December 9, 2015
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Bertha Tout (above) celebrated her 102nd birthday, Sunday, at RVilla Retirement Living. She shares a room there with her sister, Etta Dickieson, and stays active with regular exercise weekly.
She marked the occasion with music from Glenn Boyd's Orchestra, Friday, and family visits on the weekend.
Born Dec. 6, 1913, she is the eldest of 11 children born to Robert and Rosetta (Smith) Bolton of Culross Township.
She met Earl Tout of Pine River at one of the dances at the Kincardine Dance Hall Pavilion during the Second World War. At that time, she was working at the Malcolm Furniture Factory in Kincardine, making airplane parts.
They were married at the Teeswater United Church manse on June 6, 1944, and had four children: Doug and his wife, Audrey, of Brantford; Marlene Van Ryswyk of Port Perry; Helen Petley of Mitchell; and Murray and his wife, Faye, of Caesarea, near Port Perry.
Bertha and Earl farmed on the 8th Concession of Huron Township, and Earl served as the clerk-treasurer of the township for 21 years (1954-75), retiring at the age of 65.
Since the clerk's office was in their home, Bertha answered the telephone and would attend many functions with her husband, including conferences, dinners, etc.
They lived 32 years on the farm, and Bertha has lived almost 40 years in Ripley. Earl passed away in 2007.
Bertha was a member of the Women's Missionary Society for years and continues as a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, Ripley, when she is able to attend.
Besides her four children, she has 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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