The annual Notable Nineties salute

Well, we’ve made it through another year — pandemic and all.

If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know what comes next. This is when I recognize all our Notable Nineties by printing the entire list.

If you’re not a regular reader, an explanation is in order.

When Jerry Snyder was writing her column for the Times several years ago, she noticed this county had an abundance of people in their 90s. Because Jerry thought anyone who managed to reach their ninth decade deserved some kind of special recognition, she created the Notable Nineties list.

After Jerry passed away, I kept the list going.

You don’t have to do anything special to be a Notable Ninety. ANY Hamilton County resident 90 years-old — or older — is eligible. (We currently have four “Sensational Centenarians” who’ve celebrated their 100th birthday!)

The only catch is, I ask that someone — anyone, even the person in question — requests a name be added to the list. I don’t just add people when I learn they’re over 90. That way I have some assurance I’m not violating the privacy of those who don’t want the world to know their age.

Most new Notable Nineties get added in January after the entire list runs, but I recognize individuals in the column all year long, whenever someone sends me a name.

The current list of Notable Nineties follows. If you see any corrections that need to be made, please let me know. I’d also like to know when someone becomes a Sensational Centenarian, so I can acknowledge that.

Here’s to a healthier, happier New Year for all of us!

Frank Blasser

Catharine Lavon Brown

Evelyn Chance

Eunice Collins

Eileen (Hunter) Conaway

Kathryn Mildred Dierdorf

Clifford Eckles

Gwen Galbreath

Betty Gerrard (Betsy Birdwhistle) (100+!)

Rosemary Godby

Bettie Hammack

Billie Jo Harger

Edna Hecht

Bernice (Reel) Heiny

Glen Heiny

Beverly Howard

Frances Hughes

Mary Johnson

Ernest Kitterman

June Landis

Helen LeCount

Joan Love

Eileen McClellan (100+!)

Earl E. McMahon

Ruby Sanders Randall Mendell

Phyllis Mendenhall (100+!)

Peggy Randall Merrill

Virginia Miller

Winona Moss

Helen Nelson

Pat (Guilkey) Paskins

Melford Pearson

Mency Ponton

Nola Pyle

Rex Randall

Donald G. Reddick

Albert Rees

Jim “Tex” Ritter

Cathy Rodgers

Jane Roudebush

Ivan “Sonny” Sherman

Lorena Shively

Phyllis Stackhouse

Ruth (Guilkey) Stoops

Katheryn Thompson (100+!)

“Jo” Esther Waltz

Bernard Weiner

Anna Whittaker

Betty Williams

James Williams

Harriet Wise

Paula Dunn’s From Time to Thyme column appears on Wednesdays in The Times. Contact her at younggardenerfriend@gmail.com