Thursday, August 5, 1971 Longtime Arcadia Resident has been Busy for a long Time By Ruby Gunn Gertrude Crabb came to Oklahoma in February of 1912 from Missouri. She was born in Arkansas. She grew op at Luther, graduated from Luther high School and attended Central State University when it was Central Normal School. Gertrude's father was the late T. A. Sasser of Luther Gertrude was postmaster at Arcadia for 27 years. She was commissioned postmaster September 25, 1939 and retired December 30, 1966, "A fun job." She said When she took the postmasters job, first class postage stamps were two cents. her wages were $980.OO for one year. She advanced to $7800.00 at retirement. The base pay was figured on the value of canceled stamps sold each day. Fifteen percent went for rent on the building and utilities. In 1939, the post office was located where the Enos Grocery now Stands. The present post office was built by Gertrude, in 1948. It has been remodeled since, in 1969. Gertrude told me Tuesday that she went to a contractor to have him figure the cost of the 1940 building. When she found how much he wanted for his part, Above the cost, she decided to be contractor herself. She hired the labor was the overseer. She had learned to build from her father who was a carpenter. The present post office was remodeled in 1969, at a cost of #5300.00. It was re-roofed. A well and septic tank was added. Central air and heat were also installed. Gertrude was on the first basketball team ever organized in Oklahoma County. It was at Luther High School. She lettered in basketball in Luther school. She taught school for ten years at Soldier Creek, Mt. Lion and Arcadia. Then worked in a bank before becoming postmaster. When she retired from the Post Masters job, she had accumulated 2360 hours of sick leave for which she was riot paid. She received pay for 89 days. She took only five days off in 27 years for sickness. That is some record. Her working hours were 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week, seven to nine on Sunday. When Gertrude first worked for the Postal Department, the mail was dispatched by train {MK&T) 7 A.M.., 11 A.M., and 5 P.M. A lot of the mail for Arcadia was mistakenly sent. to Ardmore and Arcandia. Oklahoma. The mail was later dispatched by bus twice a day, morning and afternoon. Now it is dispatched once a day. The hours for work are now 9 A.M. to 12 noon. 1 P.M. to 4 five days a week. An assistant Works Saturday. Gertrude is married to a wonderful man. How do I know? A man would have to be wonderful to stay in the background while a woman does all the things Gertrude has done. Like the old saying, "Behind "very great man stands a great woman". The reverse can be said for Floyd M. Crabb. The Crabb�s have celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. They have no children of their own, but have helped eight young people gain a good education. Even now, well past retirement age, they are assisting one student through college. Gertrude has been president of many organizations, and has held many other offices, She served more than 15 years as state secretary of the National League of Postman She is a member of Arcadia Methodist Church, superintendent of the Sunday School and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She still is. Gertrude is a charter member of Arcadia Rebekah Lodge, now serving as secretary, also a past district deputy president. She has been a leader in the American Legion Auxiliary, locally and statewide A member and office holder in PTA., Arcadia Homemakers Extension group and county group. She has been a member of Home Demonstration Club for 52 years arid has held every office In it, parliamentarian of Oklahoma County extension homemakers group, president of Civil Service Retired in Edmond. Only last week, she was elected president of the American Legion Auxiliary and vice president Rebekah Circle District 21. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------- I had the pleasure of visiting my aunt Gertrude Melissa Sasser Crabb b. January 06, 1897 in Yellville Arkansas. She celebrated her 100 year birthday January 06, 1997. Thanks, Don Sasser