Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, retired Personnel administrative assistant, and Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah,came away from a visit with Amelia Zentz Shenasky as impressed with her memory and personality as I was when I talked to Amelia over the phone.

Amelia is 97 years old, but her mind remembers yesteryear as if it were yesterday.

Amelia is the widow of Bruce Zentz and the daughter of Pete and Nell Shenasky, who owned the P.P. Shenasky Grocery on U.S. 19 adjacent to Thoburn School.

She lives on Shenasky Lane, named for her family, which is the street

Susan wrote of the experience:

“Letting everyone know I had a wonderful visit with Ameila Zentz yesterday. I just love this woman.

“Kitty Morrison is sitting with her and also was there. We went through old pictures and, to my amazement, she remembered everyone.

“97 years old and she is as beautiful now as she was back then.

“I found a love letter from Bruce when he was in the service and had us read it to her. She remembered it very well.

“To put an end to this wonderful day, on the back of the letter has SWAMK. Kitty and I looked at each other, not knowing what it meant.

“She just giggled and said, ‘Ladies, that means Sealed with a Marine Kiss.’ ”

Kitty added:

“She amazes me each time I sit with her.

“Bertha Wilson and April Potts have gone through hundreds of old pictures while sitting with her.

“Kacie and Al have been amazing with her. I can listen for hours about her life.”

Al Williamson, Class of 1973, who once delivered groceries for the Shenasky store customers, lives next door to Amelia and helps her out.

So does Kacie Cunningham, who attended both East Fairmont High and Fairmont Christian Academy and lives in Monongah with husband Dan Cunningham, who also helps Amelia with the house and grounds.

Al Williamson began working at P.P. Shenasky Grocery at the age of 17 and eventually owned the store for 10 years.

Later, the store was purchased by John Boggess, son of Evelyn Kasper Boggess, Class of 1953, and retired coal miner Okey Boggess.

Evelyn and Okey live in the Willow Road home south of Monongah where Evelyn grew up with siblings Helen Kasper and Bob Kasper, Class of 1950, who has homes in South Lyon and Presque Isle (on Grand Lake), Michigan.

April, related to Sharon Rose Wilson Core and Monongah Councilwoman and 1946 Fairview High grad Bertha Kennedy Wilson, also helps Amelia with her home. Bertha is running for re-election.

Bertha and David Wilson’s daughter, North Marion graduate Amanda Lee Wilson, born and raised in Monongah, headed fundraising efforts for a Big Mill Fall couple who lost their home to a fire in 2014. Amanda’s grandparents are David Wilson and Shirley Fox Wilson.

Sharon was one of the winners of the raffle baskets and 50/50 drawing in this year’s Susan Sanders’ Easter fundraiser.

During the visit to Amelia, Al confessed to Susan: “I had a crush on you at Monongah High. I still do.”

Awww.

Ron Sanders still has a crush on Susan, too. She’s his wife. They live on Thomas Street, the second house from Church Street, next door to the Olesky rental home with a two-hole outhouse when I was growing up. When I was a pre-teenager, the Sanders house was occupied by the Philomena Mangino family, who moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia (I visited them when I was 18, on my hitchhiking tour of family friends and relatives in Chicago, Philadelphia and Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania that cost me $20).

Later, my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., and mother, Lena Futten Olesky, bought the first Church Street house off U.S. 19 (Camden Avenue) where I spent the rest of my life till my graduation from West Virginia University School of Journalism and a 43-year newspaper career that ended with my 1996 retirement.

Amelia was such a good dancer that, at the age of 19, she was invited to a national event and danced at the Cotton Club in New York City.

Even years after she returned to Marion County, Amelia and the late Walt DeWitt did a pretty good Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers imitation with their ballroom dancing.

Amelia also was an excellent golfer and bowler.

Debbie Moore O’Dell, Class of 1969, put it cleverly and succinctly about Amelia:

“She’s one in Amelion.”

Indeed, Debbie.

Debbie’s parents were Vera Pearl Moore and Bill Moore.

Debbie worked at both Urban’s Grocery Store in Monongah and the Dairy Kone (1968-69), which Amelia and Bruce built in 1968.

Debbie’s sister, Janet Moore Frazier, Class of 1972, also worked at the Dairy Kone, which provided spending money for a lot of Monongah High students over the years.

And some tantalizing snacks for the entire town.

Janet lives in Fairmont with husband Jack Frazier.