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Normandie Ridge Resident Celebrates 100th Birthday

February 12, 2007

Jacob H. Markle, an Assisted Living resident at Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community, celebrated his 100th birthday on February 10 with a private party on Sunday, February 11 at 3 p.m. in the facility’s Congressional Room Restaurant.  Approximately 80 of Jacob’s friends and family were in attendance to celebrate his life.

Born to Willis and Lizzie Weist Markle, Jacob was one of ten children who lived in York Township for the first few years of his life.  He attended Shaffers School until he reached the sixth grade, when he started staying home to work on the family farm until 1925 when he began working for Palmer’s Lime and Stone Quarry.  After putting in a few years at Palmer’s, he got a job at Zinn’s Quarry until 1944.

During this time, Jacob married Florence Sharp in Towson, Md. on March 30, 1929.  They lived with Jacob’s family when their first two sons, Clair Lester and Ralph Willis, were born.  After Ralph was born, Mr. and Mrs. Markle bought a house in North Codorus Township in March 1932.  In their new home, they celebrated the birth of their remaining six children between 1933 and 1942: Dean LeRoy; Gerald Lavern; Freda Mae and Fred Ray (twins); Vernon Leon; and Marlin Eugene.  Unfortunately, Vernon Leon passed away seven days after he was born. 

On March 2, 1944, Jacob and Florence bought a farm in Springfield Township and moved to the Howard Shaffer farm to make room for their seven children.  Jacob went back to farming here, raising dairy cattle and selling the milk to the local dairy.  They also raised chickens and sold the eggs to the local broker to support their family.

In 1966, Florence and Jacob moved into a house in Bairs Station after their youngest son, Marlin, left home and got married in 1964.  The couple was active in the Salem United Church of Christ in Jacobus; Jacob still attends this church.  Florence passed away in 1985, and Jacob lived in their house in Bairs Station for several more years.  While attending the Windy Hill Senior Center, Jacob met Esther Nace; they became good friends and later started dating.

In the early 1990’s, Jacob sold his house and many of his belongings to move to North Codorus Township with Esther where they lived until 2001 when it became difficult for them to take care of their home.  They decided to rent an apartment in Spring Grove for two years and then move to Normandie Ridge.  Esther passed away in 2005.

Jacob’s family now consists of 89 members: 7 children, 21 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 9 great great grandchildren.