Still bowling at 90

Rita Marshall, 90, with a bowling ball, bowls regularly with her team at California Lanes. From left are Peggy Ernst, Carol Jungmeyer, Bonnie Muri and Rita Marshall.
Rita Marshall, 90, with a bowling ball, bowls regularly with her team at California Lanes. From left are Peggy Ernst, Carol Jungmeyer, Bonnie Muri and Rita Marshall.

Rita Marshall, 90, bowls regularly at California Lanes just as she has for nearly 50 years. According to Marshall, she began bowling at the local bowling alley in the mid-1960's about the time the bowling alley was built. She remembers well the time the facility was owned by Pete Alexander and C.E. Butts. It is now owned by Robbie and Kim Rimel.

Her bowling did take a break for a time. That was when a tornado took the roof off the building and dropped it on Highway 50.

Alexander, who had been in the roof area working on an air conditioner, had just left to get a part to repair the unit when the tornado hit. He was heard to comment at the time, that when he returned with the part he no longer needed it since the air conditioner, along with the roof, was gone.

Currently, Marshall bowls regularly with team members Peggy Ernst, Carol Jungmeyer and Bonnie Muri.

The rest of the team was quick to point out how important Marshall is to the team with her current average of 130.