STUDENTS PARADE TO CELEBRATE TEACHER’S 100TH BIRTHDAY

Kitchin taught more than 900 students over the years

Longtime Oceanside teacher Betty Kitchin turned 100 on Oct. 4, and even though she’s been retired more than 40 years, her former students came to celebrate, waving out of their cars during a drive-by party that included Oceanside Mayor Peter Weiss and City Councilman Jack Feller, both of whom gave a proclamation in her honor. A long line of cars with signs saying “thank you” and “happy birthday” along with an Oceanside Fire Department truck paraded by her apartment at Fairwinds-ivey Ranch retirement community, where she moved earlier this year.

Kitchin taught seventh grade at Jefferson Middle School in Oceanside from 1948 to 1979. In those 31 years, she taught English and journalism to more than 900 students. She still sometimes meets her former students — some write to her and others take her out to lunch.

“I wanted my students to be the best they could be,” Kitchin said. “A teacher has to be a motivator and make them want to come back to school tomorrow. I wanted to encourage them to want to learn.” One way she encouraged them was to pay attention to them. “I greeted them at the door each morning and talked to them.”

She received 46 birthday cards, many from former students. “I am so lucky,” Kitchin said.

Kitchin knew she wanted to be a teacher since second grade. She grew up on a farm in the Sauk City area near Madison, Wis., and worked as a waitress to save money for college. She got a scholarship to Pioneer College, now known as Carroll University, in Waukesha, Wis., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1941. Later, in 1956, she earned a master’s degree in education from San Diego State University. She met the “love of her life,” Bob Kitchin, in college. He taught at Oceanside-carlsbad Union High School and

Miracosta College. The couple were special guests at many OCUHS class reunions. Since 2006, Kitchin has been an honorary member of the OCUHS Class of 1951 Lunch Bunch, who are among her fan club.

“Betty is fearless,” said Shirley Wright, a member of the Lunch Bunch. “She survived a century that included the Great Depression and World War II — and turned air travel apprehension into a positive by securing a private pilot license with advanced night flight privileges.”

When Kitchin was in her 50s, she and her husband bought a Cessna four-seater airplane. “I learned to fly so I could help my husband in case something happened,” Kitchin said.

The couple flew from coast to coast visiting family and friends along the way from the 1970s to the 1990s. After they sold their plane, they traveled the world for the next 20 or so years visiting Europe, Asia, Australia and the Nile River, and went on safari in Africa. She also volunteered many years with the Friends of the Oceanside Library.

In 1994, her husband of 64 years died, but she stayed in their house until she was nearly 100. She drove her car until she was 99, but voluntarily stopped driving even though she had three years left before her license expired. Friends admire her youthfulness. She uses an iphone and has a computer.

Kitchin has four tips for living a long, healthy life: “Avoid stress, exercise daily, eat healthy and value friendships.”

COURTESY PHOTO Betty Kitchin turned 100 on Oct. 4.