Ada Rockwell turns 102

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Ada Rockwell, a resident of Hibbard Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is celebrating her 102nd birthday. Ada was born in Chapman, the eighth of 11 children. Ada married her sweetheart, Otis Rockwell the same month she turned 18. They were married for 59 years until Otis passed away in 1988. Ada lived in East Corinth and had 10 children; Walter, Dorothy, Norman, Lawrence, Ellen, Robert, Lois, Kenneth, Elaine and Floyd.

Photo courtesy of Hibbard Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

   CENTURY-PLUS MARK — Hibbard Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center resident Ada Rockwell recently celebrated her 102nd birthday.

   Ada raised the children until her oldest daughter was old enough to look after the other children, then Ada went to work on the farm assisting her husband. They had cows and horses to work the fields. Ada says they had work horses until they could afford a tractor. She says she never did drive the tractor, just rode along behind on the machinery. They had hay fields, they grew potatoes and corn, and sold the milk from the cows.
    She says she rarely had time for anything other than working, but if she did have a chance she would like to crochet. She had one pattern she had memorized over the years that she could still do until her eyesight went last year. Ada says they hardly ever went anywhere but maybe for a short trip; but that was okay because she loved working the farm.
    Ada attended the Pentecostal Church in Charleston, which she enjoyed. Ada has many grand, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren.
    When asked what she would attribute her longevity to, she replied, “Just hard work, I guess.”