Thelma is 91 years old. She has lived in a small town in Southeastern Missouri most of her life. Widowed after 20 years of marriage, she worked and raised her daughter alone. (In fact, her husband was buried on their twentieth anniversary in 1955.) Thelma has been retired since 1977. Her daughter and son-in-law live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but are planning to return to Missouri in the near future to be near Thelma. Her daughter is an artist. Thelma also has a granddaughter and grandson, both of whom were adopted into the family as tiny babies. Additionally, Thelma has a step-daughter, a step-granddaughter, and two step great-grandsons.

From 1928 until 1941, Thelma was in insurance and abstract work and was in charge of the abstract company until it was sold. From 1941 to 1977, she was in the legal profession, both in Circuit Court and the Springfield Court of Appeals. She then returned to Southeast Missouri and was employed in a law firm. In 1967 she was elected Legal Secretary of the Year for the State of Missouri, at the Missouri Association of Legal Secretaries (MALS) convention.

Thelma suffered from arthritis for several years and reached the point of barely getting around. She then found a new doctor, a chiropractor, who worked with her and encouraged her to exercise and walk. "I'm now back on my feet, and do all of my own housework - except vacuuming," she says proudly.

For about seven or eight years Thelma was the accompanist for a local Golden Age Choir, which performed in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana -- as well as in several churches in Missouri. Today she plays the piano two days each week piano for the residents of a local nursing home, "Because I know they enjoy it," and she plays for her church, "Because I enjoy it." She also still drives, but is happy her daughter is moving back to be near her. "I don't know how many more years I'm going to be able to drive," she adds. She takes a walk each day and attends exercise class twice a week because she realizes it will help her stay mobile. Her neighbors check on her regularly and help with her yard work.

Thelma is especially proud of the accomplishments of her two grandchildren. She was able to help them financially as they went through college, and is very happy she was able to do so. What are Thelma's recommendations for aging successfully? "Stay active and involved with helping others!"

2001 Update: Thelma wrote us a wonderful letter in late February. She celebrated 93 years of living a good live in April.  In her own words, "Our Good Lord has certainly taken care of me." She typed the letter, and there was not one typographical error on the page!  She still stays pretty busy. She walks thirty minutes each day and participates in an exercise class twice a week. She is still the organist for her church, and does most of her own housework. Thelma is very independent. "I was asked 'Do you still drive?' [and] my answer was, 'How do you think I get anywhere?'"

Thelma's closing line was "I believe work and being active keeps me young and when I grow old I may think about a rocking chair but am undecided at this time." We should all aspire for such wit and wisdom -- at any age!