TUALATIN, Oregon — September 19 marked a very special birthday for Mary Louise Nelson: Nelson, who was born in 1924, was treated to a 100th birthday party at a senior living facility in Tualatin.
Nelson was just 18 years old when she signed up to work at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, California. It was 1942, the first full year of U.S. involvement in World War II.
“I worked in a big hanger; I was what they called a parts expediter,” Nelson told KGW on Thursday. She worked at that facility building B-20 aircrafts for eight months.
She would eventually meet a young naval sailor while stationed at a nearby base. The two would get married six weeks later.
Nelson described the anxiety of waiting to hear any news of her husband when he was sent to serve in the South Pacific: "Western Union came to the door, and I thought, 'Oh, boy, this is for me,' but instead, it was a telegram from my husband telling me he was in San Diego and to come. That was scary.”
The couple would move to Oregon after the war and have two daughters.
Nelson's husband passed away roughly 25 years ago, but both daughters attended the birthday celebration on Thursday.
“This is wonderful; it’s actually a real gift that we at our age still have our mother,” said Donna Tate.
The mayor of Tualatin even stopped by to present Nelson with a certificate of recognition to mark the occasion.
After a century of living, Nelson says it's more important than ever to cherish time with your loved ones.
"It is very special for me to see so many of my family and friends that I haven’t seen for quite a while,” she said.