Variety still the spice of life for St. Marys woman

ST. MARYS - At 61, Pat Prince is as active as ever. She fills her life with many things - bugged-eyed Chihuahuas, big ugly catfish, bowling nights with the girls and a 13-year old grandson, Christopher.

"We - me, my son (Floyd) and grandson - night fish," Prince said. "We have a pontoon and we take it out at night. He (her husband, Robert) fishes sometimes, but he's what I call a one-worm fisherman. One worm and he's done."

The Princes fish with shrimp and night crawlers. Pat Prince said the largest catfish she's ever caught came in around 15 pounds.

"My grandson does better than I," Prince said. "It's fun fighting them and bringing them in. I holler a lot. Sometimes I holler for help."

The Princes usually release their catch.

"It's about the thrill of catching them not eating them," Prince said. "We also come in at 2 or 3 in the morning. Nobody wants to clean fish at that time of the night."

During the winter, Prince bowls in two leagues at Varsity Lanes. Her average is 165.

"I enjoy bowling because it's good exercise," Prince said. "It keeps you limber. You get together with a group and you get to know all the girls and you miss them when the winter league is over until you get back together and catch up on the summer."

Prince has been breeding Chihuahuas for 40 years. The hobby has led her and Robert, into a new venture, the recent purchase of Pet Round-up on East Spring Street. Pet Round-up was run 26 years by Linda Bubp. The Princes renamed the store Pat's Pets Plus.

"She loves pets," said Robert Prince, 64. "She had all kinds, a skunk, alligator, python. Right now, we have the Chihuahuas, snakes, fish and coy in a big pond."

The store, which will hold a grand opening Friday and Saturday, carries fish, birds, cats, spiders, rodents and snakes as well as pet food and other supplies. Eventually, it will include another of Prince's hobbies, ceramics. The ceramics feature fiber optics and other lighting effects.

The Princes, who are from Sidney and moved to St. Marys in 1978, have been married for 38 years.

Pat Prince is a member of the American Legion and Eagles auxiliaries. Robert Prince is a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1975 and the National Guard for an additional 13 years. He is a retiree from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. after 29 years.