RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Gertrude was born February 28, 1917, in Round Up, Montana, the second of 4 children. They were all born on a 160 acre Homestead deeded to her father by Woodrow Wilson for $1.00. She is direct descendant of Edward Doty who was one of the passengers on the Mayflower and who was also one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. This was on her Mother’s side of the family.

Gertrude’s family moved to Pullman, Washington when she was 11. She attended school there and graduated High School in 1935. She did return for her 50^th High School reunion in 1985.

Gertrude went to visit friends in Waterloo, Oregon in 1936 where she met her future husband Floyd Thomas and they were married there in 1937. They had 5 children there, 1 daughter and 4 sons. The family stayed in Oregon until 1957 when they moved to Rio Linda.

She was very active in the Rio Linda First Southern Baptist Church, and was a charter member in the Elverta Baptist Church which was spun off of the Rio Linda Church. She became a widow in 1979, and after that she worked several years for the Rio Linda Community Center.

Gertrude has 5 children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 7 great, great grandchildren. She also has a younger sister who lives in Indiana and who just turned 100. Lately she takes pleasure, weather permitting, in sitting outside and counting the cars as they pass by, for every 10 she takes her walker for lap up and down the driveway. The other high point of her day is receiving mail!

Her hobbies are gardening and quilting, she takes great pride in her Roses.

When she is asked what the secret to her longevity she always says, with a big smile, trust in the Lord and be happy.