FAMILY and friends have paid their last respects to one of the region’s longest survivors, following her death aged 109.

Ethel May Stobbs was born near Marske, in Cleveland, on May 2, 1904, and one of her childhood memories was of a German Zeppelin warship flying over Hartlepool during the First World War.

She died peacefully in hospital on Friday, January 10, and her funeral was held today (Friday, January 24) at St Oswald’s Church, in Durham City, where she had been an active member since the 1940s.

Reverend Peter Kashouris said Mrs Stobbs’ longevity was reminiscent of Biblical characters – “almost beyond the span of an ordinary human life”.

“Although Ethel gave us a feel that her own flesh and blood would go on forever, her faith was resolutely placed in Christ our eternal saviour,” he told mourners.

Mrs Stobbs moved to Durham aged 12 and lived in the same house on Whinney Hill for more than 70 years.

A keen poet, she lived independently, tackled The Northern Echo’s crosswords every day, made marmalade, baked cakes and played along with TV show Countdown well beyond her centenary.

Speaking in 2010, she said the key to a long and happy life was not eating too much, avoiding spicy food and no eating between meals.

Rev Kashouris said: “Her zest for life was never lost. She enjoyed reading and playing Scrabble to the end of her days.

“When you remember Ethel, a smile comes to your face.”

Her funeral included a reading from her poem Churchgoing and the order of service carried her work Winter Jasmine.

There were also prayers, Bible readings and the hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd and All Things Bright And Beautiful.

Mrs Stobbs attended St Margaret’s School, worked as an accounts clerk and was president of Durham’s Townswomen’s Guild.

She outlived her husband Stanley and daughter Audrey and is survived by relatives including her grandson Geoffrey.

Following her funeral, a private committal was held at Durham Crematorium.

The oldest living person in the North-East is believed to be Margaret Todd Smith, of Belmont, Durham, who turned 110 in December.

*The Northern Echo attended today’s funeral with the consent of Mrs Stobbs’ family.

ETHEL Stobbs was born on May 2, 1904.

Also in 1904...

  • Motoring pioneer Henry Ford set a new car land speed record of 91.37mph
  • Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale friendship agreement
  • The US Army started building the Panama Canal
  • Fifa, football’s world governing body, was established
  • The Trans-Siberian Railway was completed
  • The stage play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, premiered in London
  • Bandleader Glenn Miller, children’s author Dr Seuss, artist Salvador Dali and entertainer George Formby were born
  • Composer Antonin Dvorak, explorer Henry Morton Stanley and Russian writer Anton Chekhov died