Bluffton resident Geneva (Stamm) Shetler celebrated her 100th birthday on July 8 with a family celebration.

A retired Bluffton elementary teacher, she taught third grade for several years in the 1970s.

Geneva was born on a farm near Archbold and graduated from Archbold High School in 1936. She attended Goshen College, Indiana, where she met her husband-to-be, Luther Shetler.  They were married in 1940.

The couple was married 78  years. Luther died July 1, 2017.

The Shetlers moved to Bluffton in 1950, where Luther began teaching at Bluffton College.

In 1967 she completed her degree from Bluffton College and taught third grade in Bluffton Elementary. Soon after that she attained a master’s degree in childhood education from Bowling Green State University.

Following retirement, she and Luther participated in 10 Elderhostel trips in the U.S., Central America and Europe.

The Shelters had five children Joenita (Stanley) Clemens, Bluffton, Terry (Bonnie Wolfe) Shetler, Bellvue, Colo., Lu Derstine, Bluffton, Peter (Jan Bender) Shetler, Goshen, Ind., and Tami (Michael) Hardy, Bluffton. 

She has 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Geneva is a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.