It was a negative 24-degree day in January of 1924 when a beautiful 10-pound baby girl was born in Liberty Township. As she sat around her kitchen table 100 years later, a mere few miles from that spot, Roberta Gene Arnold smiled.
“I was born right at my house, just like my brothers and sisters,” Arnold explained. “The doctor came to us. It just was the way things were in those days.”
Fun and laughter filled Arnold’s home as she grew up by the light of lanterns in various rooms. Despite not having the modern-day luxuries of indoor plumbing or electricity, Arnold said she and her siblings had a blast as early life passed. The Liberty Center United Methodist Church, the place of her 100th birthday party last weekend, has also been family for her since infancy.
A lifelong resident of Wells County, Arnold graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1942, where she was a cheerleader for three years. She smiled as she recounted how she married her high school sweetheart, Bob Arnold, three years later on March 10, 1945.
Though she never held a position in an office, Roberta spoke of the many titles she has worn throughout her life. She has been a farmer, a friend, a mother, a grand and great-grandmother, a chef, a baker, and many other things as a happy homemaker.
Arnold sat at the table next to her daughter-in-law, Vicki Arnold.
“She’s not my daughter-in-law,” Roberta corrected with a mischievous grin. “She’s my daughter.”
Vicki gave away Roberta’s secret to such a long and lovely life.
“She’s done it right,” Vicki spoke tenderly. “She loves the Lord. She forgives — always. She doesn’t hold onto anything except her family. She keeps her mind active, and she eats very well. She treats her friends well and she loves well.”
The only rough spot Roberta Arnold could recall in her life was when she earned a title she was not prepared to bear: widow.
“That really was the hardest part,” Arnold said softly. “He went fast. It was Christmas time. We ate dinner, oh, we had such a great day. We stopped at Gerber’s to shop for some Christmas presents for our boys. He passed so unexpectedly.”
Bob Arnold, a beloved member of the community, passed away at the age of 64. Arnold said she has been on her own since. Her deep love for her husband was reflected in the light in her eyes and the softness in her voice as she recalled their life together.
“We loved to do so much,” Arnold recounted. “Even if we weren’t next to each other. He would be out in the fields while I was milking the cows. And we loved going to fairs. We would go to fairs all over the place.”
Arnold presented a photo from the Anderson County Fair taken during the 1980s. She and her husband stood together next to the championship horse.
Arnold said she found renewed purpose caring for her grandchildren after she lost her husband. She would spend time with them while Vicki, their mother, would tend to the needs of her parents.
“She was always there, every game, every practice,” Vicki Arnold said. “She never missed anything.”
“I don’t know what I would have done without them,” Roberta Arnold said tearfully.
One of five sisters, Vicki Arnold explained how her family has lovingly “adopted” Roberta as a mother figure. They celebrate holidays together and pour love into all of the gaps left by the grief life often brings.
Game shows fall somewhere high on the list of things Roberta Arnold loves. Though she couldn’t quite narrow down her favorites, The Price is Right, Family Feud, and Jeopardy are high in the ranks. The Young and the Restless is also a home run.
Her compassionate nature is reflected clearly in her morning routine. Arnold cares for her pet parakeet, Jay, before even feeding herself each day. She said Jay has been a great conversationalist and companion for the past 11 years. Arnold also said she feels blessed to make lunch for her sons five days a week and continues to drive herself to church and run short errands when needed.
Nearby Jay’s cage sat a beautiful bouquet of red and white roses. The arrangement was one of many flowers and gift bags in her home from her birthday party on Sunday. Vicki Arnold said that over 250 people were in attendance.
In fact, the parking lot could not contain the number of people who showed up to celebrate Roberta Arnold — a testament to her steady, sweet presence in the lives of many. From church family to children to the friends of grandkids, she has fed and filled with love over the years, a line of people formed to greet her.
“I was shocked,” Tears fell from Arnold’s eyes as she clasped her hands over her chest. “Little did I realize, I had so many great friends.”
Arnold offered her own insight into living a 100-year life, no matter the circumstances: keep going, keep loving and stay busy.