Submitted by Barb Lynch, her niece.
Mary Alice Pollitt, longtime Clermont County resident, celebrated her 100th birthday this past July 22, in no ordinary party situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary Alice currently resides at Brookdale Englewood Senior Living Facility near Dayton. The Governor had just allowed the “re-opening” of assisted living facility and nursing homes to limited weekly live visits, which have been closed to outside visitors since mid-March. The “celebration” of Mary Alice’s 100 years consisted of a 30 minute visit outdoors with a huge sheet of plexiglass between her and the three allowed family visitors: nieces Barb Lynch of Dayton, Diane Weimer of Lebanon, and daughter Lauren Weimer. Husbands Fred Lynch and Rick Weimer waved greetings from the front lawn and took pictures of the occasion. Frustrating as it was not to be able to hug our wonderful aunt, “We made the best of an awkward situation, enjoyed sharing the face-to-face time together, and celebrated her century of life,” Barb Lynch said.
The Weimers fashioned a wreath with the ornaments being pictures from throughout Mary Alice’s life: her wedding photo, Amelia Methodist Church, former home on Sperling Drive, family members, among others. Upon receiving it, she studied it carefully, looked up, smiled and said, “Old pictures.” In response to requests sent to family, friends, former co-workers, church friends, and anyone else we could think of who knows her, we sought to “shower her with cards,” Barb Lynch said, The goal of receiving 100 greeting cards was achieved.
Mary Alice loves flowers and received several lovely flower arrangements from friends and family. Additionally, Mary Alice was presented with a Certificate of Life Membership into the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Membership in this organization requires and honors the service of family members who fought in the Union Army during the Civil War, as did her grandfathers, Jacob Hill and Jacob Groh.
Since the family could not go inside the living facility, the Brookdale staff contributed greatly to this once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating her 100 years with balloons spelling out “100,” a gorgeous floral bouquet consisting of 100 pink roses, and a cake to share with the other residents at lunch. As each birthday card arrived throughout the week, aides read each one to her, inquired as to how she knew that person; Mary Alice replied, “I remember most of them,” and had a story to tell about many.
Mary Alice was born July 22, 1920, to parents Celia and Joseph Groh in Amelia, Ohio. Her father died when she was 11-years-old, so she spent her early years when not in school helping with household chores along with her older sister Margaret (Guynn) and keeping an eye on younger brother Robert (Groh), former Mayor of Amelia. It was during this time she learned to sew, making most of her own clothes. She attended Amelia High School, graduating May 26, 1937 in a class of 14 students. Mary Alice co-authored their senior class song along with Virginia Smith, written to the tune of, “When My Dreamboat Comes Home,” with the closing lyrics stating:
“After all’s said and done, there is really only one, Amelia High School, we love you … teachers, comrades – farewell.”
Of the 14 graduates, Mary Alice, the youngest in the class, and her closest friend, Hazel Honaker, the oldest, now aged 102, are the only two remaining classmates. They haven’t seen one another in several years, but do stay in contact.
After graduating from high school, Mary Alice began her first job working at the Amelia State Bank. In search of “more permanent employment,” she joined Union Central Life Insurance Company in 1941. On Aug. 7, 1942, Mary Alice married Wilgus K. “Bud” Pollitt at Fort Sill Military Base, Oklahoma (wearing a lovely wedding suit she made herself and Bud in his Army uniform.)
Upon completion of his military service during World War II, he began employment at Fisher Body Division of General Motors in Norwood, until his death in November 1982 after a terminal illness. They had no children, but she enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephew.
She continued her employment with Union Central Life Insurance Co (now Ameritas), following the company in their relocation to Forest Park from downtown Cincinnati. After 43 years with the company, she retired Aug. 1, 1984. At a gala celebration dinner with 60 family members, friends and co-workers in attendance, her former boss, Bill Goetz, stated, “Alice was an integral part of the Comptroller’s Department and will be missed by everyone.”
Following her retirement from Union Central, she worked part time as church secretary at Amelia United Methodist Church, where she was active in the church’s many activities and attended services regularly. She was a talented knitter and fashioned many scarves, afghans, and articles of clothing as gifts and donations to bazaars. Alice enjoyed traveling, taking a cruise to Alaska and a two week tour to Australia.
Even as her high school graduating class dwindled in number, she organized three class reunions, hosting the last one in 2009 at her condo in Cherry Grove, with four members in attendance.
In 2010, she moved back to Amelia into a lovely new one story condo, (no steps) where she lived for several years, and enjoyed hosting birthday parties and other events at the clubhouse. She moved to the New England Club in 2014 where her dear friend Hazel lived. There they reminisced about good times shared in earlier days, worked on jigsaw puzzles together and enjoyed each other’s company.
In March of 2015 after a series of falls, she relocated to Brookdale Englewood in Dayton to be near her niece Barbara. Here, she enjoys a quiet life, involving herself in the daily activities as she is able, residing in a lovely home atmosphere, and looking forward to all the rewards for a life well lived.