Lulu

Traveling is a common activity that many participate in throughout their lifetime. Betty “Lulu” Lucille Winkelman is no stranger to the world, having been to 19 foreign countries and on 90 cruises total.

What makes Winkelman’s love of adventure so extraordinary is that even on her 100-year birthday, she continued her favorite hobby on board a cruise to Costa Rica. A birthday trip made unforgettable by the 100 flowers gifted to her and the 4,000-person chorus singing “Happy Birthday.”

Although now 106-years old, the high-spirited Winkelman has not slowed down in tackling activities such as cooking and reading, with a little help from a virtual library and audio books. Technology from a time vastly different than when Winkelman was growing up.

Born on April 3, 1913, Winkelman was the second oldest out of six children that was raised on a farm in northern Missouri.

Winkelman remembers her time as a child in Missouri.

“I didn’t know any different. We were happy. We all had our own job and thought nothing of it. I fed the chickens and carried wood for our stove. We didn’t have a furnace. I rode a horse to school in the winter time, walked in the summertime for two miles. We tied the horses to a fence and during lunch time all the children would run out of the one room school house to feed the horses,” she said.

As for her home life growing up, she describes it as nothing short of wonderful despite some hardships.

She explains, “I had a good home life for a while, then my father became ill. Then it wasn’t very good. My mother was left with six children to care for and worry about, but she did a wonderful job with the things she taught us and what to do and not to do and think of others before yourself. Don’t look at somebody else and don’t feel sorry for yourself. Be thankful for what you have. Those things stick with you.”

Winkelman came by herself to live with an aunt in Chicago at just 15 years old. In 1929, at the age of 16, she got her first job as a phone operator at Illinois Bell, today known as AT&T. As the company transitioned to dial service, Winkelman moved through the ranks to soon become a consultant in aiding other businesses in Chicago with their communications. This included helping the police department and various hospitals move from manual to dial service.

Winkelman continued to work at Illinois Bell for 39 years, until retiring in 1968.

She credits her longevity to not listening to what others think and looking ahead. A life lesson she shared with her husband of 54 years, Larry, who she happened to meet at a house party. They had no children together, instead choosing to travel and experience unique cultures.

Winkelman continues to live life to the fullest of her abilities alongside some family. This includes Robert “Bob” Gordon who currently resides with Winkelman after moving to Sun City from Arizona alongside her 6 years ago.

Their friendship spans as far back as 1946.

Gordon detailed one of his earliest memories of Winkelman: “I was stationed in the same location as Lulu’s husband during World War II, but I didn’t know that at the time. When I got out of the service, she was living across the hall when we moved in. We became very friendly with Lulu, my wife and I.”

Winkelman’s niece, Dotty Guarine, also resides in Sun City, stopping by regularly to check in on Winkelman and Gordon.

“I think it’s wonderful that they can run their own lives and as long as they continue without health challenges, why not. It’s just a number, 106. They were shocked at 100 when we went on that cruise, you know, they asked ‘she’s how old?’” Guarine said.

What is Winkelman’s secret to living a long, happy life? She describes it as nothing more than moving forward.

“I think a lot of people start feeling sorry for themselves and living in the past. I don’t do that. There’s nothing you can do about it, so look to the she said.

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