Eilene Eislinger Turned 100 today!
Eilene Eislinger is 100 years old today! She say’s she’s looking forward to riding the LINK bus for free now that she’s passed the centenial mark!
Eilene Eislinger turned 100 today!
Eilene is probably most locally famous as the “walking woman”.
She walks everywhere and she credits her active lifestyle and not sweating the small stuff with keeping her fit and healthy.
“I still walk about an hour every day,” said Eilene.
“And I don’t worry about things too much. I was never a fussbudget,” said Eilene. “My husband used to say, I’m going to worry about it so you don’t need to worry about it. There’s no point in us both worrying.”
Her 100th birthday party was well attended by members of the community.
Party guests included friends from Florida, The Fort Dalles Floozies, LINK Bus Driver Steve Wilson, and many more! She received dozens of flowers, a humongous birthday card, lunch and of course..cake!
100 and Fabulous! Eilene said the Fort Dalles Floozies made her day special by bringing her a crown and sash.
Steve Wilson, LINK Bus Driver wanted to surprise his favorite Link Bus rider on her 100th birthday with a card and some flowers.
Eilene’s giant 100th Birthday Card was signed by her many friends!
A pretty hip affair! Residents, Floozies and suprise guests all dropped by to wish Eilene a happy birthday!
Originally from Grass Valley in Sherman County, Eilene has lived life to the fullest.
She grew up “playing in the dirt” on a farm in Sherman County.
She worked on a farm for most of her life, and said she remembers what it was like to build a house using square nails. She also used to work in accounting and parts ordering.
She and her husband used to have a farm equipment business.
“I used to say I had the best job ever cause I got to sleep with the boss,” joked Eilene.
“We sold farm equipment and did repairs,” said Eilene, “I was the parts person, and the one that did the ordering and did all the bookkeeping, and all that stuff. It was kind of tough to learn the parts and things I didn't know anything about. But I used to take the parts books home and just about sleep with them.”
She raised a family in Grass Valley and has three daughters that have given her almost a dozen grandchildren and great grandchildren. Two of her daughters still live nearby, one lives in their old home in Grass Valley, the other is in Portland. Her third daughter lives a bit further away in Salt Lake City.
Eilene Eislinger, poses with a birthday card that’s just about as big as she is!
On top of working and raising a family, she’s also had her fair share of adventures over the last 100 years.
“She's been all over the world and she keeps a scrapbook for everything,” said Nelda Johnson, Manager at Cherry Heights Living. “She's just been everywhere.”
She’s done it all, from white water rafting to riding elephants in India, seeing penguins in Antarctica, to hot air ballooning, to traveling to the North Pole.
She recounted how she even once fell into a pit inside a pyramid in Egypt on her first day there. Luckily no mummies were laid in waiting for her there. She fell six feet but came out uninjured and enjoyed the rest of her trip.
“I’ve visited 66 different countries,” said Eilene. “I’ve been everywhere and seen it all. I'm not gonna take any more trips but I've had enough, and more than most people have, I think.”
Eilene has kept a scrapbook for years and each one is full of beautiful photos of her adventures.
Eilene has lots of photos from all of her adventures.
Nowadays she’s quite content to just go for a walk around town and help take care of her fellow residents at Cherry Heights Living.
“What can I say about Eilene? She’s just amazing. So fun and so kind and humble. I wish I could clone her. She’s such a mother hen, she’s always checking on everyone, she remembers everyone’s birthdays,” said Nelda. “She never forgets anybody, if they have to move to assisted living or something she’s over there checking on them. She’s the oldest one here and she’s the one checking on everyone else!”
“She’s just really something special,” said Nelda Johnson.
Happy 100th Birthday Eilene!
