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Ohio woman, 96, parades through county fair on Farmall she used to own

By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Sometime around 1945, Albert J. and Eleanor Simon bought an almost-new 1942 BN Farmall tractor. They used it on the farm for putting up corn and hay.

Fast forward to 2008: Nic Wenzel, Albert’s and Eleanor’s son-in-law, bought that tractor from Eleanor Simon, who is now 96 years old; Albert passed away seven years ago.

“A friend of ours, Barry Haubeil, refurbished the tractor; took it all apart, replaced parts and it looks like it did originally,” said Martha Wenzel, Nic’s wife and the Simons’ daughter.

A few years back, the local Ross County Fair began featuring antique tractors. “So, my husband and I decided we were going to take it to the fair,” Wenzel said. “When she (Simon) found out we were taking it to the fair, she said, ‘Well, I’m going to ride on that tractor in the parade.’ So she did.

“Granted, she was a little stiff when she got off.”

During the past year Simon moved from the farmhouse, where she had lived alone since her husband’s death, into the Wenzels’ home. She was just going to stay for the winter but it was comfortable and she’s still there.

In 2009 Simon was again ready to take part in the parade. “She is on oxygen part of the time, but she is too vain to carry the oxygen,” Wenzel said. “We followed very close behind in the golf cart carrying oxygen just in case.”

When she got off the tractor this year, her legs were stiff again. “There were all these people and I didn’t want them to see that I couldn’t walk,” Simon said.

Many of those people probably remembered when she was active in the farming community, especially in 4-H. She was a longtime advisor.

“She received a lot of commendations from the state for being a 4-H leader,” Wenzel said.

This past year for Simon’s 96th birthday, five of the members of her 4-H club, called The Five Twos, surprised her by coming to her party. They are in their seventies. “She had a hard time recognizing them,” Wenzel said.

The Five Twos later evolved into the Creative Fingers. Most members took sewing projects. They also learned outdoor cookery. “That was before Weber Grills,” Wenzel said.

By next year’s fair, Simon’s 97th birthday will be behind her but she still plans on being in the parade. This year three of her four daughters – Sharon Dykes, Joy Carver and Wenzel – saw her in the parade; Lynn Simon was not able to attend. Next year, she wants all four to be there. “We had such fun being there for and with her ... looking forward to next year to do it all over again,” Dykes said.

9/9/2009