklin LeRoy, died in 1960. Since then she has lived on her own.

Some of her favorite memories include her late husband, but she said she has a lot of favorites.

"My husband was always a rail-roader," Montel said. "So, I worked and lived here." She said she was used to having a lot of time to herself, so living on her own was not too different for her.

"We moved here in 1938," she said. "I always wanted to move to Fort Wayne." But, her husband's parents lived in Atwood, and he wanted to stay. So, Montel said she let him have his way.

She decided Atwood was a good community, and she enjoyed living there.

Montel also is a member of the Aldergate Methodist Church in Atwood. She recalled her 90th birthday, when church members had an open house for her.

"So I said this time, we're not doing anything," Montel said of her 100th birthday. "I told them plain enough that I didn't want anything done ... they better not."

To honor her wishes, Orcutt said no open house is planned, but family members will visit Montel Sunday for cake and ice cream to help her celebrate her birthday.

"I'm not able to do things like I'd like to," Montel said. "I don't feel any different than I did when I was 90." She said she definitely didn't feel 100.

Montel said things today are "quite a bit" different than when she was growing up. As to how different they are, Montel said as she laughed: "I don't need to tell you - you know."

"There's lots of ways that I think (things have changed) for the better," Montel said, "but there's a lot of them that are opposite."

One of those opposite ocassions, Montel said is: "I think the dope and booze is against everything. It isn't any better - I would say the dope and the alcohol is worse."

They used to have their home brew like that and now they got stronger," Montel said of alcohol, " ... and they use it more now."

Some advice Montel wanted to give to young people today: "Leave it alone!" she said of "dope and booze."

Montel also writes and sends several letters and get well cards to family, friends, nursing home residents and members of the church.

Orcutt said she mailed out at least 10 letters and cards Tuesday.

But not only is she mailing cards, Orcutt said she's been receiving several cards for her birthday. Last year, Montel received approximately 80 cards for her birthday, Orcutt said. This year, they're hoping to get at least 100 cards.

Montel also received a birthday letter from President George W. Bush Wednesday.

Anyone who would like to send Montel a birthday card to help her celebrate her 100th birthday, may do so at: Verna Montel

205 Harrison St.

P.O. Box 55

Atwood, IN 46502