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Letter to the editor

At 100, this Iowa native is still gardening

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 17, 2007

Ina Burns Fitzgerald of Tarpon Springs recently celebrated her 100th birthday by having dinner with her son at an area restaurant, and then at an open house Sept. 22 for all her friends and neighbors.

She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sept. 19, 1907, to Ella Mae Burns, who was a deaconess for the Methodist church, and Bailey Burns, a farmer and crop reporter.

She graduated from Prairie City High School and attended Iowa State College, where she studied applied art and home economics and became a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.

On Aug. 11, 1928, she married Dennis A.C. Fitzgerald. The couple came here in 1967 from Bethesda, Md. Mr. Fitzgerald passed away in 1994.

The centenarian is an avid gardener and member of the Tarpon Springs Garden Club, where she's won several awards, and also belongs to the Tarpon Springs Women's Club.

Mrs. Fitzgerald has a son, Dennis W. Fitzgerald; a daughter, Marjorie Golden; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Fitzgerald said her philosophy about living consists of a clean life and good genes.

* * *

Michael and Ann Mills of Clearwater were married July 6, 1957, in the Bronx, N.Y., and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Sam Seltzer's Steakhouse, Clearwater.

Mr. Mills worked as a manufacturing manager, and Mrs. Mills as a bank teller.

They are members of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, Knights of Columbus, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The couple has nine children and 11 grandchildren.

* * *

In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, Brad and Marilyn Neff of Tarpon Springs were surprised by their children with a dinner party for family and friends at La Maison Gourmet Restaurant, Dunedin.

The Neffs were married July 30, 1957, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Clearwater.

Mr. Neff retired from the Department of Public Transportation as a systems engineer.

The couple have five children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

* * *

Leonard and Lillian Wagner celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Aug. 9 at the Imperial Palace, Biloxi, Miss., and later with family in St. Petersburg and Dudley, Mass.

The couple wed Aug. 9, 1947, at St. Veronica's Catholic Church, Chicago, and moved in 1952 to Pinellas Park. Later, they lived in Seminole for a time before becoming Largo residents.

Mr. Wagner served in the Army during World War II and with his Reserve unit in 1961 and 1962 during the Berlin crisis. He worked as a mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service and retired from the Pinellas Park Post Office, where in 1955 he was given the opportunity to be one of the first mail carriers to deliver mail on a bicycle.

Mrs. Wagner was a homemaker and worked in a war factory during World War II.

They were former members of bowling leagues in St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park for many years, and have traveled extensively.

The Wagners have three children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

* * *

Richard "Dick" and Pauline "Polly" Ketchumof Clearwater celebrated 50 years together Aug. 25 at an evening dinner cruise aboard the Starlight Princess with 24 family members and friends.

The couple met in 1956 while attending Trinity College and were married Aug. 24, 1957, in Buckley, Mich.

Mr. Ketchum is a Navy veteran and was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island. Both he and Mrs. Ketchum are 74 years old and still not retired.

Mr. Ketchum has been self-employed with his lawn service business for the past 50 years, and his wife worked as a homemaker and bookkeeper.

They are members of First Church of the Nazarene, Clearwater.

"Jesus has made our home a happy one! We feel very, very successful," Mrs. Ketchum said.

The Ketchums are parents of a daughter, Chyvone "Chevy," now deceased, and a son, Monte, of Brooksville. Monte and his wife Tracy, along with their three children, Monte Max, Victoria and Mary-Rose, plan to take the Ketchums on a western Caribbean cruise in November.

"We still always hold hands and always address each other as 'Dolly' or 'Babe,'" said Mrs. Ketchum. "He still opens my door and brings me flowers every week, while I'm there with food on the table for him when he comes home."

Art exhibit marks Hispanic heritage

In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, five artists from the Hispanic Alliance of Tampa Bay Cultural Committee were selected by the cultural affairs staff at the city of Clearwater to exhibit their work as part of an ongoing effort to feature area artists in public spaces.

Aurora Heuple, Gustavo Briceno, Darwin Leon, Manuel Rodriguez and Jose Alvarez were honored at a reception in September at Clearwater City Hall, 112 S Osceola Ave., where their work will be on display through Nov. 30.

Clearwater student receives $2,000 grant

Diane L. Prestonof Clearwater was recently awarded a $2,000 grant through the P.E.O. Sisterhood's Program for Continuing Education.

Ms. Preston, a student at St. Petersburg College, was sponsored by Chapter EG, and is expected to receive her associate of science degree in hospitality and tourism in May 2008.

[Last modified October 16, 2007, 21:12:21]