Ilo Louck

BIOGRAPHY

Ilo Mae Louck was born in Collins, Ohio, USA, on 5 November 1914, to parents Alfred Frank Bly (1885-1933) and Hattie May West (1885-1967), the fourth of ten children born to the couple. Her memory stretched back to World War I, when she recalled soldiers passing by her home on their way to Camp Perry, Ohio. She recounted how the soldiers, having too many sandwiches, shared bologna sandwiches with the local children—her first time ever tasting one. From a young age, she contributed to chores on the family farm, often reflecting on how life was hard work but simple. She cast her first vote on her 21st birthday in 1936, supporting President Roosevelt, and continued voting well into her centenarian years.

Her father served in the National Guard, and four of her brothers fought in World War II—two in the Army and two in the Navy. Her husband, Robert G. Louck, served in the Pacific during World War II and later became her sponsor when she joined the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA). As an Army Air Corps archivist, his responsibilities included identifying and cataloging the deceased before arranging for their remains to be sent home for burial. Her husband’s career required the family to move frequently, leading her to live in several states, including Wyoming, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida, among others.

At the age of 102, it was reported that she still enjoyed painting, writing letters, reading about politics, baking cinnamon rolls, and sewing pillows to give as gifts. Every day, she took a walk down her dirt road. One piece of advice she shared for longevity was to avoid dwelling on problems for too long.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Eli Logan, and validated by LongeviQuest on 23 November 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Alfred Frank Bly – Find A Grave

* “Silver City woman celebrates 102nd birthday today” – Silver City Daily Press, 5 November 2016

* “Heart of the Mission: Ilo Louck” – American Legion Auxiliary, 17 April 2024

GALLERY

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