Deanna Bonn
Special to the Times-Gazette

El Dorado native Virginia Ball is turning 100 years old, and the community is invited to help celebrate a remarkable century of life. Known affectionately as “Rosie,” Ball is an authentic “Rosie the Riveter,” who went to work at Boeing in Wichita after graduating high school in 1943.

To mark this milestone, friends and family are hosting a birthday celebration on Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 81 Bingo Hall in El Dorado. The come-and-go party is open to all who wish to join in honoring Ball’s legacy.

The celebration carries a theme of “1925–2025,” encouraging guests to dress from any decade of the last 100 years. While some plan to wear 1920s attire, Ball has lived through it all—from the Great Depression to World War II and beyond.

Ball has requested no gifts but instead asks guests to bring stories and photos from times shared with her. As someone who has witnessed extraordinary changes over the last century, what she would treasure most is the chance to reminisce with those who’ve been part of her journey.