Nolf celebrates 100th birthday

MARYSVILLE — Louise "Toni" Nolf's 100th birthday isn't until July 31, but her fellow Friends of the Marysville Library couldn't wait that long to celebrate her century of living. At their regular meeting in the Jennings Park Barn on July 21, the Friends presented Nolf with a plaque honoring her service and a birthday cake. June Sumpter, who gave Nolf the plaque, credited Nolf with recruiting her into the Friends when Sumpter first moved to Marysville. The lifelong Washington state resident came to the local area from Bothell in 1974, and has lived in Arlington, Smokey Point, Lakewood and Marysville since then. She still walks around town and at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School track on a regular basis, she still gardens at her own home, and she's still working in real estate.

By Kirk Boxleitner • July 26, 2011 4:47 pm
Louise 'Toni' Nolf
Louise 'Toni' Nolf

MARYSVILLE — Louise “Toni” Nolf’s 100th birthday isn’t until July 31, but her fellow Friends of the Marysville Library couldn’t wait that long to celebrate her century of living.

At their regular meeting in the Jennings Park Barn on July 21, the Friends presented Nolf with a plaque honoring her service and a birthday cake. June Sumpter, who gave Nolf the plaque, credited Nolf with recruiting her into the Friends when Sumpter first moved to Marysville.

The lifelong Washington state resident came to the local area from Bothell in 1974, and has lived in Arlington, Smokey Point, Lakewood and Marysville since then. She still walks around town and at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School track on a regular basis, she still gardens at her own home, and she’s still working in real estate.

“I’ve been in real estate since 1972,” Nolf said. “Before that, I did a lot of substitute teaching in all the grade levels in Bothell and Arlington, and in Edmonds, Kirkland and Seattle before that.”

Nolf has enjoyed caring for children in her personal life as well, with a family that includes four children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, the latter including one great-grandchild who was born in Arlington on the day of the Friends’ birthday party for her.

“I never really thought about it,” Nolf said, when asked if she ever expected to celebrate her 100th birthday. “I’m not surprised by it, since my parents and my siblings made it into their 90s, but if I’d known I was going to last this long, I wouldn’t have gotten my Social Security back in 1962. It would have been smarter to wait on that.”

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring personally congratulated Nolf on her milestone, as did Steve Muller, her former boss.

“It’s remarkable that she’s still driving and doing and active,” Nehring said. “She’s an inspiration to all of us.”

“I forget how long she worked for me, but she was there when I opened the office in 1989,” Muller said, before laughing, “I think she ran the office. She’s a trouper. They say staying active is the secret to a long life, and she lives that.”

While she’s always on the go, Nolf believes that most younger people would live longer, happier lives in they relaxed a bit more.

“They should take things a little easier,” Nolf said. “It doesn’t do to get too intense and wound up.”