By David Fleet

Editor

When Viola Spraker was 5-months-old the Titanic was still floating, women did not have the right to vote and life expectancy for females was just 53 years.

After two world wars, 18 presidents and the marvel of electricity in the home, on Oct. 23, area resident Viola will celebrate her 106th birthday.

Viola was born in 1911 near the thumb area-rural farming community of Decker—about 50 miles east of Saginaw. Viola was one of three children born to George and Anne Buffey, who rented and worked a small farm.

“We had no electricity or indoor plumbing,” she laughed. “No car either– horse and buggy into town. No radio. We walked a lot. News was from a weekly paper from Sandusky. We had fun—our family would go to square dances at neighbors’ homes. My parents would join in and dance, but I was young and would just watch.”

She walked about a mile to a small one-room schoolhouse on dirt country roads with brother Raymond and sister Marjory.

“I attended the Jewell (school) when I was old enough to go,” she said. “I really don’t remember much else.”

In 1921, the family moved to Flint.

“Dad found a job with Buick,” she said. “I attended Dole School where I was the youngest student. The teacher put me on her lap the first day. I remember.”

Viola attended Flint Central High School and at 18 graduated with the Class of 1929.

“Flint was a big city,” she said. “I needed to get around so I had my brother George teach me how to drive a car. I attended Baker College and learned typing. I did pretty well and landed a job at Buick where I made $17 per week as a typist.”

She lived at home and helped mom around the house.

“There was a lot to do in Flint in the 1930s,” she said. “I drove to the Fllint IMA for dances and that’s where I met my husband.”

Viola married Reg Spraker in 1935 and continued to live in Flint. She was employed with Buick, but quit after about 10 years at the outbreak of World War II.

“My husband was just about drafted into WWII,” recalls Spraker. “I was then pregnant with Judith, our first child, so he did not have to go to war.”

A few years later the couple had a son, Alan.

Reg was employed at The Flint Journal starting as a paperboy and later into the dispatch department. He moved on to the advertising department, a career that spanned many years, Spraker said.

Viola later worked at Whaley Children’s Center in Flint for many years.

Today Viola’s husband, daughter, brother and sister are all deceased. She is cared for by her 72-year-old son Alan.

In her mid-80s, Viola was diagnosed with colon cancer and successfully underwent surgery. She also fell in 2015 and broke her arm, which has since healed, although mobility is an issue. These were her only serious medical problems during her lifetime.

“I never smoked, but have enjoyed a drink or two,” she said. “I love pinochle, eating squash and have a strong faith.”