Hide Article Text (OCR)
Mabel is celebrating the century markBy KAREN ARNOS Marketeer Staff WriterNAPOLEON — Today is Mabel DeTray’s birthday.But this isn’t just any ordinary birthday. Mrs. De-Tray is 100 years old.She was born Oct. 3, 1883, in Tontogany in Wood County, the oldest of five children born to Charles and Della Kuder.Of her two sisters and two brothers, only the youngest brother is living.Turning 100 is enough to make anyone speechless, and Mrs. DeTray admitted, “1 don’t know what to say about it.”She attended a one-room grade school and graduated from Tontogany High School. After passing her teacher’s examination at Bowling Green, she began teaching when she was 18 years old.For eight years, Mrs. DeTray drove her horse and buggy to teach in three different one-room schoolhouses in Wood County. She received a teaching certificate after attending one semester at Ohio University.On Sept. 15,1909, she married Dr. E.M. DeTray, a veterinarian, and the couple moved to High Streetin Napoleon, where they lived for four years. They then moved to 840 Scott St., where their daughter, Helen, and sons, Donald and Norman, were born.Today, Mrs. DeTray and her daughter, Mrs. Helen Heckler, reside in that same house, one of the oldest homes in the city.Mrs. DeTray helped her husband in his veterinary business, and an animal hospital was set up behind their home. After DeTray died in 1950, the hospital was torn down to make more parking space for Wesche Funeral Home, located next door.In 1910, she joined Napoleon’s First Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir and served as the first president of its Women’s Association. A special get-together was held Sunday in her honor at the church.She is also a charter member of the Child Conservation Club and a long-standing member of Eastern Star.Although Mrs. DeTray had an aunt who lived to be 104 years old, reaching the century mark still has come as a surprise.“She didn’t expect to make it,” her daughternoted, adding that her mother keeps up with current events and has always been involved with younger people.Mrs. Heckler added that “keeping busy and healthy living” have helped her mother live this long. “She has some trouble hearing and breathing, but there is nothing wrong with her mind.”The times certainly have changed since Mrs. DeTray was a young woman, and she cited cars and airplanes as just a few examples. But she added that they have changed for the better. “I’d rather be living now,” she said.Mrs. DeTray keeps active and attends church almost every Sunday. She and her daughter participate in many community activities, and Mrs. DeTray enjoys needlework, reading and working in the kitchen.Her son, Donald, is also a veterinarian and lived in the state of Oregon until recently traveling to Africa to try to combat a cattle disease. Son Norman lives on West Clinton Street in Napoleon.She has eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.i _ :l__
Newspaper Details
Defiance Marketeer
Defiance, Ohio, US
Mon, Oct 03, 1983
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 17 Aug 2023
Other Publications Near Defiance, Ohio
Defiance Evening News
Defiance Daily Crescent
Defiance Express
Defiance Daily Crescent News
The Crescent-News
