STAUNTON - It's hard to say when we're born what exactly life has in store for us.

Some could never imagine becoming the oldest resident of the town in which we live, but that's exactly what Leona Weiss celebrated last week.

The Hertigae Manor resident who was born in 1905, celebrated her 102nd birthday on August 21.

She is both the oldest living resident in Staunton and the oldest member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Her life has been facinating and among the long time residents she is well known.

She was a familar face at Sherman’s Department Store here where she was employeed for 50 years.

She never got her driver’s license, but she didn’t need to becuase it was a short ride to work.

To fulfill her civic duties, she also took the minutes for the City Clerk’s office years ago.

When you live to be more than 100 years, there are many special memories.

To her family’s surprise, one day when they were removing Leona’s mattress to make room for a new one, they found a bunch of unopened paychecks.

After Leona retired, she traveled all over the U.S. by bus.

She would be dropped off at the bus and picked up two weeks later.

She traveled alone until she was 85.Leona and her sister never married.

They lived in the family home until Leona broke her hip on December 31, 2001.

She then moved into Heritage Manor in Staunton at the age of 96 where she enjoys spending her days checking on the fish tank in the lobby and watching the recorded sermons from Zion Lutheran Church.

Leona also like to embroider and crochet around pillows. Leona does not wear glasses or a hearing aid.

On her birthday, some of the children from the Zion Lutheran sixth grade class stopped bythe nursing home to give her flowers, sing Happy Birthday to her and give her a copy of her confirmation picture.

The children who attended were: Joseph Meador, Molly Margaritis, Caitlin Grosboll, Andrew Cisler, Lucas Trettenero, Michael Meyer, Brandon Provost, Desi Vanarsdala, Brayden Moss. Pastor Meador and Principal Cisler also attended.