If I'm blessed enough to live past my 10th decade on this planet, then 103-year-old Gladys Flamer is going to be my blueprint for how to behave after I pass the century mark.

Everyone in Coatesville, Pa., knows Flamer by her 1979 two-tone red and white Cadillac Coupe de Ville. She has remained active in her community, attending church every Sunday, making it to every council meeting and serving as the treasurer of a local club. She recently retired as a judge of elections.

"Everybody knows the lady who drives this car," Flamer told the Philadelphia Daily News as her car slowly rolled to a stop sign in downtown Coatesville. "It's just like me. It's wearing out, but it's still going."

Flamer is doing more than still going. She turns 104 next month and she still sells more ads in the church bulletin than anybody.

"At my age, no one can beat me at raising money," Flamer told the News. "When I go in, they see me coming and they think anyone my age should be six feet under."

She runs errands for her younger neighbors. And when a spate of arsons hit her town, she suggested her eye doctors start a clinic there to help residents. Doctors quickly followed her suggestion.

"She helps people," said William Lambert Sr. who has known Flamer since the 1940s. "She was always outspoken and well coordinated."

And, of course, Flamer has wise views on the issues of the day.



On politicians and their speeches: "Teeth and tongue don't always agree."

And what about the young and not so young men who want to walk around with their dingy boxers hanging out? "These young kids, they want to dress crazy with this pants way down and all that nonsense," Flamer said.

Flamer has had several careers during her lifetime. She's worked as a registered nurse and a beautician. After her husband died in 1970, she went to work at a local clothing store and soon became the most popular clerk at 80-plus years old. She left when she turned 90 because she didn't feel like being bothered with learning a new computer system.

Today, Flamer is still baking and selling pies.

Too often in our society, we dismiss the wisdom and example of our elders. Chances are that any problem or issue a young person is experiencing, Flamer probably dealt with a few decades ago, Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, we need to look to our elders for guidance.

Flamer not only has an extremely positive attitude, she is dedicated to her community and committed to staying active as long as she's still pumping the gas pedals on that Caddy.

Ask Flamer the secret to her longevity and she says its church.

"Sometimes I worked 'til 12 at night and I still went to church in the morning," Flamer said. "As good as you can be, you're probably not as good as you should be."

Well, Flamer is pretty good. She's so good that folks want to keep her around another 100 years.

"She came to me and said, 'You're going to preach my funeral,'" said Flamer's pastor, Rev. Jeffrey Miller. " And I said, 'I won't be around. That's another 100 years from now.' We laughed about it," Miller said.

"Lord bless us she'll be here another 100 years to help others who come along."