Harbor Health Care marks Woodruff’s 100th birthday

Staff at Harbor Health Care in Ironton took part in a special celebration on Monday for one of their residents.

Garnet Eloise Woodruff, who has resided at the senior living facility for the last four and a half years, turned 100 on Friday.

Woodruff sat at a table in the activity room, alongside her neighbor at the facility, Delores Fossett, with whom she had become close friends.

“She’s very sweet,” Kim Holtzapfel, admissions director, said. “Her daughters visit her every day and she likes to take part in activities, like the church services. She’s a longtime resident here.”

Born March 24, 1924, when Calvin Coolidge was president, World War I was only a few years in the past, films were still silent and the old Ironton-Russell Bridge was only two years old, Woodruff was one of eight children of Haskell and Mellie Lynd, of South Point.

She attended South Point High School, was double promoted in eighth grade and graduated in 1942, during World War II.

She married Harold Woodruff in 1943 and they had three children, Harold Douglas, Susan Lynn Morgan and Peggy Lou Harrison.

Woodruff has six grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Aaron Childers, pastor of Solida Baptist Church in South Point, says Woodruff is the oldest member of their congregation.

While her time attending largely predates his time as pastor, he said he remembered visiting Woodruff and her sister Betty in the past.

“She was family to a lot of Woodruffs here,” he said, adding he was happy to hear she enjoyed the day.