Verna Octavia (Nelson) Dolphin Spokane

Thu., Dec. 28, 2000

One hundred years ago Christmas Day, Verna Octavia Dolphin was born in Olympia.

She celebrated her 100th birthday Dec. 16 with a family party at Good Samaritan Center on Mission Avenue. She has been a lifetime resident of the Pacific Northwest.

Mrs. Dolphin graduated from high school and attended the University of Washington for one year. She transferred to Bellingham Normal School, which is now Western Washington University. She received a bachelor’s degree and took her first teaching job in Tumwater, Wash., where she met her future husband Anthony Wilford Dolphin. They were married on Christmas Day in 1923. Two years later they moved to Spokane. She was a substitute teacher until the birth of their first son, Wilford. She quit teaching and raised two more sons, Howard Stanley and Anthony Lynn Dolphin, and one daughter, Verna Gwendolyn Rawlings. Anthony died in 1967.

Her memberships include the Order of Eastern Star and White Shrine, PTSA, Dishman Hills Association, Spokane Sorosis Club, Daughters of the Pioneers and Edgecliff Community Baptist Church,

Mrs. Dolphin has 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She attributes her longevity to healthy eating, exercise and her faith.

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