02/24/2010: "100 Wonderful Years"

(Daughters L to R: Nancy Stehman. Caroline Rice and Pauline Mulligan with their mother )

Kathryn Pinion celebrated her 100th birthday this week surrounded by family and friends, and received letters of happy birthday congratulations from Governor Gregoire, and not one, but two letters from the White House, signed by the President and First Lady.

Kathryn lives at the Village at the Harbour (an assisted living facility in Friday Harbor), where she is described by administrator Seanene Kennedy as “the most incredible, brilliant, life-long democrat, with an amazing political past,” and “She keeps us all informed of current events on a daily basis”

Pinion has strong D.C. connections, having worked first in the office of the Governor of Tennessee, and later as a secretary in the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Her husband, Dwight Pinion, was legal counsel to the Senate, and he and Kathryn were often guests of the White House during the term of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Gregoire wrote “You have enriched many lives over the years, and your experiences are part of the very tapestry of our state and nation.” The Obama’s noted that she has “witnessed great milestone in our Nation’s history, and your life represents an important piece of the American Story.”

The birthday celebration began Monday night, when Vinny’s Restaurant owner Becki Day opened up her restaurant on a Monday -the only day the place is closed- so Kathryn and a small group of family and friends could have a peaceful and private birthday dinner.

And do you think times have changed? Then think of this: When Kathryn was a young girl the average wage was 22 cents an hour, yearly income was $200 to $400 a year, 95 percent of births occurred at home, and the average life expectancy in the U.S. was only 47 years… Happy 100th Birthday Kathryn!