When we can know someone who has lived for one century and who maintains a daily interest in news events, people around them and reading mysteries, we can say we know a very special person. That person is Ruth Bailey who lived at the Walton Retirement Home since June of 2009. Ruth was born January 20, 1911 on a farm at Pigeon Point, Barnesville, Ohio, Belmont County. Her parents were James and Mary (Starbuck) Peddicord. She recalled life on their dairy farm as a very happy time. They had Jersey cows, two teams of work horses, a riding horse, and sometimes a pig. They had a surrey, a buggy and a cart for travel when she was young. There were six children in her family, three boys and three girls of which she was the youngest: Herbert (Ora), Elizabeth (Joseph) Winder, Dorothy (Harry) Burns, Richard (tragically killed in an auto accident at the age of 21), William (Patricia), and Ruth (Rolland) Bailey. When just a very little tyke, she loved tromping around in Herbert's boots, thus her nickname "Boots" which followed her through life. Nieces, nephews and their children always called her "Auntie Boots!" She loved riding on the farm vehicles with Herbert and remembered asking him how old he was. He told her he was 20 years older so she could figure it out for herself! Her father and her brother, William, were auctioneers. They went everyplace to hold auctions, cities and farms, often in their cart or surrey pulled by their work horses. Ruth loved to go along and later drove her father when her brother could not go. William and his sons, Jim and Herb, followed in James Peddicord's footsteps making three generations of well-known auctioneers. Their home had a large, pleasant yard with many shade trees where the neighborhood children would come to play. They went together to 4-H Club and to Grange. They had lots of fun ice skating on the Grange Hall pond, square dancing and playing cards. She was a Grange member all her life and visited other Granges in other communities. She remembered the years going to first grade at the age of five. She went to # 1 School in Warren Township, Belmont County. Her first grade teacher was a man, the only man teacher she had until high school. He lived at the neighbors and would often carry her to school on his shoulders. She was started to school at the age of five so there could be two first graders to work together on their lessons. She met her husband, Rolland Alva Bailey, son of Alva and Laura Bailey of Tacoma, Ohio, while being active in the various community events. She graduated from Barnesville High School in 1928. Shortly after, she went to Washington, D. C. and took a course in hotel operations from Lewis Hotel Training School. She worked several years in the hotel industry, also teaching sewing for the Singer Company. She enjoyed sewing for the rest of her life. Upon returning to Barnesville she managed the office of Suburban Propane then became a teller at the First National Bank. She worked at the bank for more than 20 years. Ruth and Rolland had one daughter, Susan Deane Bailey. Ruth was a member of the First Methodist Church of Barnesville for many years and attended faithfully when she was able. Ruth and Rolland joined with Susan to live in Dayton, Ohio where Susan was teaching. In 2001 they all moved closer to Barnesville to a home on the Muskingum River near McConnelsville, Ohio. After Rolland's death in 2007, Ruth and Susan moved to Marietta where Susan continues to live at 135 Ohio Boulevard, Marietta, Ohio, 45750. In June of 2009 Ruth moved to the Walton Retirement Home where she continued to enjoy life and the many new friends she made with the residents. She was active reading her books and doing her daily crossword puzzles (not the easy ones). She worked her last one late Thursday afternoon after her birthday party. On Thursday, January 20, 2010, Ruth was surprised and honored by many family and friends as they shared her flowers, cake and ice cream, along with many laughs, stories and memories in the dining room of the Walton Retirement Home. Those in attendance were her daughter Susan and friends Phyllis Modie, Ruth Ann McGee and Sandra Johnson. They were joined by Ruth's nephew, Herb Peddicord, his wife Donna, and daughter, Heather, of Coshocton, Ohio; nephew David Burns of Barnesville; Pat Peddicord, widow of nephew Jim Peddicord of Barnesville; Betty Ann Toohey, Hubert Cook, Joe Bradfield, John Cheffy, the staff and residents of Walton Retirement Home, also, Brenda Hoskinson, Denise Troy and Martha Giffen. Ruth was overwhelmed to be blessed with many, many cards and messages to wish her well. She thoroughly enjoyed her celebration, having achieved her milestone in life of 100 years. On Friday, the 21st, she was transported to Barnesville Hospital having survived a major heart attack. She passed away peacefully at noon on Wednesday, January 26th in Barnesville Hospital. Susan extends her thanks and deep appreciation to the hospital staff, Dr. Souri, staff, Nirmal Kaul and residents of the Walton Retirement Home and the many family and friends who made Ruth's life so meaningful. When interviewed the week before her birthday, "Boots" said she enjoyed her life very much. "I loved my line of work. Though I probably was a bit spoiled, being the youngest child, I, for the most part, did what I was told." When asked what she would tell others how to attain the goal of living 100 years, she said, "I would encourage them to pay no attention to the years as they pass, just enjoy life and what you are doing." A date for private burial services will be set at the discretion of the family.