100 Years — A Lifetime Of Living, Learning And Growing

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT — When Frances Colburn was asked how she felt about approaching her 100th birthday, her answer was characteristically simple.

“I can’t believe it’s happening,” she said.

That milestone will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 26, when Colburn’s family gathers at Mary Scoops in Crockett for a birthday party beginning at about 1 p.m. Among those celebrating will be her daughter, Katherine Ritchie, who helped fill in some of the details of a life that has stretched across a full century.

Colburn was born Sept. 24, 1926, and grew up in Arkansas. Over the years, she became a teacher, librarian, gardener, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her professional life began in education. After earning her teaching degree, Colburn taught junior high English and speech in Arkansas. She later earned a master’s degree in library science from Texas Woman’s University, beginning a career that would take her through school libraries, a chemical laboratory and university campuses.

She worked as a librarian at Mary Carroll High School and Brown Junior High School in Corpus Christi. She also served as a librarian at the Celanese Chemical Lab and later worked at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She eventually retired from Clemson State University.

For Colburn, libraries were more than buildings filled with books. They were places of learning, work and connection.

When asked about some of her favorite books, she mentioned “Gone With the Wind,” which she said took her the longest to read. She also enjoyed the movie made from the book.

Her life also included memories of a changing nation. During World War II, her brother served in the Marine Air Corps. Ritchie said Colburn also baked for servicemen at a time when sweets were not always easy to obtain.

Over the course of her life, Colburn witnessed enormous changes in medicine, dentistry and technology.

“The medical profession has changed drastically,” she said.

She also remembered the first computers, which once occupied entire rooms. Today, she noted, computers can be carried in a person’s pocket or worn on a wrist.

Colburn moved to Houston County about five years ago after Ritchie purchased a home in the area. She now lives at Enchanted Pines, while Ritchie and her husband live nearby.

Although she has lived in many places, Ritchie said her mother and family have grown fond of Crockett.

“We love it here,” Ritchie said.

One of Colburn’s favorite local destinations is Merry Scoops, where she enjoys gelato — especially chocolate.

“Anything chocolate, of course,” Colburn laughed.

Gardening was another important part of Colburn’s life. Ritchie said her mother maintained beautiful yards wherever she lived and continued designing and caring for them well into her 90s.

“Every one of her yards looked like it was the cover of a magazine,” Ritchie said. “And she designed and maintained them well into her 90s.”

Today, Colburn no longer gardens, and some of the activities she once enjoyed have become more difficult. Hearing loss has made it harder for her to attend church and enjoy the music she once loved. Tremors have also made crossword puzzles difficult.

Still, the life she built remains visible in the family gathered around her.

Colburn is the mother of two children, grandmother to four grandchildren and great-grandmother to three great-grandchildren.

When asked whether she knew the secret to living 100 years, Colburn did not offer a complicated formula.

“I really do not have a secret,” she said. “I just lived.”

That may be the best summary of all.

She lived through a world war, the rise of television, the arrival of computers, the transformation of medicine and the many changes that have taken place in Arkansas, Texas and across the nation.

She taught. She read. She raised a family. She worked in gardens, schools, laboratories and libraries. She adapted to each new chapter and continued moving forward.

Now, as Frances Colburn prepares to celebrate her 100th birthday, her family is preparing to celebrate not only the number of years she has lived, but the life contained within them.

And, naturally, there will be chocolate gelato.

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]