Williamsburg Woman Turns 100

In 1922, many events happened in the United States – the building of Yankee Stadium started in Bronx, NY, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., was dedicated, and in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, Helen Irvin was born.

On Feb. 7, Helen will celebrate her esteemed 100th birthday. She was born the daughter of Jesse and Lille (Parks) Irvin, and had seven siblings. For school, she attended both Orchard Grove and Ridge, which were one-room school houses. She then graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1941.

Helen married James K. Loose in December of 1942, and had six children. In all, Loose has 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and one on the way.

In all of her years on this planet, Loose has lived through many difficult times in history, including the Great Depression and wars, but she says the most memorable historical event that she has lived through would be a tie between World War II and the COVID pandemic.

“The difference,” she said, “between the two events, our nation was united during World War II. Today, we are a divided nation (non-political).”

She quoted from Former President Ronald Reagan: “If we were to forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

For her past hobbies, Loose enjoyed baking cookies and cakes, and flower gardening. Today, she likes completing jigsaw puzzles.

Her granddaughter, Amy Gorsuch, said of Loose, “She is a great baker. She made most of my birthday cakes as a child. Whatever I wanted, she would get it and hand decorate it. Her cakes were as delicious as they looked.”

Her secret to longevity?

“Live one day at a time.”

Loose ends with, “Anyone who reads this article, may your day be blessed with little glimpses of God’s love.”