LIMA — It’s not everyday someone reaches 101 years of age.
Mable Mozelle Saylor was born February 8, 1917 in Bloomdale in Wood County to Irvin and Grace Baertsche. On Wednesday night, there was a birthday celebration for her at Lima Baptist Temple with a “101 Dalmatians” theme.
The children and staff all got dressed up for the occasion, complete with Dalmatian ears.
Saylor’s seen a lot and still takes time to volunteer at Lima Baptist Temple through the Cubbies program for 3 and 4-year-olds.
“Somebody has to do it. So it might as well be me, because I like the kids, the Bible and that stuff,” Saylor said.
Saylor got started volunteering a relatively short time ago and has been a regular at the church.
“She started with us four or five years ago, when I asked her granddaughter if she would be willing to help. We’re always in need of helpers. She said, ‘You know where I go, Granny goes.’ Granny lives with her. At that time she was 97 or 98, and I said, ‘That’s fine, we could use her.’ She’s a table helper. When it comes our craft time, she helps them do their crafts,” said Connie Callahan, director of the Cubbies.
“She’ll do whatever we ask her to do. She always sits amongst the children when we have a story, and if a child is being somewhat interruptive, she’ll just very quietly go over and tap them on the shoulder or settle them down, which helps me a lot. We just enjoy her so much,” Callahan said.
To give an idea on how things have changed since Saylor was born, in 1917, the hamburger bun was invented, the cost of a new home was $5,000 and the U.S. hourly wage was 22 cents an hour.
Longevity runs in her family.
“My relatives were all in their 90s or more. My aunt and my cousin were over 105,” Saylor said.
Each child got a gift for her, whether it was chocolate — her favorite — or a handmade birthday card or artwork.
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