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Rosie Oatman is greeted by Muriel Hilliard at the Philomath First Baptist Church. Oatman, hailed as the oldest Beavers fan, celebrated her 102nd birthday Saturday.

Oldest Beaver fan celebrates landmark birthday

Rosie Oatman celebrated her birthday in style on Saturday with friends, family and an appearance by the OSU band

By: Brian Krichevksy

Posted: 1/20/09

Guests wearing orange and black sat in their chairs clapping to the sounds of OSU's band at a Beaver-themed birthday party in celebration of Rosie Oatman's life in Philomath last Saturday.

From a distance, this looked to be just another Beaver-themed birthday party until closer observation of the birthday girl triggered the realization that she wasn't the average Beaver fan.

Rosie Oatman is 102 years old.

At the First Baptist Church in Philomath, more than 40 people gathered to celebrate another year in Oatman's life.

At 102, Oatman is as popular as ever, according to the number of guests and family members who showed up for the party.

Friends both young and old came to the annual event. This year's theme was all about the Beavers - Rosie's favorite team - even though she lives in a group home in Eugene, right in the heart of Duck country.

Rosie Oatman was born in 1907 in Council Bluffs, Ohio. She moved to Oregon and graduated from the Normal School (now known as Western Oregon University) where she received her teaching degree. She served stints in World War II and spent time traveling around the country with her husband who was in the military.

Once things settled down, she spent most of her life as a teacher finding a home teaching third grade in Lowell, Ore. near Eugene. She was very active in many organizations and social groups, serving high ranking positions in the American Legion Auxiliary for many years.

"She has such magnetism," said Oatman's niece Pegge Gee who put on the party. "She was very outgoing and had a way of staying connected with people."

Gee, who lives in Philomath, began working on the party about a year in advance and said that she does what Oatman can't do because of her age. She told her aunt when she was 97 that she would throw her a birthday party every year until she died. "I didn't think she'd live to be 110," she said, "but she's worth it."

Brenda Miller, who has known Oatman since 1973 said she's been almost like a family member to her.

"She always called herself a people person. She was just a very warm, caring and really genuine person," Miller said.

Oatman, an avid traveler and adventurer, spent a lot of time moving around the country as well as overseas. "Rosie was a great letter writer," Miller said. "She wrote to more people than anyone I have ever known."

The OSU band made a special appearance and played a number of songs. Oatman was wheeled up front while they played and had her picture taken with the band.

"I thought the band was great. They have so much enthusiasm," said Louis George of Eugene. Even though they were scheduled to play at Saturday night's men's basketball game, the band's appearance made the afternoon special for many guests. "It added a lot to the party," Miller said "It was perfect - the perfect touch."

What was it about Rosie Oatman that attracted so many people in her life? According to Miller, she was "well-liked and very social. She was always good company and a lot of fun."

Other guests agreed. "She is a very nice lady - just very warm," said Mike Kelly of Eugene.

Oatman was always entertaining friends, and guests spoke of her charm, wit and notoriously playful nature.

"She was a flirt," Gee said. "She loved to entertain. The parties at her beach house were a lot of fun; music and dancing and a lot of laughter. She was always having a good time."

Many stories were told about Oatman. Gee told a crowd that her aunt drove until she was 95 and even gave herself her own birthday party at age 90.

As retold by Gee, Rosie stood up in front of 100 or so guests and with the guest's names written on an index card, talked about how she knew each of the them, where she knew them from and what they meant to her. Things of this nature were "classic Rosie."

As to the secret of her longevity, it is about her attitude, friends said.

"Positive," Gee said. "She is always positive. That's why she's lived so long."

Brian Krichevsky, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231