Celebrating our Centenarians!

Imagine navigating life against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, two world wars, the Space Age, the Digital Age and many other historical events. The remarkable centenarians we serve and have been privileged to serve garnered a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that only living 100 or more years can bring.

What a privilege it is to share their amazing stories and valuable advice. We invite you to scroll through this photo album honoring some of the wonderful Centenarians we’ve been privileged to know.

Select A Community:

Ralph Martin

Reynold Frutkin

May 22, 1912

Rennie Frutkin was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up to be a business executive, raising two sons with his beautiful wife, Anabel.

Rita Snoke

September 24, 1918

Rita Snoke proudly acquired her teaching licenses from Ball State University in 1948. She went on to teach in Fort Wayne Community Schools for 30+ years. Her advice to others is to always be kind, help others, love your family, work hard and love God.

Robert Reith

August 31, 1923

Mr. Robert Reith was born on August 31, 1923, in Marion, Indiana. He married his wife Nancy in 1947. Robert is the father of two daughters. He lived the majority of his life in Marion, IN, until he moved to Indianapolis in 2020.

Mr. Reith is a WWII Air Force Veteran and received 5 bronze Medals. He built a Jeep by hand for one of his commanding officers. He said his main job was to drive the supply truck, although he thought flying planes would have been nice, but he enjoyed his job. Robert went to art School in New York City.

State Representative Julie McGuire visited our veterans last month. She thanked Robert for his service in the Air Force. Julie also wished him a Happy 100th Birthday!

Rose Hicks

December 24, 1917

Rose Hicks has always had strong faith and enjoyed leading bible study at Zionsville Meadows. She also liked to garden, but her favorite thing to do was spend time with her husband and two sons.

Ruby Harter

March 17, 1916

Ruby Harter enjoyed knitting, traveling, playing cards and gardening. She values her family above all. They were the most important thing in her life. Her advice to others is to love life and help anyone you can.

Ruby Newlin

October 4, 1919

Ruby was born in Camelsburg, Indiana to Vance and Gladys Batt. Ruby grew up with one brother and one sister. She has two sons, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She loves spending time with them! In 1996 Ruby was able to watch and cheer on her granddaughters on their way to a State Championship in softball!

Ruth Geers

August 26, 1919

Ruth Geers loves the arts. For her birthday, the Ally Kats Dancers gave her the performance of a lifetime. She is a joy to have in the community and is always bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

Ruth Holsapple

June 21, 1922

Ruth Holsapple was born and raised in West Union, Indiana. She is the oldest of five siblings, and the only one surviving. She married her husband Leslie in 1944, after he mailed a diamond ring to her from Europe where he was serving in the Air Force. Together they had four children: two boys and two girls. Ruth now has nineteen grandchildren, and “too-many-to-count” great-grandchildren.

Ruth attended nursing school at Union Hospital School of Nursing. She and her husband were also farmers, and Ruth drove tractors and trucks to help.

Ruth loves to knit, and her advice for living 100+ years is to “just enjoy life and your family.”

Ruth Tomlin

July 14, 1922

Heritage House Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is celebrating a very special milestone with resident Ruth Tomlin as she turns 102 years old on Sunday, July 14th.  She joins less than 0.03% of the U.S. population by surpassing 100 years of age. Ruth was born in Clay County, Kentucky in 1922 to Emily and Robert E. Allen. She grew up in Franklin County, but lived most of her life in Connersville, Indiana and Mims, Florida. Ruth married at the age of 17 to Leonard Tomlin.

Ruth and Leonard owned several businesses in Connersville, Rushville, Franklin and Metamora, Indiana and opened the first Dollar Store in Connersville, as well as Shorty’s Tavern and the Hilltop Market. Ruth always worked at least two jobs and managed to raise five children: Anna, Leonard, Janie, Loreda, and Bill. She enjoyed traveling to Florida with her husband and to Kansas to visit her son. She has 52 grandchildren, including great, and great-great grandchildren. Ruth attributes her longevity to hard work.