Greencroft Communities Stories

Imagine what it’s like to have lived 100 years—or more! Our centenarians have stories that can make you laugh, inspire you, and even teach a thing or two about faith, family, and living fully. 

Their stories are not about secrets or formulas. They speak with humility, humor, and clarity about faith, family, hard work, kindness, and gratitude. Together, these residents remind us that a full life isn’t built all at once—it’s shaped slowly, faithfully, and with intention.

Faith and Gratitude: A Steady Foundation

Again and again, residents point to faith as the anchor that carried them through a century of living.

For Violet Kaufman (Greencroft Goshen, age 100), who has lived at the campus for 25 years, turning 100 feels much like any other day. “You have to be reminded,” she says. Her secret to happiness is simple: being a Christian, taking life one day at a time, and trusting God through it all.

Beulah Pottenger (Greencroft Goshen, age 100) shares that same steady rhythm of faith. “Always go to church on Sunday to prepare for a good week ahead,” she says—a practice that has guided her life and grounded her days.

Virginia Sapp (Oak Grove, age 101) puts it plainly. Each morning begins the same way: “I get up every morning and thank God for another day.” That daily gratitude, she says, is what has helped her live such a long and full life.

Erma Coplen (Golden Years, age 101) echoes that sentiment. “Just celebrate it and be thankful for each day,” she says. Today, she is especially grateful that she is still in her right mind and able to care for herself—something she never takes for granted.

For these residents, faith isn’t something abstract. It is lived quietly, daily, and with deep appreciation for each new morning.

Family, Relationships, and Community

When asked about their happiest memories, nearly every centenarian points to family.

Lucy Bontrager (Greencroft Goshen, age 101) has lived at the campus for 16 years. Her happiest memories are of raising her children. Her advice for others is simply to try to live a good life—and she is thankful every day for a good place to live and the care she receives.

Leonard Garber (Greencroft Goshen, age 101) speaks fondly of being blessed with a loving wife and four daughters. His wisdom is gentle but firm: “It is more important to be kind than to be right.” That belief carries into his everyday life, where he remains active in the pool room he helped establish, playing several times a week with friends.

Mabel Clemens (Windsor of Savoy, age 100) highlights how life’s most meaningful connections can start with a single small decision. On a summer evening in 1944, she stepped in for her cousin’s blind date—an encounter that led her to meet Bill, the love of her life, and they were married for 71 and a half years.

Lillian Yoder (Greencroft Goshen, age 101) believes lasting relationships come down to honesty and communication. “Enjoy life while you have it,” she says. “Don’t let little things get to you.” She is grateful for being able to walk, visit, and enjoy time with friends and family. 

Dorothy Yoder (Greencroft Goshen, age 100), shares a similar philosophy. Her advice is simple and enduring: “Be honest, open, and fair.”

Across campuses, one truth is clear: a long life is made richer through connection—with family, neighbors, and community.

Work, Purpose, and Perseverance

Many centenarians credit hard work and purpose with shaping their lives.

“Work hard,” says Lester Hooley (Greencroft Goshen, age 101). Donnabelle Anderson (Greencroft Goshen, age 100) adds her own perspective: “Make everything fun, no matter what!”

Eleanor Simpson (Great Lakes Christian Homes, age 100), who has lived at the campus for nine years, reflects on growing up on a farm. She believes that physical work, fresh air, and responsibility played a major role in her longevity. “People just have to keep going,” she says. “Decide what you like doing and be happy in what you’re doing.”

For Gordon Cunningham (Greencroft Goshen, age 101), celebrating more than a century of life feels simply “GREAT!” He credits good health and a caring family—and encourages others to make the most of every day as it comes.

Purpose doesn’t retire, these residents remind us. It simply takes new forms.

Kindness, Attitude, and Choosing Joy

If there is one theme that rises above all others, it may be attitude.

Jean Cashman (Hamilton Grove, age 102) speaks with calm confidence about the importance of moderation, prayer, and trust in God. “Believe in something. Live without anger. Choose happiness whenever you can—life is what you make it.”

Rosie Long (Greencroft Middlebury, age 100), a longtime resident and former board member, credits her long life to happiness and connection. “I try to be happy and be with other people,” she says. On relationships, Rosie advises patience and thoughtfulness: “Go slowly and make decisions after you think—it helps in marriage and in life.”

Faith Little (Oak Grove, age 100) keeps her wisdom brief but powerful: “Practice more humility.” She adds simply, “Kindness.”

Virginia Sapp (Oak Grove, age 101) offers similar advice: “Have compassion, tolerate other people, and give them a chance.”

Life isn’t without its trials, but these residents show that responding with patience, grace, and kindness can carry you through.

A World Changed—Values That Endure

Having lived through electricity becoming commonplace, world wars, and the rise of computers and smartphones, these residents have witnessed extraordinary change.

For Lelia Masten (Southfield Village, age 100), who grew up on a farm with 14 siblings, the rise of modern technology is one of the most striking changes she has seen. With a smile, she jokes that younger generations should “put those darn phones away!”

Mary Grace Miller (Walnut Hills, age 100) reflects on how people once treated one another with more care and connection. Her hope is simple: “Respect people, be kind and helpful. People will remember you if you show kindness.”

Even as the world around them has transformed through technology, culture, and new ways of living, the values they hold dear remain constant, guiding how they engage with others.

Living Fully, One Day at a Time

After a century of living, Greencroft Communities’ centenarians don’t claim to have all the answers. They don’t point to a single secret or perfect path. Instead, they speak of faith, family, hard work, gratitude, and choosing kindness—again and again.

They remind us that living fully isn’t about the number of years behind us, but how we show up each day. And perhaps the greatest lesson they offer is this: a meaningful life is not lived in grand moments alone, but in ordinary days filled with purpose, love, and gratitude.