Fern Estelle Viall, 103
Fremont, CA
“I never expected to live this long and I never thought I would see a woman as president of the United States”
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Born October 1913 in Hilbert, WI
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Eloped with husband to California to escape the cold, which she particularly hated because she wasn’t allowed to wear pants
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Attended business college, then worked as a bookkeeper
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Returned with family to Wisconsin for her son to attend one of the only schools for deaf children under age six (he later graduated from Gallaudet Univ.)
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Her other son, hard of hearing, taught for years at California School for the Deaf
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Two sons, five grandchildren
“The first time I cast my vote, it was for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The voting age was 21 at the time. I lived through the Great Depression and multiple wars, but I never expected to live this long and I never thought I would see a woman as president of the United States. I am thrilled to be wrong on both counts.”