Helping Others, Keeping The Faith Keys To Reaching 103

BARTONSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- The year Catherine Sappington was born, the Titanic sank, the first automotive electric starter was introduced and Theodore Roosevelt lost to William Howard Taft in the Republican convention.

Sappington, who turned 103 on April 1, still lives in the house her husband built nearly 80 years ago in Bartonsville. Over the years, she has seen everything change from home appliances to the introduction of television.

Her parents, Joseph Albert and Daisy Mary Weedon, had 12 children. Sappington is 10th, and a photo of her parents adorns the wall.

"We had lots of land. We lived at Sunnyside, between Point of Rocks and Adamstown area," Sappington said while sitting in her living room on her birthday.

The land had apple, peach and pear trees, there was a huge garden with virtually every kind of vegetable, plus pigs and chickens.

"We had what we needed, traded eggs and things to people for sugar and butter. We butchered. All the children helped," Sappington said.

The family walked everywhere, she said. There was no automobile or horse and wagon.

"We walked 3 miles every Sunday to Manor Wood Church. We walked when there were snow blizzards. Cars couldn't travel, but we made paths," Sappington said.

She married Charles Sappington when he was 20 and she was 24. For nearly 68 years, the couple shared their lives. Initially, they rented a place in Frederick, but Charles bought the piece of land on Bartonsville Road and worked on most of the house. "He learned how to use dynamite and blew out the place for the basement," Sappington said.

She did domestic work for people in the area, while Charles, whom she met in church, eventually worked at Fort Detrick.

"I loved to work. Some people think that is funny, but I liked to work and the folks I worked for were wonderful. I worked until I was in my 80s," Sappington said. Proud of her upbringing, Sappington said the manners and respect she was taught growing up impressed her employers, as did her hard work.

Life is quite different now, she said.

"The world is moving too fast, things (are) not like they used to be. You have to be careful today. But God loves everybody," Sappington said. Her priest, from St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick, visits her, as do other church members.

One of the things she sees today, is a world where children don't respect their parents. "They (children) want to get away from home and then they just get in trouble.

"I don't have a grudge against anybody, I don't hate anyone. You should treat people with manners and respect. That goes a long, long way."

The secret of her longevity? Sappington said she has always tried to help people. She has given food and things to the poor and sick.

"It pays to do good things in life. We are not perfect, but you don't have to hurt people."

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)