Archive: 10 questions for a centenarian

This Centenarian's advice on achieving longevity? 'I know one thing for sure: Be happy'

This story originally was published July 8, 2008. Virginia Campbell died Nov. 1, 2009.

You might think the phrase "100 years young" is a cliché, or even an oxymoron. But then you probably haven't met Virginia Campbell.

Campbell turned 100 last week with a gala celebration at the Little White School in Oswego, where she taught for 29 years. Her entire family -- children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren -- came from all corners of the country to wish her well. Under a canopy on the school lawn she greeted her family and friends, one by one, for hours. Seated next to her was her 2-week-old great-grandson, resting in the baby buggy Campbell herself used as an infant.

Campbell was born Virginia Crossman in 1908, in La Moille, a small town in Bureau County. She grew up on a family farm, and learned to love farming. Her father raised cattle until he was 81 years old. She married a farmer, Francis "Pete" Campbell, shortly after moving to the area in 1930, and settled down on the Campbell family farm. She accepted a teaching job, and started her career.

Before long, though, the Campbell farm was sold, and Pete Campbell took a job as a utility worker. The two stayed in Oswego, living in a house on Maple Street. Pete Campbell died in 1997 at the age of 88, but Virginia still lives in that old house, helped out by her family and her neighbors.

And she remains surprisingly active. She stopped driving herself to the store only a couple of years ago, but she enjoys taking trips into the city to see concerts and plays. Just last month, she paid for tickets for herself and several neighbors to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra play at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, a show she greatly enjoyed.

Campbell still plays piano, too. She says she still has about two hours of piano music memorized, and can play it at the drop of a hat. At her birthday party, her family surprised her by renting a calliope, an old steam whistle organ, and she played it for her guests.

She didn't want presents for her birthday -- Virginia Campbell is a firm believer in only asking for what you need. Instead, she urged party guests to donate to the Kendall County Food Pantry. Last year, she said, well-wishers for her 99th birthday donated $1,650 in her name.

At 100 years old, Campbell remains full of life and vitality. We caught up with her to find out how she does it.

1. What's the secret to living 100 years?

I really don't know. I'm no authority. But I know one thing to be sure: be happy. Don't be miserable and negative, be positive. Look for the positive in people. None of us are 100 percent. I've done things and I've said things I wish I hadn't done. But your life doesn't have to run smoothly to make you happy... Abraham Lincoln said that people are as happy as they allow themselves to be. And I've always gone by that.

2. Have you always celebrated your birthday, or does it get old after a while?

I have. My mother always did. We didn't have a fancy birthday, but we always honored our birthdays and always had good Christmases. Maybe not big, fancy gifts, but we always had gifts. I got a Teddy bear -- that was something new back then. And (a judge from) Antiques Roadshow judged it at $1,200...

3. What are some of your earliest childhood memories?

My mother and father were farmers, and they were Republicans. Dyed in the wool. And when (Woodrow) Wilson was elected (in 1912), my mother was sure the United States was going to the devil. Oh, was she mad when Wilson was elected and (incumbent William Howard) Taft was defeated. She got on the phone and talked to all our friends, and all the farmers were Republicans. And to think a Democrat and a university professor was president of the United States! The United States was really going down the drain. And I believed that until I grew up and had history, and found out that Woodrow Wilson was one of our best presidents. But my mother wouldn't believe that, or any of the other farming people.

I also remember 1922, when the women were allowed to vote. Was she tickled. You would have thought she'd been given a very expensive gift. And all her friends, all the women were so thrilled to be able to vote.

4. When did you first come to Oswego?

I came here in 1930 to teach at the Little White School there. They lowered the ceiling, and put up a partition, and they had three grades in it. They had all of first grade and part of second in one room, and in the other they had all of second and part of third.

5. What's the biggest change you've seen in your lifetime?

I think Oswego has changed so much. It's consuming the farms, which I don't like. I hate to see the good farm land turned into metropolitan, which it has. I hate to say it, but there isn't anything I can do about it... They have more sidewalks now, and there are quite a few more policemen we have now. I think we have 83 now. When I got here, they had one during the daytime, and one during the nighttime.

6. You traveled a lot after you first retired. Are you glad you got to see the world?

The first 20 years of our retirement we did 10 overseas trips and two winters in Africa. We didn't have any money but we had priorities... Somebody said to me, 'If you didn't travel so much, you could have a better home.' I said, 'Who wants a better home, because that doesn't make for memories.' We did different parts of the world. The Holy Land, Egypt, China. The last trip we took was to the Amazon, and we did the whole length of Peru.

7. Do you ever use the Internet?

No, I've stayed away from that. But I may have to give in. I said I wasn't going to worry about the Internet, but I may have to give in to it. I do my own business, write my own checks, pay my own bills. I don't know how long I'll be able to do it, but I still pay my own bills.

8. Who do you think was the best president of your lifetime?

Well, I really can't say. The one that had the shortest was Jimmy Carter, but he was a good president, and he's been active in politics since, and has good contributions. He's still working hard for all the good causes.

9. The Chicago Cubs last won the World Series the year you were born. Do you think they'll ever win again?

I wonder about that. And I'm sorry about it too. I'd like to see them win. I'm not a fan, but my husband was, and that was fine with me. He would watch the ballgame while I sewed. I have five closets full of clothes I made, and nothing to wear!

10. What advice would you give to people who want to live a long and happy life?

Be happy, live within your means. Think of others, don't think about yourself all the time. Having good neighbors is important. They watch out for you, and you help one another. Look for the funny things, and be positive.