A new display celebrates residents who have lived a century or more.
Wesley Manor retirement community unveiled a Centenarian Wall on Friday, permanently recognizing five residents who have each surpassed 100 years of age. Plaques bearing each honoree’s biography were mounted on custom-built railings installed by a Wesley Manor woodshop volunteer, and families were invited to remain after the ceremony for a group photograph.
The five centenarians honored — Martha Brallier, Shirley Catron, Florence Dorsey, Chet Mahan, and Paul Rock — represent a combined span of more than five centuries of life and reflect deep ties to Clinton County and the surrounding region.
Lives Rooted in Faith, Service, and Community
Martha Brallier, born February 3, 1926, in Washington, Indiana, spent 12 years as a missionary teacher in Kenya alongside her husband Calvin before returning to Indiana after ministries in Colorado, Washington, California, and Wyoming. Now the grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 14, she still sings hymns and recites poetry from memory.
“She has lived a life rooted in faith, service, and a love for others — especially the least of these,” said the ceremony’s presenter, reading from Brallier’s biography. “And she would not have lived it any other way.”
Shirley Catron, born April 5, 1926, in Burbank, California, spent 38 years behind the counter at Ellis Jewelers in downtown Frankfort, helping generations of couples select engagement rings and china patterns. A professional ballet and acrobatics dancer in her younger years, she later channeled her creativity into ceramics, knitting, and more than 30 completed quilts. When asked her greatest accomplishment, Catron’s answer is straightforward: “Marrying the right fella.”
Florence Dorsey, born June 29, 1921, in Lake County, moved to Clinton County at age 12 when her family purchased a farm. At 104, she still knits, writes weekly letters to a granddaughter in Florida, and attends church. She attributes her longevity to a simple formula: “Eating well, getting plenty of rest, and using her mind every day.”
Chet Mahan, born August 4, 1922, on a southern Indiana dairy farm, was licensed to preach at 17 and served as a pastor by 18. He later became chaplain and director of church relations at Wesley Manor, and in 2008 returned as a resident with his wife Marcia. Reflecting on a life that has spanned more than a century, Mahan said, “It does feel like a gift from God. It has been a lifetime of learning and growing, hard work and joy.”
Paul Rock, born January 4, 1926, east of Rossville, served with the 82nd Airborne Glider Division during World War II, seeing active duty in France and Germany. After the war he spent 35 years as a production supervisor at Frankfort’s Coca-Cola plant before joining the Wesley Manor maintenance staff. A lifetime member of the Frankfort VFW and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ross kept close ties with more than 200 nieces and nephews. His advice for a long life is concise: “Keep moving and stay connected with family.”
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What the Science Says
What makes for a long life?
Researchers studying those who lived a long life found that popular answers like “diet, exercise, and lifestyle” — were sometimes not the primary factors.
Research identified four shared traits most common in people living longer than most of us:
- Good Genetics,
- Daily laughter and humor,
- Consistent engagement in something deeply loved, and
- What a researcher called “an outsized capacity to deal with loss.”
Your mileage might vary…but here’s to all our area Centenarians!
Wesley Manor officials said the Centenarian Wall will be updated as additional residents reach the milestone, creating a living tribute to the community’s longest-lived members.
