Birthday Girl, Bea Archibald, says “I never thought I would live this long, absolutely not!  The care staff at Westhaven Manor in Westland, MI knew this birthday was a big deal.  
Archibald was the guest of honor at a birthday party held days prior to her birthday.  The celebration included family members, residents and care staff. Her sister, Winnie, and brother in law, Bob, of Livonia, as well as a niece Ival, of Plymouth were there to join in the celebration.  “This is cool”, said Lang. “She’s doing quite well. She has a few problems, but who wouldn’t at 104.”
Born in Mount Clemens on September 30, 1908, Archibald was the third of four children. Winnie , the baby of the family, is 16 years younger than Archibald. Growing up, Archibald recalls that her father worked for Packard and when someone came around selling an orange grove in Florida, he sold everything to buy it and move his wife and three daughters there.  When he saw the orange grove with trees less than two feet high, he knew they couldn’t make a living there and he brought the family back to Michigan.
The family settled in Roseville, where her father built a three-car garage and a house.  “We couldn’t afford the house, so we moved to Detroit and lived in a house with three rooms – a kitchen, bathroom and a living room.  My sisters and I slept in the attic where the studs were covered with paper.
Archibald remembers learning to drive a Model T out in a field.  She eventually bought her own car and drove until she was 92 years old.  She also bowled until she was 90 years old and lived in an apartment in Canton until November of 2011 when she moved to Westland.
Archibald was married twice. She married Nelson Nagorsen in 1931 and had two children.  Robert, a son, and Jeannine, who were unable to attend the event.  In 1947, she married George and remained with him until his death in 1975.
A lot has changed in 104 years, the simple way of life has been replaced with electronic gadgets, instant messaging and cable TV, but for Archibald, the most important invention is the one thing she treasures most, her portable radio.