EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was submitted to Ashland Source by Christina Littleton, Community Relations Manager at Mansfield Place. She can be reached at clittleon@enlivant.com.
MANSFIELD — Katherine Dillion, 95, is known to her friends at Mansfield Place as Katie. She is living her best life full of life, fun, smiles, and friendships.
Dillon was born in Savannah, Ohio. At the age of 6 the family moved to Pleasant Hill in Ashland to what became the family farm. The 3-bedroom family farm is remembered very fondly. She was the seventh of 10 children and recalls precious memories of hard work and the love of family, even her bed made of straw.
Residents and staff say she is always full of laughter and shows it with a continued smile, regardless what the news reports say, or the new world we are all living in constantly changing. The building is fortunate to have her sharing her memories, and at 95 there is a lot of them.
Katie and Bob Dillon family photo
Dillon shares her memories of the Ohio State Fair, traditional Easter and Christmas Holidays. While living in uncertain times, her memories bring reflect a positive outlook despite the challenging times.
Her first official job was during World War II, a story that’s best heard around the breakfast table.
“I remember my 7-mile bicycle ride one way,” Dillon said. “I changed my route sometimes to make it interesting and stay away from chasing dogs!”
Clocking in and being the only and first woman to run big sheets of cardboard through a very large press in order to make a variety of breakfast cereal boxes was hard work but rewarding. Dillon said she earned $5 a week babysitting to pay for the bicycle, all while doing chores around her farm as the family ate and lived off the land.
Her second job at the age of 21 brought her to Westinghouse, a floater on the line. This is where she met the love of her life Bob, aka “Red.”
“Red was my boss you know,” Dillon said. “Our first date was the original movie Bambi, I cried like a baby and he laughed and held me.
“I knew then he was the one for me.”
When Red finished his service with the Air Force they were soon married. Her mother gave her a beautiful white Bible and a penny in her shoe, she walked down the aisle with a bunch of red roses that Red had gotten for her that day. She recalls the memory as if it were just yesterday.
Her favorite words to share are so precious, “To be kind to people. Families need to stick together, do not grow apart and keep in touch.
“My children are so wonderful. Having children was a true miracle and my proudest moments.”
Dillon decided to move to an Assisted Living situation after her husband passed away and she was living with her daughter.
“I appreciate all that she had done for me but it was time,” Dillon said. “I appreciate all the programs Mansfield Place has to offer for me.
“One of the programs brought me to writing my book. I really enjoy painting as well; it is a favorite pastime of mine. I have always wanted to share memories of the farm and paint one last time as my eyes just don’t want to work anymore. I was able to do that here with the assistance of staff.”
Katie’s contagious laughs can be heard throughout the community, we are so blessed to have her here, have her stories, and share our world together. Covid-19 times or not, we are still living our best life.
As the sponsor of Ashland Source's Life and Culture section, Brethren Care Village continues its commitment to enriching lives and promoting a vibrant community.
