A Kentucky woman celebrated her 109th birthday by watching a parade of fire trucks, community leaders, and loved ones outside the nursing home where she resides.
Kuttawa resident Ruth Evelyn Harrington has survived two world wars, 17 presidents, the ban and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, but she eagerly awaited the arrival of her birthday all week, River’s Bend Retirement employees said. Community.
On Wednesday afternoon, dozens of vehicles passed River’s Bend with banners wishing Harrington a happy birthday and asking him to “stay positive.” Some electronic traffic signs, displaying his name, also passed by while Harrington was sitting with his mask on to watch the parade, according to local press reports.
Asylum manager Stacey Bullock said Harrington’s family had the idea for the parade. But the event grew when other people in the community found out.
“It was great,” Harrington told employees after the parade. “I really didn’t deserve that.”
Harrington was born on a Tennessee farm on May 6, 1911.
In 1927 she married Paul Harrington, who has already passed away, and later moved to Kentucky. The couple opened the Calvert Drive-In drive-in in 1953 in Marshall County, an establishment that remains in operation to this day.
Harrington’s grandson John Harrington, who is currently the drive-in manager, said his grandmother ran it for 60 years, selling tickets long after his 80th birthday.
John Harrington said he was impressed by the number of people who participated and thanked the community, according to a report in The Paducah Sun newspaper.
As for her 110th birthday party, “she may be in there planning everything right now,” said John Harrington.
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