Jacqueline (Jackie) Robertson, daughter of Otis Rule, who co-founded Davis-Rule Furniture, celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
The festive event which was held in the parish dining hall at FUMC was filled to capacity with family, friends, and church members there to mark the occasion, and to wish Ms. Robertson a happy birthday.
The party was complete with birthday cake, dinner and drink, and there was a video montage of Ms. Robertson’s life displayed on a TV.
Pastor Allen Schneider began the gathering by announcing that due to a glitch in the Church’s computer database, Jackie would be “officially ninety-nine and holding.”
Everyone in the room then joined in a rousing round of Happy Birthday, followed by Sue Scott, President of Centenarians of Oklahoma, presenting Jackie with a plaque recognizing this momentous milestone in Ms. Robertson’s life.
Before the presentation, Ms. Scott gave a brief biography of Jackie Robertson.
Read more about Jackie (Rule) Robertson in the recent “This Week in Sapulpa History” column featuring Ms. Robertson.
“Jackie attended Sapulpa Schools, grades 1-12, where she was named outstanding girl in her 1941 graduating class. She went on to Tulsa Business College and worked in the insurance business until her retirement in 1989.
“She attends First Methodist Church in Sapulpa and is the past president of the Insurance Women of Tulsa. Her travels have taken her all over the Continental United States, and to Alaska and Germany.”
Ms. Scott then reflected on all the changes that have occurred during Ms. Robertson’s life.
“So many marvelous innovations have been experienced: traveling by horse and buggy, then by Model T, trains, bus, and airplanes. Cooking on a wood stove, gas stove, electric stove, and now a microwave oven. Kerosene lamps to LED lighting that we have today.
“Living through such events as the Dust Bowl, The Great Depression, World War II, the Korean Conflict, space travel, man on the Moon, the President Kennedy Assassination, and the Murrah Building Bombing, which today is the anniversary, and 9/11.”
Ms. Scott read a few words of wisdom from Ms. Robertson: “Treat others like you would like to be treated.”
Without further ado, Ms. Scott welcomed Jackie to the Centenarians Hall of Fame And presented Ms. Robertson with an induction certificate, as well as giving her a Golden Okie pin.
“When you get to be a hundred years old in Oklahoma, you get to be a Golden Okie,” said Ms. Scott.
Scott then read what the certificate says: Jacqueline L. Rule, born April 19, 1923, one hundred years and counting, Induction number 2,842, on April 19th, 2023, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Here are some interesting facts about centenarians found on the Centenarians of Oklahoma website:
Based on the 2010 figures, the United Nations believes there are about 316,000 centenarians worldwide.
The United States has the highest number of centenarians, about 97,000. The highest percentage of centenarians is in Japan. The region of the world that has the highest percentage is in Scandinavia. By the year 2050, it is predicted China will have the most by number.
North Dakota has the highest per capita rate in the U.S. with over three centenarians per every 10,000 persons. It’s believed there are about 550 centenarians in Oklahoma.
80% of all centenarians are women, 33% live alone, 25% are Veterans The percentage of centenarian men who lived with a family member or members is 44%. The most common setting for centenarian women is living in a nursing home (35%).
A person who lives to make it to age 110 is called a supercentenarian and only one out of every 1000 centenarians reaches 110.
SUPERCENTENARIANS
UNITED STATES:
The oldest known supercentenarian living in America is Edie Ceccarelli, who lives in California and was born on February 5, 1908.
WORLDWIDE:
Maria Branyas Morera is the oldest validated living person in the world. She was born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, California, currently living in Spain.
Oklahoma’s Centenarian Statistics:
The population of Oklahoma is just over 3.5 million and with 550 centenarians. This means there is 1 centenarian for every 7,143 people in our state.
Our oldest known man in Oklahoma is now Gerald Sibley of Bethany; date of birth August 25, 1917.
Our oldest known woman in Oklahoma is Lois Boston of Guymon, date of birth May 10, 1913.
Dave Robertson, Jackie’s son, presented his mother with a Citation of Congratulations signed by Governor Kevin Stitt and State Senator Todd Gollihare.
A young friend of Ms. Robertson sang the Star Spangled Banner. This amazingly talented fourteen-year-old belted out a stunning rendition of the anthem in Cherokee.
The Sapulpa Herald asked Robertson what her secret was to living to such a ripe old age:
“You know, I don’t think there is any real secret, just good healthy living. My dad was 94 when he died and my mother was almost 99, so here we are. I didn’t plan on it.”
