Meet West Seattle’s newest centenarian: Happy 100th birthday, Virginia Carmichael!

madridmom

Meet Virginia Carmichael, who turned 100 today! We photographed her early this week, to accompany this tribute from her family:

Virginia has resided in Seattle since 2004. That year she moved from the Northern California foothill town of Paradise.

Virginia’s family will honor her tomorrow at the West Seattle home of her eldest daughter, Susan Madrid. She celebrated at The Kenney with her fellow residents at the monthly group birthday gathering this past Monday.

Virginia’s immediate family includes a second daughter, Alice Turner from Chico, California, and two grandchildren, Leslie Harlow (Greg) from Renton and Richard Stichler (Diane) from Ringgold, Georgia. Her great-grandchildren are teenagers Anna and Sarah Harlow and young adults Evan and Jarrett Stichler.

Virginia was born near Auburn in south King County in 1916. Her maternal/paternal extended families lived and worked in the Tacoma area.

When she was 3, her immediate family moved to California, eventually settling in Stockton, where she attended school and lived until she and her husband, James Carmichael, whom she married in 1939, retired in the mid 1970s. James died in 2002.

Virginia owned a knit shop in Stockton. She is accomplished in all forms of needlework and sewing, using these skills to be successful in her business. She still knits baby sweaters and afghans that are donated to WestSide Baby. Her guilty pleasures are watching “Curious George” on PBS and Rocky Road ice cream.

8 Replies to "Meet West Seattle's newest centenarian: Happy 100th birthday, Virginia Carmichael!"

  • Kwitty December 9, 2016 (9:08 pm)

    Ditto on Curious George and Rocky Road!

  • JennyL December 9, 2016 (9:14 pm)

    Happy birthday Ms. Carmichael!

  • miws December 9, 2016 (9:22 pm)

    Happy 100th, Virginia!  

    Mike

  • Jeannie December 9, 2016 (10:04 pm)

    What a cool lady! She looks like she enjoys life. Happy, happy birthday.

  • cil December 9, 2016 (10:37 pm)

    Oh my! Happiest of birthdays to you!!

  • Norskgirl December 10, 2016 (8:49 am)

     The expressiveness of your smile and eyes suggest a life full of laughter.  And where there is laughter, there is love and goodness.  Very best to you Mrs. Carmichael!

  • West Seattle since 1979 December 10, 2016 (2:17 pm)

    Happy 100th!

  • Erithan December 10, 2016 (4:16 pm)

    Happy birthday! ( I know I’m a little late) =)

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