Glendale resident has seen century of change

As she celebrates her 108th birthday, Claire Klint credits God for her long, happy life.

Claire Klint of Glendale remembers a time when there was no indoor plumbing or electricity in the United States.

Her family would use kerosene lamps to light their home, and the washing was done with water pumped from a well.

When you live for 108 years, you see a lot of changes.

In honor of Klint’s 108th birthday, family, friends and neighbors gathered on Saturday to celebrate a woman who was born during the Spanish-American War and lived through the Great Depression, two world wars and countless other historic events.

“I’m thankful I have a clear mind, and I’m thankful to God he has given me that,” Klint said, as she accepted hugs and kisses from family and friends.

Ron Klint, at 67 Claire’s youngest son, greeted visitors at his La Crescenta home. He was joined by brothers Dale, 81, and Bill, 78.

“She loves people, and she would always sacrifice herself for others,” Dale Klint said of his mother. “She is everything you’d want in a mother.”

Claire Klint taught Sunday school until last September but stopped due to macular degeneration, an eye condition. She also has esophageal cancer, but the ailments don’t slow her down much.

Her son Bill is her caretaker.

“It’s a miracle of God’s grace,” Ron Klint, said. “She has taught us the most important thing is to love the Lord with your heart, love your family and neighbors and love your country.”

The mother of three sons, grandmother and great-grandmother of five and great-great grandmother of one, Claire Klint born in 1898 to German immigrants. She was the second-oldest of four siblings.

She was married for 24 years before her husband died at age 52 of a heart attack. Klint never remarried.

“He was the one and only one,” Klint said of her husband as she wiped away tears. “He would call me his sweetie pie.”

Klint also said she has no secret to living a long life except for faith in God.