Their secrets to longevity: chocolate, God, good genes
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Can eating chocolate help you live longer? Mary Fallon says so.
Mrs. Fallon, who turned 100 years old on July 5, attributes her longevity to healthy eating, including lots of chocolate.
She lived in Brackenridge for many years and worked as an office manager. She enjoys sewing and dancing and has a great sense of humor.
She and her late husband, Raymond, had three children: Patti DeWitt of Natrona Heights, Raymond of Punxsutawney and Robert of Brackenridge. She also has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Fallon celebrated with family and friends at her home in Concordia at Cabot skilled nursing.
Traveler, missionary turns 100
Esther Kroh likes to travel. She and her husband, Dr. Dean Kroh, served as missionaries for the Christian Missionary Alliance in the Belgian Congo and Cambodia.
On March 8, she turned 100 at Concordia at Cabot Personal Care.
She was born on the North Side and married Dr. Kroh on Sept. 2, 1949, in Bellevue. They had four children: David of Marshall, June Kershner of Grants, N.M., Dean of Pennsbury Village and Daniel (deceased). The couple, who have been married 68 years, have three granddaughters.
Mrs. Kroh moved to the Lund Care Center in 2016. She enjoys reading, sewing and walking and loved family vacations at the ocean.
She attributes her longevity to eating healthy, wellrounded meals and provides this advice: Always do God’s will, live a life that God wants andlook to Him for guidance.
She celebrated with family and friends in March in the Concordia Porch Lounge.
Ruth made rifle shells
Ruth Musser certainly did her part for the American war effort. During World War II, she made 8inch rifle shells for the Army at Harrisburg Steel. She also loved dancing with servicemen and wishes she still could. She turned 100 on March 7.
She was born in Harrisburg and said her siblings taught her driving, dancing and everything in between.
She married John “Jack” Musser on April 14, 1942. They had two sons: John of Franklin Park and Larry of Cherry Hill, N.J. She also has four grandchildren.
They lived in New York, Oregon, Texas, Cleveland and finally settled in the Pittsburgh area. Mrs. Musser is s member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and Longview Women’s Club. Mr. Musser died in 1991 after 49 years of marriage. She moved to Concordia of Franklin Park two years ago.
She said there is no “million-dollar answer” to the question of the secret of longevity: “I have been very blessed throughout my whole life … and good genes help,” she said.