Violet Williams to turn 103 next month

Name: Violet WilliamsAge: 102City: LincolnFamily: Son Bill Williams; Daughters Janet Doll and June Arroues; 20+ grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren.Where did you grow up?I was born Dec. 11, 1908 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. I grew up mostly in Wisconsin, and then after awhile, I was married and we had three children. In 1935, we came to California, lived there a couple of years and then moved back to Wisconsin in 1941. We came back to California because he (husband) worked in the shipyards and with planes.How many siblings did you have?There were five girls and three boys so eight of us. I have one brother left. He's 80.Did you like growing up in a big family?It was fun. It was great. You always had someone to play with and it was just a nice time.How do you think you got to be the age of 102?That I couldn't tell you. I'm not one of those people who drank or smoked and I always had a lot of fruits and vegetables, good food. My mother was a wonderful cook and she always had good meals for us and I always had good meals for my kids. It's the Lord's will. When he's ready to take me home, he will.What was your favorite decade?The 1930s because that was the start of our family and I loved having the kids. They were always very important to me.What about society has changed the most in your lifetime?I think probably when women started going out to work all of the time and taking jobs men used to have, and when women started joining the service. Those are things, to me, that made the biggest change.What hobbies have you enjoyed?Well, I did china painting and I taught china painting for a few years. I had my own kiln. Was it pottery that you created?I went beyond pottery. When you talk about pottery, you are talking about ceramics. I would buy the blank china, do my designing on it and then fire it. If you would like to see a neighbor or friend featured here, please e-mail stephanied@goldcountrymedia.com or call Stephanie Dumm at 774-7967.