99 Years

My husband's Grandmother passed away Friday, Nov. 7th 2008 at 1:30 a.m.


In 8 mths, she would be 100.


What would you see and do in almost 100 years?


She rode the Queen Victoria - kept the menu's, what the woman should wear and the men should wear and when they should wear it and the layout of the boat and everything. Cards from friends wishing her a wonderful and safe trip.


She was born in Bloomington, Ill. 4th March, 1909.


Do you know what happened on the day she was born?


* President Taft inaugrated at 27th president during 10' snowstorm
* U.S. prohibits interstate transportation of game birds


So much happened the year she was born :


* 1st subway car with side doors goes into service in New York City
* NAACP is formed
* 1st U.S. university school of nursing established, University of Minnesota
* 1st radio rescue at sea
* 1st federal legislation prohibiting narcotics (opium)
* 1st credit union forms in US
* Magnetic South Pole discovered and reached
* The North Pole was also reached
* Joan of Arc declared a saint


These are just a few things that happened the year she was born.




Imagine the things that she saw and experienced growing up.




She married Raymond C. Palmer on 29 April, 1950 (which is also my father-in-law's birthday just not the same year).




She worked at State Farm in Bloomington, Ill., then a Secretary for Dr. Granger Westberg at Augustana Hospital in Chicago. They later returned to Bloomingto and she became the Secretary for the pastor of Second Presbyterian Church. She was a Sunday School teacher, Pres. of the Centennial Club, and choir member and other communities of her church St. John's Lutheran Church.


She was an active local volunteer and voted Volunterr of the Year at Heritage Manor.
She was a graduate of Bloomington High School and Illinois State Normal University.
She was oldest of 5 kids and out lived them all and she was the oldest member of her church.


She also never ate dairy products including eggs until she was 30.




Who was this woman?


Her name was Mildred E. Palmer. My father-in-law's mom.


Her body is being donated to science.