Nona's Wish Cleared for Takeoff!

Journey through the sky helps her mark 102 years

Published by the Evansville Courier and Press

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

By Lydia X. McCoy

EVANSVILLE: The last time Nona Draper rode on an airplane was nearly 40 years ago when she headed from Illinois to Texas to take care of her grandson. 

That was also the only plane ride she'd ever taken — until Tuesday.

For her 102nd birthday, which was Feb. 11, Draper had one wish: To ride in an airplane. Thanks to the staff at Atria Newburgh where she's a resident, her wish came true.

"I don't remember saying that, but they said I did," she said with a laugh after her 30-minute flight aboard a four-seat passenger airplane. "I think this is the best thing I've done since I've been down here. I appreciate it so much. I thought it was grand."

Among those who watched Draper's sky journey were sons, Joe and Chris Draper; daughter, Jerry Wagner; granddaughter, Marcia Donoho; and staff and residents of Atria Newburgh.

"She's 102 years old, and she's tried all kinds of different things," Chris Draper said. "All the kids are just happy that she can be happy. We really appreciate the airlines and Atria and all of them for doing this for her."

Her children didn't tell her that she would be going on a ride until they were heading to Tri-State Aero. 

Chris Draper said his mother got more and more excited the closer she got to the airport. 

They surprised her with the trip, he said, because they didn't want her not to be able to sleep or eat in anticipation of flying.

The plane's pilot, Glenn Piacentini, said he's never had a 102-year-old passenger in the nearly 17 years he's flown.

"It's not every day you take somebody up for their 102nd birthday," he said. "Once they got her in the airplane, she sat right up and looked out the window. She had a big smile on he face and really seemed to enjoy it."

Piacentini said he flew her over the Downtown Evansville area to see the river, by the Newburgh Lock and Dam and to see Atria, where waving below were residents and a big sign that read "Nona."

Riding in the plane with her was her son, Joe Draper, and daughter-in-law, Connie Draper. Joe Draper said his mother didn't say much during the 30-minute ride.

"We all had the headsets on where we could talk, and I would point things out to her," he said. "She was just looking out the window most of the time and didn't say much at all. She had a really good time and enjoyed every minute of it. She was really taking it in."

The siblings said they were happy to see their mother get her wish.

"It was great to see her do it and just to see her attitude at 102, that's pretty remarkable," Joe Draper said.

Connie Draper said as they landed, her mother-in-law had a big smile on her face.

"This was my first time being up in the air, and I thought if Grandma Nona can do it, I can do it, too," she said. 

The trip was made possible by Atria Newburgh  and Never Too Late, an Indianapolis organization that grants seniors' wishes. 

Della Grimes of Atria Newburgh said Draper has been at the facility for a long time and she has been so sweet.

"She's been a little daredevil, and I just wanted to give her something, even if it's the last time, I wanted to be able to give that to her," she said. 

"She just captures your heart. You just can't help but love her."