Sturgis — Echoing Frank Sinatra’s lyrics, Katherine Didas said she’s lived life her way.
A resident of Sturgis turned 102 on Sunday and celebrated with family, dinner and dessert. On Friday, she reflected on her “good life” and her adventure-filled memories.
Didus was born on February 12, 1921, in the village of Kalamazoo County, Augusta, to Oral and Bessie Hoover. His fourth of six children, Didas attended school in nearby Climax, where he graduated from Scotts High School.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Didus walked 2.5 miles (2.5 miles) to school with his sisters. In class, she preferred English and Latin.
“If you learn Latin, you can understand many of the world’s languages,” she said.
A childhood of adventures limited but nevertheless cherished, Didas spent summers swimming in the Kalamazoo River and remembered the first movie he saw: “Along Came Youth.” , a 1930 comedy.
“There was a free movie showing in the park at Climax on Thursday night,” Didas said. “We went to the movies. If you didn’t have one, someone gave you one.”
Her father owned a crank-start Model T, but Didas eventually bought a late Model T with a push-button starter. She said she was lucky at the time to have Henry Ford as her employer.
“Ford has always had good things,” she said. “At Christmas time I got a check for $25 and an hour and a half[paid]. He took care of everyone.”
After high school, Didas attended nursing school at Bronson Hospital. She married her first husband, Leland Brand, with whom she had four children (three girls and her one boy). Her life and her work moved to California, Yuma, Arizona, and Portage. She has lived in Sturgis for the last five years and has been close to her son Gary, who she calls “the rock” of her love and support.
Didas held many jobs throughout her life, but one of her most memorable jobs was working for Hughes Aircraft Company in California, where her second husband, Lowell Didas, built helicopters. is.
Due to his small stature, Didas worked as a helicopter inspector for an aircraft and bomber manufacturer in the 1960s.
“I was able to enter and inspect areas that other people weren’t allowed to enter,” Didas said.
Didas remembered Howard Hughes as a man who lived true to his persona, a successful businessman with an oddly encrusted personality.
“He had a white Cadillac convertible, drove up to the front door, and left the roof down,” Didas said of one instance that came to mind. I left Rosalind Russell in the car in the heat, and Lowell and the other workers brought her water until he (Hughes) came back.”
Hughes was also known to come to the factory in disguise to avoid recognition, Didas said.
“But you always knew it was him,” Gary confirmed to his mother during an interview.
“Oh yes,” said Didus.
While in California, Didas found himself in the presence of Ronald Reagan when he was governor of California. This was another moment in life, in between trips to England, France and other destinations.
“Trains were the best[overseas],” she said. “They were fast, 70 mph, and had the best food.”
Didas rarely avoided the turn of the dice at any craps table she encountered. It’s a game she says she enjoyed.
Didas retired from Hughes and moved to Yuma, Arizona. There she spent 12 years before returning to Michigan where she and Lowell lived in Portage.
Overall, Didas said she is enjoying a fulfilling life full of opportunities and adventures. She has witnessed major changes in technology, advancements in the workplace, and has made it happen under 19 presidential administrations, from Woodrow Wilson to Joe Biden.
“I’ve made some mistakes, but I’ve lived to talk about it,” she said with a smile. “It’s been a good life, and I’ve done it my way.” .”
