Hathcox celebrates 100th birthday

Margie Dale Parkins Hathcox celebrated her 100th birthday with a “masked” ball at her home, Hathcox Farm in Yantis. Guests were asked to “wear a mask and have a ball.”

Family and friends gathered in a safe, socially-distanced environment aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks, personalized hand sanitizer and a temperature check greeted guests on arrival. Open, fresh-air ventilation and distancing was followed. Party favors were masquerade masks autographed by the honoree and dated Oct. 15, 1920-Oct. 15, 2020.

The birthday song was sung while Margie Dale blew out three candles, the 1, the 0 and the 0 candles, rather than 100 candles to keep from spreading particles. The 1-0-0 candles were placed in Hostess cupcakes, since Hostess began in 1920 too.

Candy-filled buckets labeled 1920 offered Baby Ruth and Butterfinger bars, because they originated in 1920. They also offered Nestles Crunch bars, which began in 1938, the year Margie Dale graduated from Sulphur Springs High School and the year in which she married Bill Jack Hathcox.

Besides the sweets, a lavish spread of savory dishes were plated by each guest while wearing disposable plastic gloves or using paper napkin shields to serve. Pimento cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread, which began in 1920, were offered along with Texas brisket, smoked ham and chicken salad croissants. Queso dip made with Velveeta, which began in the 1920s, was also served. Individual sodas and water filled the traditional punch bowl.

Decorations included photographs depicting Margie Dale’s history. Her grandson, Spencer Murray, an event planner, and his wife, Christina, a master in industrial design, produced a pictorial log on television and a timeline poster graphic of Margie Dale’s life.

Also displayed were four proclamations recognizing Margie Dale’s special 100th birthday from U.S. President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump, former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom. Pastor Fred Lewis of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs came and delivered a prayer of thanksgiving for Margie Dale’s long life. Margie Dale’s daughter, VaLinda Hathcox, presented a “this is your life program,” while the guests were enjoying the birthday cakes.

When Margie Dale spoke, she reminded everyone that she had been born in the year when women earned the vote under the 19th constitutional amendment. She indicated that she began voting in 1938, when she turned 18, and was still voting and would be voting this year.

Margie Dale was born in the Liberty Community of Hopkins County to T.D. and Dora Nabors Parkins. She was born Oct. 15, 1920 in the home of her maternal grandparents, J.W. and Mary Norris Nabors. Margie’s only sibling, a sister, Coelia, was also born there 11 months and two days after her birth.

Margie Dale has lived in Hopkins or Wood counties for 99 of her 100 years. Her family moved to West Texas near Brownfield for a short period, where she began elementary school. On returning to Hopkins County, she attended schools in the Greenview, Brinker and Liberty communities. At Liberty school, she first met her future husband, Bill Jack Hathcox of Yantis, when he came to visit the principal and teacher, his brother, Carl Hathcox.

Apparently, Margie Dale made quite an impression, since many years later Bill Jack tried to develop a relationship, when they were both students at SSHS. Bill Jack graduated SSHS in 1936 and entered East Texas State Teacher’s College, where he was president of his freshmen and sophomore classes. Margie Dale graduated SSHS in 1938 and was set to attend ETSTC. Her father and mother had purchased a business property in Commerce and were preparing to move the family, when a fire destroyed the store.

Bill Jack was “afraid” if Margie Dale went off to college somewhere else, he would lose her. On Oct. 15, 1938, Margie Dale celebrated her 18th birthday, and on Oct. 25, 1938, she and Bill Jack Hathcox were married. They were partners in love, life and business for the next 54 years, until his death in 1996.

Two points that Margie Dale stresses about her life is first, that she has never received a payroll check from an employer. She has always been self-employed and owned with her husband her businesses. Second, she attributes her long life to working or “doing something” but sitting. At 100, she does not have any medical prescriptions.

Two businesses in Sulphur Springs have made Margie Dale an icon, known as Mrs. H. For 10 years, in the ’40s and ’50s, Margie Dale and Bill Jack owned and operated Hathcox P&B Café, which was where CVS Pharmacy is now located. After retiring from the P&B, they concentrated on their dairy farm in Yantis.

On Aug. 28, 1954, the Hathcox family moved from Yantis to Mockingbird Lane in Sulphur Springs. On Aug. 28, 1966, they opened the Big “H” Drive-in Restaurant, which they operated for 20 years. The Big “H” was where Walgreen Pharmacy is now located. Margie Dale lived on Mockingbird Lane for 58 years, until moving back to Hathcox Farm in Yantis in 2012.

Margie Dale and Bill Jack had four children: two sons, Bill Jack Jr. (B.J.) and Karen Dale; and two daughters, VaLinda and Symantha Jayne. B.J. and VaLinda had no children. Attending representing Karen’s family was his son, Justin, and son-in-law, Keith Hilsabeck and sons Gregory and Miko of Austin. Karen’s daughter, Amanda, called with greetings from Hewitt.

Symantha’s family were 100% in attendance: husband Stephen Murray of Sherman, son Sean and Elizabeth with son Andrew and daughter Adelyn; Stewart Murray of Hillsboro; Scott and Andrea with daughter Mia of Anna; and Spencer and Christina with daughter Kennedy Grace of Lewisville.

Family attendees included representatives for each of Margie Dale’s late husband’s siblings: Jewel’s family included daughter Sonja Gae Holland of Plano, grand daughters Geri Preston Van Stone of Fort Worth and Kimi Preston Mills and husband Steve of Sachse, and great-grandson, Brandon Riley and wife Stephanie of Justin; Blanche’s daughter Rose Mary Crump of Rockdale; Kyle’s daughter Carol Ann Tuttle of El Paso, grandson Adam Ellsworth and wife Vanessa, great-grandsons Uriah and Bowdy Ellsworth, and great-granddaughter Olivia Ellsworth of Hawkins; and Carl’s daughter Carleta Cates and husband David of Whitehouse. Maxine did not have children.

Other attendees included the following: Ret. Col. Tom and Barbara Woosley of Lake Fork, Bret Fuller and Karen Rushing of Yantis, Bill and Carolyn Sidebottom, Kay Fowler, Enola Gay and Garland Hays of Sulphur Springs, George Preston of Paris, Gary Cottrell of Fort Worth, and Drs. Maria and Michael Moore of Asheville, N.C.

More than 100 friends and family members sent cards or called. About 200 emails and Facebook congratulatory messages were received. Even though Margie Dale requested no one to bring presents, she received several gifts, including U.S. coins commemorating the important dates in her life. She is looking forward to 101.