95-year-old makes masks; survives COVID

MARYSVILLE, Ohio – When the coronavirus pandemic began, Miriam Looker sprang into action at the behest of her stepson, a central Ohio doctor.

Looker, 95, used her supply of quilting materials and soon was making up to 10 masks a day at her assisted living facility in Marysville, about 30 miles northwest of Columbus. Then, as she pushed well over 1,000 masks, Looker took a break – to recover from COVID-19 herself.

After feeling exhausted and taking a lot of naps in November, Looker was feeling like herself again and started back in. She cuts out patterns at night and adds pleats while watching the news, then inserts elastic straps the next day.

The masks have gone to her stepson’s patients, residents at Walnut Crossing

Assisted Living Community where Looker lives, churches, hospice groups and schools.

Looker now estimates she’s made about 1,700 masks, slightly ahead of a fellow resident who’s pushing 1,300 of her own.

It’s not the first time Looker has worked with material in an effort to save lives. In 1943, she found herself in Dayton at what was then called Wright Field – today’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base – testing parachutes for the army. Testers would watch the troopers jump, record their hang time, then inspect parachutes for damage.

Looker knows there are coronavirus skeptics, and people who don’t want to wear masks or think it won’t help.

“If wearing a mask helps other people, you need to be doing it,” Looker said.