Rotrock Turns 104 Years Old

A basketball star of the former Aldrich High School turned 104 years old last Thursday.

Born in 1916 to Sam and Dora (Tygart) Rowan, Helen Rotrock, now residing in the Dade County Nursing Home, was raised in the neighborhood of the old Edgewood school, near Aldrich in southern Polk County. Attending the one-room Edgewood school for her first eight grades (there was no kindergarten in those days), she graduated from Aldrich High School, where she played center on the girls basketball team in the early 1930s.

“I was a star on the team – I can say that because I think I’m about the only one left,” said Rotrock, with a grin.

After graduating from Aldrich High, she married Herbert Rotrock, and for a time lived in the College Hill School neighborhood of Polk County. Another rural, one-room school, the Rotrocks would keep teachers at that school as boarders in their home when they were first married.

While Herbert Rotrock was known in the Greenfield area for selling new Chevrolets, Helen worked as a cook at Dadeville school for a number of years, and was known as the best bread baker in Dade County at times. She also cleaned homes and churches in the area while they raised three children, Kelton, Larry, and Jennetta. She now has a number of “wonderful” grandchildren and great-children.

The Rotrocks moved to Springfield in their retirement years, and though Herbert died a few years ago at age 76, Helen continued to live in Springfield until just a few years ago, even driving around her neighborhood into her 90s.

After living over 50 years in Springfield, she moved into the Dade County Nursing Home to be closer to her daughter, Jennetta, who with her husband, Bob, lives just east of Greenfield.

DCNH Administrator Wanda West said that Rotrock is a joy to be around.

“We just love having her here,” said West.

“It’s a good place to live if you can’t live at home anymore,” said Rotrock. “They have an all good and kind staff, and they’re all my buddies.”