Staff photo/ Bob Coupland
West Farmington native Wilma Cross Richmond is celebrating her 105th birthday this week and was surrounded by family and friends Sunday afternoon at the Farmington Senior Center. Richmond was born in West Farmington and now is at a nursing home in Middlefield. With her is Darilee Deveraux of Niles, who is her great-niece.

Richmond, who was born in West Farmington and is now at a nursing home in Middlefield, sat at a front table in the senior center and asked that each person present give their name and how they were related to her.

“I can’t believe I have all these relatives,” Richmond said as she looked around the room.

Richmond had no children of her own, but she was a godmother to several nieces and nephews who she considered like her own children. The gathering included several generations, including a twin great-great-great-great-nephew and -niece of Richmond.

Ray Cross of Warren, a nephew of Richmond, said his father, Okey, was Richmond’s brother.

“Many members of the Cross family are here to be with her for her birthday. Many of her nephews and nieces were like her children,” Cross said.

Cross said he and his sisters were godchildren to Mel and Wilma Richmond.

“She was always there for us at Christmas and Thanksgiving. She was always at family reunions and fun to be around. My aunt was a special person to everyone,” Cross said.

He said Richmond was born on First Street in Farmington on Nov. 4, 1920. Richmond’s husband Mel died in 1993.

Richmond had five siblings who are all deceased, including Olive, Olney, Gladys, Mildred and Okey. Richmond was the fifth one born.

Cross said his father, Okey, died at age 79 and other siblings died in their 80s and 90s. He said Olive died young of swine flu as a teen.

Cross enjoyed playing the piano and organ starting when she was a teenager, and she still plays the piano.

Richmond said what is most important to her besides her family “is knowing the Lord.”

“My family is like my angels,” she said

BANKING CAREER

Richmond worked for 30 years as a bank teller and secretary for Geauga Bank, which later became Huntington Bank.

She retired when computers were installed at the bank because she said it became more complicated.

Darilee Devereaux of Niles, great-niece of Richmond, who coordinated the party, said Richmond graduated in 1938 from Farmington High School and then began working at the bank.

“It was a great job,” Richmond said.

Richmond said one time when she was working at a bank in Burton, two men came in with guns and put her and five other employees in the bank vault. She said the two men got in a vehicle and went fast out of the bank parking lot and were caught by police, who then came inside the bank and got everyone out of the vault.

Richmond said a bank customer saw the men leaving and was able to tell the police.

“She always tells the story of being held up and locked in the vault,” said Mary Cross of Warren and formerly of Farmington, who is a niece to Richmond.

Cross said even though Richmond did not have her own children, they would spend time with their aunt at her home.

“I loved getting to stay at her place and remember getting ice cream before we went to bed. We would have parties at her house. She really spoiled us,” Mary Cross said.

She said she remembers Richmond had a silver poodle named Tuffy.

“My aunt and uncle would take Tuffy everywhere they went. Aunt Wilma always liked plants and flowers in her house,” Mary Cross said.

Mike McKenna of Painesville who is married to Judy (Cross) McKenna, a niece of Richmond, said Richmond has given everyone so much love all of her life.

“Aunt Wilma is here enjoying all of us just as we enjoy her,” he said.

“Aunt Wilma is loved by all who know her and adored by all who meet her,” Devereaux said.

She said Richmond takes part in many activities at the Ohman Family Living at Briar Nursing Home.

At the party were 1-and-a-half year-old twins, Quinn and CJ Kovach who are the great-great-great-great niece and nephew of Richmond. The twins and their siblings had their photos taken with the birthday girl.