Parsons Celebrates 96th Birthday In Style

Warsaw Resident Rosemary Parsons celebrated her 96th birthday with a ride in a 385HP Cat-740 haul truck.

WARSAW — Warsaw resident Rosemary Parsons celebrated her 96th birthday this week by riding in a 385 HP Cat-740 haul truck at G & G Hauling & Excavating in Warsaw. This was the latest in a string of birthday adventures.

In 2012, with her 90th birthday approaching, Parsons made the decision to do something different and unique on each birthday from that year on. For her 90th birthday, Parsons went skydiving.

“I’m trying to do something i’ve never done before on each birthday to show people that when you’re in your 90s you don’t have to sit home in a rocking chair,” said Parsons.

Other interesting ways Parsons celebrated recent birthdays include riding in a vintage World War II airplane, a motorcycle ride and a cruise in a Dodge Viper.

“We went 94 mph for my 94th birthday,” Parsons said of the motorcycle ride.

Parsons is originally from Pierceton. She was married to the late Hugh Parsons for 70 years. Parsons has a son, Stephen Parsons; a daughter, Andrea Ebersole; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.

A member of the Dancing Grannies for 23 years, Parsons quit last year after most of the members of the group had passed away.

“We practiced three mornings a week and did as many as 54 performances a year,” said Parsons. She was also a member of the Alley Kats, a senior dancing group in Fort Wayne, for three years.

“I took my first tap dancing lesson at age 72,” Parsons stated.

Along with the Dodge Viper ride for her 95th birthday, Parsons was invited onstage at the Wagon Wheel Theatre where Country Music Artist Jason Michael Carroll serenaded her with a birthday song.

“I’ve always liked to do different things,” said Parsons. “Who knows what I’ll do next year.”