WWII 'Rosie The Riveter' To Turn 100 Beside Her Husband Of 78 Years
LOS ANGELES, CA — When Jennifer McMullen blows out the candles on her 100th birthday cake Saturday, behind those twinkling eyes, she may be thinking about her 99-year-old husband of 78 years standing by her side, or her three sons and army of grand-children and loved ones cheering her on. She could be remembering the hard times overcome — her Depression-era youth when she helped her family sell eggs and berries door-to-door to get by. Or she might be thinking of all she’s achieved — leaving home to help the war effort as an original “Rosie the Riveter,” working the night shift at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation on the secret XP58 Chain Lightning fighter; raising three sons; working as a paralegal, spearheading the PTA or volunteering with Zonta International, the League of Women Voters, and the American Rosie the Riveter Association. Or maybe her mind will be on adventure. She’s had so many — meeting stars like Gene Kelly, traveling to almost every state and to far away places from Antarctica to Myanmar and even visiting Cuba in her 90s. Mel and Jennifer McMullen vist Machu Picchu (Carolyn Swanson)But don’t count on it.The centenarian isn’t looking back. She has her mind on the good times ahead.Her birthday wish?“Just to keep things going as well as they're going now,” said Jennifer McMullen. “We just plan on doing what we're doing. It's been working so far.”It’s been working so well, Jennifer and her husband Mel McMullen are among less than 1,000 couples who have been married 75 years or longer in this country.Two years ago, they moved into the Oakmont of Whittier assisted living facility together, where they will celebrate her 100th birthday Saturday and Mel McMullen's six months from now.The day will feature birthday cake and root beer floats, a video tribute, proclamations from presidents and senators, live music by her son Tim McMullen and warm wishes from friends and family.Her biggest admirer, however, will be the same person who’s been at her side cheering her on for 78 years.It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was pretty close to it.Jennifer and a friend from her native Ohio had rented a room from Mel's mother while her sons fought in World War II. Jennifer had briefly dated Mel’s brother, which is how she came to know his mom.“His brother always said, you know, you should meet my younger brother. You'd be good with him,” Jennifer recalled. A young Jennifer McMullen poses for the camera ( McMullen Family Archive)“When I came home from China, I first looked at her, and I thought she was a beautiful person, not only in looks, but in acts and everything,” said Mel. “I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world, and it's been quite a few years since 1946 when I walked in the front door and saw her sitting there.”Six weeks after that fateful day, they were engaged. Not long after that, there was a double wedding. The Ohio girls married the McMullen brothers, raising two families as close as could be. Mel and Jennifer McMullen on the day of their double wedding with Janie and Jim McMullen (McMullen Family Archives).Over the years, the love is still strong.“He was the most caring person I had met up to that point when I married him,” Jennifer said. “He was very wonderful, young and thoughtful, and he hasn't lost those traits, and that's probably why I still love him.”The key to such a long, happy marriage and life? Having a sense of humor, both McMullens said.Jennifer and Mel McMullen take in the sights in Myanmar (Carolyn Swanson).Mel and Jennifer McMullen celebrate in the desert of Dubai (Carolyn Swanson).Laughter was always a big part of the family, said their son Tim McMullen.But watching his parents, he learned about more than enjoying the good times. “I think personal integrity is something that they have always exhibited and instilled in us,” he said. “I was a high school teacher for 40 plus years, and it was those values of honesty, integrity, good sense, good judgment, and common sense that I, too, tried to pass on to my students. I think they have exhibited that from their participation, as PTA president and Cub Scout leaders and Boy Scout leaders and the National Commander of the China Burma India Veterans Association. My mom has basically been president of every organization in Whittier and San Bernardino over the last 50 years or so.”Even now at Oakmont, Jenniffer McMullen is vice president of the resident’s association.Both husband and wife remain active at the assisted living facility. The move was an adjustment for the couple, but it’s been a happy one. Change is something Jennifer McMullen has gotten used to in her century of living. She went from riding a horse and buggy to school as a child to texting and using an iPad in her 90s. She was born just four years after women got the right to vote in the United States, and now she hopes to see a woman elected to the White House in her lifetime.In the meantime, Jennifer McMullen plans to continue doing what she's always done.“If you want to live a long time, you find a good man and have a nice family, and keep reading. Of course, that's what we always do,” she said. “And just enjoy life.”The article WWII 'Rosie The Riveter' To Turn 100 Beside Her Husband Of 78 Years appeared first on Los Angeles, CA Patch.
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