Islander marks 100th birthday

It’s not everyday that someone lives through the inventions of the radio, the automobile, the airplane, the television, personal computers and the iPhone. But a Greenbank woman has seen all of that in a whole century of living. Eula Chadwell will be 100 years old next week.

It’s not everyday that someone lives through the inventions of the radio, the automobile, the airplane, the television, personal computers and the iPhone.

But a Greenbank woman has seen all of that in a whole century of living.

Eula Chadwell will be 100 years old next week.

Eula was born in Tioga, W.Va. on Sept. 16, 1908.

She came to Washington as a young child with her parents, brother and four sisters. They traveled by train for one week and settled in Cosmopolis, where her father sharpened the big saws in the mill that cut the logs.

Eula attended grade school in Cosmopolis and high school in Aberdeen.

She met and married Robert Chadwell in 1929, just in time for the Great Depression. They had three children; Joyce, born in Seattle in 1930, Barbara, born in Omaha, Neb. in 1934 and Kathryn born in Seattle in 1945.

Most of their married life was spent in the Seattle area, where they were very active in St. Catherine and St. Matthew’s parishes.

Eula was always involved in her childrens’ lives and her’s was the favorite house to visit, since fresh cookies were always on hand.

Bob died in 1969, and Eula retired from her job as office manager for a physician to begin traveling.

By this time, her youngest daughter, Kathryn, was living in Japan. Eula’s first major trip was to Kobe to visit her.

Subsequent trips were to Thailand, England, Ireland, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Alaska.

In 1995, she sold her home of 50 years and moved to Greenbank to live with Kathryn and her husband Bob.

Eula enjoys gardening, reading and visits from the many goldfinches, hummingbirds and morning doves that come to her garden.

There will be a celebration of Eula’s 100th birthday at her home for family and friends.