By Brennan Phillips
Western News Staff
Four residents at the retirement community Village by the Station celebrated their 100th birthdays on Friday.
With friends and family close by, Elma Oster, Dorothy Nicholson, David Llywarch, and Ada Hutchinson shared stories and some advice about how other people can live to be 100, too.
One secret is friends and family. Another is staying active. All of them said it was the city they lived which played a big part.
“Stay in Penticton,” said Oster, who turned 100 on Nov. 8. She has lived in Penticton since 1944, and the house her husband built is still standing today. Asked about her favourite part of Penticton, she said, “It’s the different climate, the two lakes, and the small town, which I guess isn’t so small anymore.”
Oster was born in Kinkade, Saskatchewan, and during the Second World War worked in a woollen mill, while her husband served in the Canadian Armed Forces. At the time, she made just 19 cents an hour, working twelve-hour shifts six days a week.
Read More: Okanagan man celebrates turning 100
“They say it’s the place to live forever here,” said Nicholson, who has called Penticton home for 65 years.
Nicholson used to regularly walk from one lake to the other, and she includes her many friendships as part of what has helped her reach the age of 100.
Llywarch used to come to town often before he moved to Salmon Arm and then to Penticton. A navy veteran of World War Two, Llywarch also worked as a conductor for CP Rail in their freight division, where he would stop in Penticton at the old station. LLywarch was also an avid baseball player.
Read More: Summerland man celebrates 100th birthday
Hutchinson has many fond memories of Penticton, from the time she went to school here in her youth, to the time she hopped on a train to go and marry her husband.
“I just loved it here. Penticton is a great place to live.” said Ada Hutchinson, “The people are all so nice. I remember when we used to skate on Guernsey Pond. My secret? Eating naturally, good family, and I loved all the ballgames and skating.”
All four celebrated at a party at Village by the Station, with music, visiting family, collages of old photos and cake.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<>@PentictonNews
newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.