Murrieta Woman Turns 100 Years Young, City Celebrates Along With Her

MURRIETA, CA — When you are invited to one of Murrieta's oldest resident's birthday parties, you go. That's what representatives from Murrieta's Police Department did on Sunday, as they joined M. Merle Wood in celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends, they reported over social media.

"Reaching centenarian status is an amazing achievement, and being there to witness it was a great honor," the department said. "We are proud to call Merle a valued resident of Murrieta and wish her the happiest of birthdays."

Wood was born in Arkansas in 1924 and met and married her husband 20 years later, according to her family.

"She worked at the local five and dime store for $1.50 a week," the family shared. Her husband fought in World War II, and she went to work at the Naval Shipyards in San Francisco in his absence, bringing home $27 a week, they said.

The pair were married for 57 years, had three children, and loved to camp and travel the country and the world.

Now, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Wood lives in Murrieta.

Say Happy Birthday to Murrieta's newest Centenarian on Facebook!