Dorothy Geeben
Encyclopedia
Dorothy P. Colleen Geeben (March 31, 1908 – January 11, 2010) was the oldest mayor in the United States. She served as the second mayor
of Ocean Breeze Park
, Florida
, from 2001 to 2010.
Geeben began her public service
work on the Ocean Breeze Town Council in 1960. She became the council's president in 1976 and served in that capacity for thirty-one years. In 2001, after the death of Ruth Hoke, the first mayor and widow of Gene Hoke, son of the town founders, Harry and Queena Hoke. Geeben was chosen to be the next mayor. She served as mayor for the next nine years, running unopposed in the 2002 and 2004 mayoral elections. Geeben died on January 11, 2010, after missing the town meeting because she felt ill.
, Florida
for thirty-one years. In 2001, after the death of Mayor Ruth Hoke, widow of the Gene Hoke, Geeben was selected to be the next mayor. In the 2002 and 2004 mayoral election, no one ran against her.
When she was ninety-four years old, Geeben saved Jansen Beach Christian Church from closing down. At the time, the church lacked a minister and had four parishioners remaining. Geeben's efforts revived the church, enabling it to retain a pastor and increase church membership to 100 people.
In 2004, NBC
ran a segment about Geeben after filming her for a day.
In 2008, Geeben counseled her constituents when they were afraid that they would be forced to move. The people's homes were located in a park that was going to be sold. In March of that year, Geeben helped mediate a deal that enabled the forty-six acres of residential area in the park to be bought for $26 million.
Known as "Mayor Dorothy", Geeben characterized her role on the council as being ceremonial. She affixed her signature to checks as well participated in council meetings.
, Buffalo County
, Wisconsin
. During her childhood, she contracted polio but did not let the disease hinder her.
She graduated from Marion High School, in Marion
, Linn County
, Iowa
, where she married Cornelius "Neal" Bunting, an electrician. They founded Bunting Electric, with her working as the bookkeeper. In 1952, she moved to Ocean Breeze Park
, Florida
, where she and her husband retired and purchased a mobile home
. After her first husband's death, she married Albert Geeben in 1963, but he died less than two years later.
As mayor, Geeben drove herself around in a 1983 Mercury Marquis
. Every Sunday, she drove the few blocks north to the Jensen Beach Christian Church
, where she was the treasurer
and organist
. Every week, she played bingo, and occasionally, she would go to the hair salon. Geeben balanced her bills through a typewriter
and adding machine
, just as she did in the 1920s.
Geeben revealed that her secret to long life was always to be busy. She said, "I have a good time. I'm on the go a lot. I guess that's half the battle." Geeben received her exercise through a pedalling machine, which she used to invigorate her knees. Geeben did not smoke or drink alcohol and typically slept at 11 pm and then would awake at 5:30 the next morning.- On her 100th birthday, Geeben received letters from First Lady
Laura Bush
and Florida Governor Charlie Crist
in tribute of the special occasion.
On January 11, 2010, the Ocean Breeze Town Council held a council meeting which Geeben did not attend because she was feeling ill. She believed that she had a cold. That afternoon, she was transported to the Martin Memorial Medical Center where she died. At the time of her death, she was survived by her son, John Bunting, two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements in Iowa were by Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion, Iowa
. Geeben was buried in Marion next to her late first husband, John Bunting.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Ocean Breeze Park
Ocean Breeze Park, Florida
Ocean Breeze Park is a town on the Indian River in Martin County, Florida, United States. It and Briny Breezes in Palm Beach County are the only two towns in Florida in which all residents live in a mobile home park bearing the name of the town. The population was 463 at the 2000 census. As of...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, from 2001 to 2010.
Geeben began her public service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
work on the Ocean Breeze Town Council in 1960. She became the council's president in 1976 and served in that capacity for thirty-one years. In 2001, after the death of Ruth Hoke, the first mayor and widow of Gene Hoke, son of the town founders, Harry and Queena Hoke. Geeben was chosen to be the next mayor. She served as mayor for the next nine years, running unopposed in the 2002 and 2004 mayoral elections. Geeben died on January 11, 2010, after missing the town meeting because she felt ill.
