Be part of your community and involved in life, says 100-year-old Kincardine woman

Molly Wilkins of Kincardine says it’s important to be part of your community and involved in life.

And she should know, as she just celebrated her 100th birthday, Thursday, Aug. 14.

“With any activity, you’re not a passive participant,” she says. “You have to work at it. Get on committees, take an interest in things, be really involved and part of the community. That way, you get twice as much out of life.”

Born Muriel White, Aug. 14, 1925, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, she married Peter Wilkins in 1961 and they had two daughters, Amanda and Julia.

The family came to Canada in 1967 and spent four years in Kingston before moving to Kincardine in 1971.

“We moved to Canada for Peter’s job, and then to Kincardine where he worked as an engineer at Douglas Point,” says Molly. “Those first years in Kingston, I was homesick for England. Then we came to Kincardine, and it was extremely hard to get a house or anywhere to live. I thought we would have to go back home.”

They eventually purchased a home on Golf Links Road where they lived until Peter died in 2002. They were in the midst of moving to the condominium on Princes Street when he passed away, so Molly moved there herself and has lived there ever since.

Molly has seen a lot of changes over the years, the major one being television, followed by social media. And Kincardine has changed a lot.

“It was extremely small when we moved here,” she says. “Local businesses couldn’t compete with the wages at the nuclear plant. The main street has changed a lot. There used to be a Red and White grocery store and, of course, Harry Chapman’s store. I was told one time, that if you were going there to find something, make sure you’re in good health because you could get lost in that store!”

Molly is a long-time member of the Anglican Church of the Messiah in Kincardine where she enjoyed working with the catering team for many years. “We had a lot of fun with that, and we took great pride in our work.”

She played bridge for almost 40 years, and played golf until she was 90. “We lived on Golf Links Road so it made sense to learn how to play the game. I was an enthusiastic golfer, but not a great one.”

Molly and her friends went swimming at the Davidson Centre pool. “Our kids were taking lessons so we decided if they were going through all of that, we would too. Well, we ended up lifeguarding for years at the pool.”

Now, she enjoys playing the Mahjong tile game with a group, she likes doing crosswords, and she continues as a member of the Anglican Church. She loved driving, and just gave up her driver’s licence a couple of months ago.

“I’m very fortunate to be this age,” she says. “I never thought I’d live to be 100, I never gave it a thought.”

She is pleased to continue living in her own home, and to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family. Her eldest daughter, Amanda, lives in Thornhill and has a son; and her youngest daughter, Julia, is married and lives on the 7th Concession in Kincardine Township.

“Now, I plan to just keep on going,” says Molly.

She was honoured on her 100th birthday, with certificates of recognition from King Charles III, the Governor General of Canada, the prime minister of Canada, and the premier of Ontario, along with about 30 cards.

Her family and friends gathered for a birthday party, Aug. 14, with cake and lots of great memories.



Molly Wilkins (back, right) celebrates her 100th birthday, Aug. 14, surrounded by family and friends; photos courtesy of Amanda Wilkins