Milestones in May: Three local residents share a day that marks many years

Joyful celebrations and hard times have filled the long lives of three local residents. And the three also share a milestone day, May 15.

Centenarian Kay Kalber was born on May 15, 1910. Clarence and Shirley Walker celebrate their 73rd anniversary on May 15. And Clarence turns 94 on May 15. Shirley, by the way, turns 90 on May 9.

A party and celebration of their milestones were part of the Salvation Army senior luncheon at Conference Baptist Church on April 1. The Salvation Army bestowed gifts to mark Kalber’s 100th and the Walkers’ anniversary.

All three were seated at a table of honor, and Kalber sat quietly with light dancing in her pale-colored eyes. Her ready and quick smile transcends time.

Kalber wears a lightweight coat that looks as if it’s too heavy for her slight frame. Her tissue-paper voice is hard to hear, especially over the din of a luncheon with 80 guests, most in their 60s and 70s.

Kalber said she was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and came from a family of nine children. She talks of her 50-year marriage, two kids and three grandchildren. She’s also proud that she did aerobics until she was 90 and stopped only after a fall injured her hip.
She lives in Evergreen with family and now considers the climb down the stairs to her room at night as a legitimate form of exercise. She says her heart is giving her a little bit of trouble, but only over the last four to five years.

In a low, throaty whisper, she recounts a few details about early life in Brooklyn, of hand-cranked washing machines and her mother’s vision for the future of horseless carriages. At first she misunderstood her mother’s prognostication about motor cars and thought she and her brother would have to pull the car themselves.

Today, she said she loves to “look at TV.” Her favorite shows are “Ellen” and “Oprah” and any program that features NBC weather forecaster Al Roker.

She said her sister-in-law lived to be 105 and danced on her 100th birthday, and Kalber said on May 15, “I might try the same.”

The Walkers
The Walkers, Clarence wearing a pirate hat and Shirley wearing a paper tiara and short wedding veil, spoke about their lives together.

Married at 17, Shirley said she feels like she’s always been married. Clarence and Shirley met in high school when she was 14, and he said, “We’ve gotten along pretty good.”

Raising a family of five, they have traveled throughout Colorado and lived in places rich with deep snow, such as Steamboat Springs, and places rich with dust, such as eastern Colorado during the 1930s.

Clarence spoke about the days of earning $66 a month and house rentals for $15 a month.

They’ve lived in Conifer since 1950, and the two still live in the home in Pine Junction that Clarence built with his own hands.
Clarence said he built the Pine Junction Grocery Store, a structure still standing, and he was part of the Elk Creek Fire Protection District for 20 years. Shirley drove a school bus in the mountain community for 15 years.

Shirley said they didn’t have special plans for their anniversary. They would probably spend it quietly at home and save a celebration for their 75th anniversary.

Daughter Beverly Baty said her mom has lots of patience, and has good advice for a long and happy marriage.
“Let your husband think he’s right,” Shirley said with a quiet little laugh.

From the High Timber Times, April 2010