Political career
Geeben started serving on the Ocean Breeze Town Council in 1960. Beginning in 1976, Geeben served as council president of Ocean Breeze ParkOcean Breeze Park, Florida
Ocean Breeze Park is a town on the Indian River in Martin County, Florida, United States. It and Briny Breezes in Palm Beach County are the only two towns in Florida in which all residents live in a mobile home park bearing the name of the town. The population was 463 at the 2000 census. As of...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for thirty-one years. In 2001, after the death of Mayor Ruth Hoke, widow of the Gene Hoke, Geeben was selected to be the next mayor. In the 2002 and 2004 mayoral election, no one ran against her.
When she was ninety-four years old, Geeben saved Jansen Beach Christian Church from closing down. At the time, the church lacked a minister and had four parishioners remaining. Geeben's efforts revived the church, enabling it to retain a pastor and increase church membership to 100 people.
In 2004, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
ran a segment about Geeben after filming her for a day.
In 2008, Geeben counseled her constituents when they were afraid that they would be forced to move. The people's homes were located in a park that was going to be sold. In March of that year, Geeben helped mediate a deal that enabled the forty-six acres of residential area in the park to be bought for $26 million.
Known as "Mayor Dorothy", Geeben characterized her role on the council as being ceremonial. She affixed her signature to checks as well participated in council meetings.
Personal life and death
Dorothy P. Colleen was born on March 31, 1908, in MondoviMondovi, Wisconsin
Mondovi is a city in Buffalo County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, along the Buffalo River. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Mondovi...
, Buffalo County
Buffalo County, Wisconsin
Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 13,804. Its county seat is Alma.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. During her childhood, she contracted polio but did not let the disease hinder her.
She graduated from Marion High School, in Marion
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Linn County
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where she married Cornelius "Neal" Bunting, an electrician. They founded Bunting Electric, with her working as the bookkeeper. In 1952, she moved to Ocean Breeze Park
Ocean Breeze Park, Florida
Ocean Breeze Park is a town on the Indian River in Martin County, Florida, United States. It and Briny Breezes in Palm Beach County are the only two towns in Florida in which all residents live in a mobile home park bearing the name of the town. The population was 463 at the 2000 census. As of...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where she and her husband retired and purchased a mobile home
Mobile home
Mobile homes or static caravans are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied...
. After her first husband's death, she married Albert Geeben in 1963, but he died less than two years later.
As mayor, Geeben drove herself around in a 1983 Mercury Marquis
Mercury Marquis
These were known as the "Continental Styling" years, as Mercury was trying to market itself as an affordable Lincoln, rather than a more expensive Ford...
. Every Sunday, she drove the few blocks north to the Jensen Beach Christian Church
Jensen Beach Christian Church
The Jensen Beach Christian Church, originally known as the Jensen Union Church, is an historic church building located at 1890 N.E. Church Street in Jensen Beach, Florida. Built in the Gothic Revival style between 1910 and 1912 of site manufactured concrete blocks cast to look like stones, it was...
, where she was the treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. Every week, she played bingo, and occasionally, she would go to the hair salon. Geeben balanced her bills through a typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
and adding machine
Adding machine
An adding machine was a class of mechanical calculator, usually specialized for bookkeeping calculations.In the United States, the earliest adding machines were usually built to read in dollars and cents. Adding machines were ubiquitous office equipment until they were phased out in favor of...
, just as she did in the 1920s.
Geeben revealed that her secret to long life was always to be busy. She said, "I have a good time. I'm on the go a lot. I guess that's half the battle." Geeben received her exercise through a pedalling machine, which she used to invigorate her knees. Geeben did not smoke or drink alcohol and typically slept at 11 pm and then would awake at 5:30 the next morning.- On her 100th birthday, Geeben received letters from First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
and Florida Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
in tribute of the special occasion.
On January 11, 2010, the Ocean Breeze Town Council held a council meeting which Geeben did not attend because she was feeling ill. She believed that she had a cold. That afternoon, she was transported to the Martin Memorial Medical Center where she died. At the time of her death, she was survived by her son, John Bunting, two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements in Iowa were by Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. Geeben was buried in Marion next to her late first husband, John Bunting.