LOS ALTOS, Calif. –Throughout life most of us mark similar milestones…first step, first day of school, first kiss, college, marriage, birth of our children, etc. Our lives are full of these special moments. But there are some moments that trump all others. One such moment will be celebrated by Lorene Winkleby, along with her family and her friends at BridgePoint at Los Altos Senior Living Community - her 100th birthday! And when you start lining up all your personal milestones, turning 100 – and becoming an official centenarian is pretty big!
Born August 26, 1910 in Meadville, Missouri (a little town of only 500 people), Lorene was delivered in her parents' home by her physician Grandfather. Lorene was the oldest of five – all younger brothers. Lorene has many memories of growing up in the early 20th century: horses and buggies, pony rides, the first electricity and running water, Model T cars…and outhouses.
Lorene went to Central College in Missouri and became a high school English teacher and PE coach. She remains an avid fan of Stanford Women's basketball. She came out west to visit one of her brothers and decided to stay, taking a job at Convair in San Diego, where she met her husband Lloyd, an airplane inspector.
They married in 1943, had two daughters and bought a 4-acre farm in Vista raising avocados, oranges, chickens, and canning over 300 quarts of fruit each summer. In 1960 they sold the farm and bought a stationery store in Sacramento. Eventually Lorene and Lloyd retired to a home on the Rogue River in Oregon. After Lloyd’s death in 1976, Lorene moved back to Sacramento to be near friends and then to Mountain View to be near one of her daughters.
During her retirement years Lorene has spent countless hours tutoring students of all ages, helping a Vietnamese family learn about America, making hundreds of bran muffins, and remembering everyone’s birthday. She has been cultivating new friendships and enjoying activities at BridgePoint at Los Altos Senior Living Community since 2007. The associates and residents at BridgePoint at Los Altos as well as her family will be holding a special 100th birthday celebration on Thursday, August 26th from 3:00 to 4:00 pm in the Bridgepoint Tea Room. Refreshments – including cake will be served.
To learn more about BridgePoint at Los Altos Senior Living Community call (650) 948-7337 or their website at www.kiscoseniorliving.com
