 |
 |
Nation's oldest postmaster wants to be known for being herself
Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:59 PM EDT
 |
| Verna Naylor inside the Bentonville, Ohio post office. |
In May, it was announced that Naylor is the oldest postmaster in the United States and the second oldest postal employee in the country, second only to a 92-year-old man in California. She also has the distinction of being the oldest female postal employee.
While the distinction was fun at first, with politicians visiting and newspapers and media outlets across the area clambering for interviews, Naylor would rather be doing her job as the Bentonville postmaster -- she dislikes the title postmistress -- a job she has done since 1968, replacing her late husband Henry Naylor.
"I was his assistant. He had been postmaster since 1948," said Naylor.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno production personnel even gave the diminutive postmaster a call. They called three times, and Naylor thought the calls were fun.
"I never really talked to Jay Leno. They congratulated me and asked me if I had ever watched the show. I told them no," said Naylor.
She had not intended the reply to be an insult to the show.
"It is just that the show is on very late and I go to bed early. The post office opens at 6:30 a.m., so I am up at 6 a.m.," said Naylor.
She is also being recognized, in the Ohio Magazine in August.
"That's all about enough," said Naylor.
Naylor has seen good times and bad times in her years.
"We knew hungry," Naylor about the times when the WPA was put into place by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. "We got married on my husband's first WPA check. We put electric in the house the year Roosevelt got elected."
Born and reared in Adams County, what she is really passionate about, besides her 10-year-old grandson, is the Bentonville Anti-Horsethief Society. Her daughter, Harriet Naylor is the current president of the group which was founded in 1842 as a vigilante group which wanted to protect its horses and mules, said Naylor.
"There haven't been any horses stolen that I know of, lately, but you never know, folks are getting into keeping horses again. Now the group does a lot toward preserving traditions and helping beautify the area," said Naylor.
As postmaster, Naylor has had a variety of items pass through the doors of the tiny post office.
"There were baby chickens and even some bees that were sent here for folks to pick up," said Naylor.
Getting a much appreciated angel food cake mailed to her son when he was serving in Italy years ago took a little coordination and timing, said Naylor.
"The mail truck came through on Monday morning and during the day I would bake the cake and get it packaged. They would pick it up on Monday night and -- you wouldn't believe it -- but he got it in Italy on Wednesday. You can't get that today," said Naylor.
Naylor keeps busy with community projects, including the Christians Across America program which distributes clothing and household items across the country.
"We also need donations to put gas in the truck to deliver the goods. Folks forget about that part," said Naylor.
Though politicians have congratulated her for her longevity, Naylor says she is not a political person.
"I am just me," she said.
Her next goal is to become the oldest postmaster in the nation.
"I will be 92 year old on Aug. 8, maybe the guy in California will retire," said Naylor.
To become a lifetime member of the Bentonville Anti-Horsethief Society, send 41 cents return postage, a self addressed return envelope and one dollar to BAHS, 7785 State Route 41, Bentonville, Ohio, 45105.
For more area news, go to http://www.westunion-online.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
Copyright © 2008 Maysville Newspapers, Inc., A Lee Enterprises Publication This site is protected by applicable copyright laws and no part may be reproduced, transmitted or used in any way other than its intended purpose without the prior written permission of The Ledger Independent. Click here to view The Ledger Independent's privacy policy. Click here to view current print advertisements. |