Myrtle Gisner Botsford Celebrates A Century
Myrtle Gisner Botsford
Celebrates A Century
Myrtle Gisner Botsford thought she was going out to lunch with her son Chuck last Saturday, when she was pleasantly surprised by numerous friends and relatives who came out in full force to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Myrtle Gisner was born on March 13, 1906, in Scranton, Penn. At a young age she moved with her family to New York City and then to Monroe Center, and later to a home on Route 34 near Chestnut Hill Road in Newtown where she attended Grays Plain School.
With a move to Stepney she met and married Charles W. Botsford. The couple was married on June 6, 1923, when she was 17 years old. The Botsfords raised three children, Orville, who is deceased, and Charles Jr and Ronald, both of Newtown.
She has six grandchildren: Ria DuBois of Morris, Jody Wells of Washington, Kelly King of Dover, N.Y., Ronald Botsford, Jr, of Southbury, Darla Ferris of Waterbury, and Tonya Kadar of Newtown.
Mrs Botsford has eight great-grandchildren: Jason and Joshua DuBois, Amanda and Christina Wells, Ronald Meeker, Kenneth Botsford, Reid Ferris, and Marisa Kadar.
More than 80 friends and relatives, many arriving from out of state, attended the surprise birthday party held on Saturday, March 11, at the Stepney Baptist Church in Monroe, where Mrs Botsford is a member. A tearful but happy Mrs Botsford commented, âI was totally surprised. I didnât know anything about it and I sure appreciate it. Everybody has been so good to me. I couldnât ask for more; I have dear friends and family.â
Mrs Botsford still lives in the same home, on Brushy Hill Road, that she and her husband moved to in 1939. She has a live-in nurse, but is active in maintaining her health. Mrs Botsford said she works with a physical therapist to keep up her strength and greatly enjoys the weekly visits her grandson Ronnie makes to assist her in using a walker.
The party included a luncheon and a brief ceremony when Jack Rosenthal, former first selectman of Newtown, filled in for First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, his son, to present Mrs Botsford with an official proclamation stating that March 13, 2006, was declared Myrtle Gisner Botsford Day in Newtown. Mrs Botsford was also thrilled that she received a 100th birthday card from President Bush.