Two Yuma residents celebrate their 100th birthday

Emerald Springs retirement home in Yuma threw a party today for two very special residents, Bea Updike and Bob Smallwood, who turned the big 1-0-0.

Bea and her husband spent years traveling down to Yuma as winter visitors, finally declaring Yuma as a permanent residence in 2003. It was in 2014 that she moved to Emerald Springs. Employees of the retirement home, describe Bea as sharp, self-sufficient woman who is a wiz at poker. Elizabeth Muro, activities director of Emerald Springs, describes today’s festivities.

“Today we did something a little bit different, since they are turning one hundred. We went all out, we got different decorations, all Bea’s friends were here. We got them a cake from Goldsboro that is Bea’s favorite,” said Muro.

While Bea’s birthday was today, Bob celebrated his Hundredth birthday on March 24th. Bob who suffers from Dementia wasn’t able to speak much, but it was mentioned that he was once the owner of the Blue Sky RV Park in the foothills area in Yuma.

Fun fact: In his prime, Bob partnered with the creators of “U-Haul,” the moving rental company. Apparently Bob was the one to have come up with the signature franchise color, Orange.