Mary Lynch Cummings was born at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk on April 26, 1921, to James and Helena Lynch. She graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1938 and received her teaching degree from New York State University. She then moved to Buffalo were she worked at Bell Aircraft.

In 1944, she contacted Florence Erikson, her physical education teacher in high school, about how she could become an officer in the Navy during World War II. After six weeks of training at Smith College, she realized her dream of becoming an officer in the WAVES, the women’s reserve.

She was sent to Sea Island, Ga., for radar training and was then stationed in Vero Beach, Fla., as an air controller. After the cold winters of Western New York, she enjoyed the sunny days in Florida.

In 1946, she returned to Dunkirk and married Bill Cummings. They had six children: Robert, Elizabeth (Betsy), Louise, Daniel, Mark and Tom. In the 1960s, her husband accepted a job at the Koch Engineering Co. in Wichita, Kan. Oldest son Rob stayed in New York as the rest of the family moved to Wichita. Here the Cummings became lifelong friends with Bruce and Mariam LeBaron who they had known earlier in nearby Fredonia. (Bruce also took a job at Koch.) Bill eventually became president of Koch Engineering.

Mary Cummings, who served in World War II, turns 100 today.

The couple were members of the Church if the Magdalen for many years and enjoyed playing tennis at the Racquet Club and golf at Crestview Country Club, where they made a lot of friends. Mary was busy raising her family and volunteering with Welcome Wagon, driving people to doctor appointments and working at the school library. One day she called Mariam and said “Mariam, you like to read. Let’s start a book club.” The book club never met as a group but passed the books on to each member – and it lasted for 50 years!

Mary and Bill moved to Larksfield Place Retirement Community, Wichita, Kan., in 2010. Bill passed away in 2011. She has been the chairman of the Larksfield Library, loves to read and is an expert bridge player.

She is very proud of her children. Betsy, Louise, Dan and Mark went to KU, Tom to K State and Rob to RPI in New York. All but one have their master’s degree. She has 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She will be celebrating her 100th birthday in Denver, where sons Dan and Tom live. Mary’s niece, Ann Lynch Murphy, lives on Lowell Place in Fredonia.

“Mary exudes friendliness and joy, with a warm welcome for everyone!” her family said. “Wishing you all the best, Mary, on your 100th birthday!”