Published: October 11, 2009 12:54 am      

Woman still active at 105

HOOPESTON — Hildur Goodwine is a unique woman, a precious gem to her family, the oldest woman at Country Terrace Senior Living Apartments in Hoopeston and the oldest in her church, the Antioch Christian Church.

She is believed to be the oldest woman in Hoopeston and possibly one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in Vermilion County. Goodwine turned 105 years old this past August.

“She’s just so in tune to her surroundings,” said Charlene Ervin, executive director of Country Terrace. “Her eyesight and hearing are poor but she doesn’t want to be left out on any activity. (She) wants to be involved.”

Goodwine moved to Country Terrace in November 2001 when she couldn’t drive anymore and her eyesight began to fail. Country Terrace living was part of her plan when it was being built and she is happy with her decision.

Until age 100, Goodwine was still running her farm and selling her own grain.

Alan Douglas, who has been farming Goodwine’s acreage in Rossville since 1968, said she sold her own grain up until about four or five years ago but now her niece, Brownie Kaag, handles Goodwine’s affairs for her.

“I can’t read the grain markets anymore,” Goodwine explained. “Alan Douglas farms my land and sells my grain. Whatever he gets, I’m satisfied. They’re (the Douglas family) almost like family.”

Goodwine has seen a lot of changes in 105 years. She has seen the auto industry become a major part of America’s transportation, two major world wars and other smaller wars, the inventions of refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, cell phones, computers, disposable diapers, the Salk polio vaccine, Crayola crayons, the Slinky, television, a man on the moon and more. She has lived through 19 presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama.

“Everything has changed. Don’t know if it’s for the better,” Goodwine said, “or worse.”

Goodwine attributes her longevity to having pretty good health, a good appetite, no allergies and, she added, “The good Lord has been good to me.”

Born Aug. 21, 1904, on a farm in Wellington, Goodwine is the daughter of a Swedish couple, John and Emma Carlson Anderson. Her siblings — Walter, Anna and Hilding, her twin — all have died.

Goodwine spent her entire life around the Wellington and Hoopeston area and grew up during a time when everyone worked. Her family raised chickens, planted gardens and didn’t go anywhere but to church on Sunday. They had a good family, she said, and always helped each other, were never jealous or fought, did disagree once in a while, but always got along well.

The family ate at home, did its own cooking and never ran around. In fact, Goodwine did not eat in a restaurant at all until she married her husband, Dice Goodwine.

Not one to sit still regardless of her age, Goodwine stays active.

“Hildur’s been very involved with her farm and still stays informed,” Kaag said. “She loves to play bingo, loves to socialize and goes to church services at Country Terrace on Sunday. She really does pretty good for someone that’s 105.”