Rylma Owen turns 103

by Diane Rockall

On May 9, Rylma Owen celebrated her 103rd birthday. She was born in 1916 to Art and Eva Nelson in Stockbridge Township where she grew up. Her father from Canada and her mother from Stockbridge were the major influences in her life, Owen said.

Owen considers the war years to be the worst years of her life. And since her lifetime spans a number of wars, including two World Wars, Owen had to specifically point out that she was referring to World War II.

She spent the majority of her life as a homemaker and believes raising her family was her greatest accomplishment. Rylma and her husband, Dan, grew up together in Stockbridge. Dan predeceased Rylma, but she believes they were and are married forever.She has four children: Ned, Lynn, Ridge, and Jill. Plus, she has 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Owen graduated from school in Stockbridge. Throughout her years, she has enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, golfing, and bowling, but her family has been the highlight of her life.

In analyzing her 103 years, she is most in awe of the many changes that have happened and how those changes have affected everyone’s ways of life. Even faced with years of change, Owen proudly states there is nothing in her life that she would do over.

At the time of this writing, Rylma Owen was ill, so the intended interview is the result of a questionnaire her daughter Jill helped her prepare.