Elizabeth Gehring, a lively centenarian, celebrated her milestone event with 200 of her friends at Fellowship Community, Whitehall, June 12.

Elizabeth first came to everyone’s attention when her fifth-grade class, now in their 70s, sought her out. They have semi-annual meetings to relive old adventures.

To celebrate, Elizabeth had every guest bring nonperishables for Whitehall Food Bank. Shari Noctor, who chairs Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, was impressed with the haul. The donation table was filled to overflowing and had to be emptied several times.

She received accolades from state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th; state Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd; and Whitehall Township Mayor Michael Harakal Jr.

West Chester University sent along a special memento. Gehring graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in 1939. She is happy to relate her Great Depression-era stories of her search for a teaching position.

Carol Gehring, Elizabeth’s daughter-in-law, was instrumental in pulling all the elements together and took a turn at the piano for a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

“I might not deserve all this, but I accept it. I feel like Queen Elizabeth,” she said.

Elizabeth is not the only centenarian at Fellowship Community. Miriam Masters recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Interestingly, Miriam was a teacher in the Northwestern Lehigh School District, and Elizabeth’s husband, Charles, was superintendent.