Kate Fizer's 99th Birthday
HAPPY 99th BIRTHDAY TO KATE FIZER
Kate died February 4, 2005 at the age of 101
Kate died February 4, 2005 at the age of 101
At the April 20, 2002 meeting our genealogy group enjoyed celebrating the 99th Birthday of Kate Fizer.
We used this occasion to "Interview" Kate. This was part of our on-going program of various ways to do research. Kate was a very enjoyable subject, with a wonderful sense of humor. She was born and raised in Wellsburg. Her early years as a teacher were spent at the Windsor Heights school. She told us about riding the street car down to stop 39, then walking (with the stick her father made for her) up the hill. If any of you remember where the coal buckets used to go up over the hill, this is the area she would walk thru.
We had a birthday cake, and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We hope she has many more birthdays.
1903, WHAT A YEAR!
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY TO KATE FIZER
The Panama canal digging began; the first motion picture, “The Great Train Robbery”, was produced; the first successful flight by Orville Wright; and Teddy Roosevelt sent the first message across the trans Pacific Cable – perhaps announcing to the far east the arrival of that little ray of sunshine,
Katharine Ella at the home of
Ross and Anna Marsh
In Wellsburg, WV
Thus began Kate’s journey through the twentieth century and my oh my, what those eyes have seen! From horse and buggy and the model T as the only means of transportation to space travel. From crystal radio sets to plasma television hanging on the wall. From smoke signals to E-Mail and Sears Catalogs to on-line shopping. Ah Yes, the computer age! She remembers when a mouse was something you set traps for and a website was something you took a broom to in the corner of the ceiling.
During most of the first half of all this progress and change, Kate lived, as did many of her era, a life of survival. The great depression, major floods, two world wars and other conflicts- all the while surviving the greatest challenge of all – motherhood. Working as an underpaid teacher full time, single handedly raising and educating Mary Jo and Bob, she nevertheless managed to pursue and achieve her long abandoned goal of a college degree from West Liberty State Teachers College. What a fitting was to begin the second half of her journey.
Journey, of course being the operative word here since her life from that point has been filled with many of them. Far too many to list, but a few worth mentioning.
A trip to the New York Worlds Fair with her eleven year old grandson in tow comes to mind. Never having bothered with owning a car or drivers license, her prowess and expertise with Greyhound became legendary. It served her well touring Alaska and most of the states in the lower 48. Kate never turned down an opportunity to ravel, whether to Ireland, Scandinavia or for that matter, to the Steubenville mall. Air travel became routing, as well, with overseas jaunts and her many trips to Florida where she sill maintains a winter residence in Ft Myers with Bob and Shirley. Hopefully, this next winter will find her once again far away from the snow where she will be working on her tan. Early in Kate’s winter stays in Florida she reunited with her college roommate from Bethany College, Virginia Kelly, also living in Ft Myers. This resulted in many great meals and parties shared over the next several years and the reminiscing and stories!! WOW!! Did not know they did such things in the roaring twenties!!
As a footnote to this synopsis of Kate’s first hundred years, it just be mentioned that her life long active membership in and love of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, is an inspiration to her family and a host of friends and fellow members. Her passion for genealogy and faithful attendance at the family reunion, most likely a record, will attest to an enduring curiosity and interest in the past, present and future. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can all attest to Grandma Kate’s caring and giving nature and love of family.
And all here today, kinfolk and friend alike, have been privileged to know and celebrate a most remarkable life and most elegant lady. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We used this occasion to "Interview" Kate. This was part of our on-going program of various ways to do research. Kate was a very enjoyable subject, with a wonderful sense of humor. She was born and raised in Wellsburg. Her early years as a teacher were spent at the Windsor Heights school. She told us about riding the street car down to stop 39, then walking (with the stick her father made for her) up the hill. If any of you remember where the coal buckets used to go up over the hill, this is the area she would walk thru.
We had a birthday cake, and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We hope she has many more birthdays.
1903, WHAT A YEAR!
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY TO KATE FIZER
The Panama canal digging began; the first motion picture, “The Great Train Robbery”, was produced; the first successful flight by Orville Wright; and Teddy Roosevelt sent the first message across the trans Pacific Cable – perhaps announcing to the far east the arrival of that little ray of sunshine,
Katharine Ella at the home of
Ross and Anna Marsh
In Wellsburg, WV
Thus began Kate’s journey through the twentieth century and my oh my, what those eyes have seen! From horse and buggy and the model T as the only means of transportation to space travel. From crystal radio sets to plasma television hanging on the wall. From smoke signals to E-Mail and Sears Catalogs to on-line shopping. Ah Yes, the computer age! She remembers when a mouse was something you set traps for and a website was something you took a broom to in the corner of the ceiling.
During most of the first half of all this progress and change, Kate lived, as did many of her era, a life of survival. The great depression, major floods, two world wars and other conflicts- all the while surviving the greatest challenge of all – motherhood. Working as an underpaid teacher full time, single handedly raising and educating Mary Jo and Bob, she nevertheless managed to pursue and achieve her long abandoned goal of a college degree from West Liberty State Teachers College. What a fitting was to begin the second half of her journey.
Journey, of course being the operative word here since her life from that point has been filled with many of them. Far too many to list, but a few worth mentioning.
A trip to the New York Worlds Fair with her eleven year old grandson in tow comes to mind. Never having bothered with owning a car or drivers license, her prowess and expertise with Greyhound became legendary. It served her well touring Alaska and most of the states in the lower 48. Kate never turned down an opportunity to ravel, whether to Ireland, Scandinavia or for that matter, to the Steubenville mall. Air travel became routing, as well, with overseas jaunts and her many trips to Florida where she sill maintains a winter residence in Ft Myers with Bob and Shirley. Hopefully, this next winter will find her once again far away from the snow where she will be working on her tan. Early in Kate’s winter stays in Florida she reunited with her college roommate from Bethany College, Virginia Kelly, also living in Ft Myers. This resulted in many great meals and parties shared over the next several years and the reminiscing and stories!! WOW!! Did not know they did such things in the roaring twenties!!
As a footnote to this synopsis of Kate’s first hundred years, it just be mentioned that her life long active membership in and love of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, is an inspiration to her family and a host of friends and fellow members. Her passion for genealogy and faithful attendance at the family reunion, most likely a record, will attest to an enduring curiosity and interest in the past, present and future. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can all attest to Grandma Kate’s caring and giving nature and love of family.
And all here today, kinfolk and friend alike, have been privileged to know and celebrate a most remarkable life and most elegant lady. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
