HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY | Rita Mae Collingwood

Photo

Collingwood

City of residence: Poland

Date of birth: Feb. 2, 1922

Place of birth: East Palestine

Spouse: Melvin Collingwood, deceased

Date of marriage: Aug. 7, 1937

Children: Melvin Collingwood of Struthers and Myra Franko of Poland

Grandchildren: Cindy Best of Poland; Jeffrey Collingwood of Struthers; Jamie Collingwood of Columbus; and David Franko of Columbus

Great-grandchildren: Matthew Slaven, Brittany Best, Jessica Collingwood and Justin Collingwood

Church Membership: St. Paul the Apostle Church, New Middletown

Additional information: Collingwood is the youngest of 14 children. After marrying her husband at the age of 15, they settled in Poland. She and her husband built their home themselves from the ground up. Her husband dug the basement with a pick and shovel. Collingwood went to school to become a nurse. She was employed as a nurse during World War II, then went to work in a psychiatric hospital and as a surgical nurse. She later worked 30 years at the Blackburn Home for the Aged in Poland. She is described as being vivacious and having many stories she loves to share with family and friends, or anyone who will listen. She says she’s happiest when surrounded by her family, whom she loves, and feels blessed to get to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.