Latrobe locals keep tradition for their birthday celebration

Latrobe native Audrey Spangler attended her 103rd birthday dinner Thursday night with her longtime friend, Lou DaRold, who turned 63 the same day.

Spangler and the local barber could be considered an unlikely pair of friends considering the 40-year age gap. Plus, they only see each other once a year, when they spend their birthdays together.

Still, a chance meeting eight years ago has inspired a friendship filled with love, appreciation and family.

On Spangler’s 95th birthday, she and her family were gathered at Racer’s Tavern in Latrobe. DaRold was turning 55 and picking up his own birthday meal to be enjoyed alone when he heard Spangler’s family singing to her. The Latrobe resident told the waitress that he would like to pay for her meal.

“I walked over and wished her a happy birthday and I bent down and whispered to her that it was my birthday too,” DaRold said. “Before I can finish she’s already telling everybody, ‘Hey it’s his birthday too.’

“I was trying to tell her it was a secret. I usually don’t tell anyone it’s my birthday.”

Her family insisted he stay with them to celebrate, and almost every year since, he has joined them for his and Spangler’s birthday. With her two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, the family hosts a large gathering at Racer’s Tavern each year on the dual birthday.

“It was just one of those things that happens,” Spangler said. “A chance meeting started this all.”

There have been a few exceptions in the last eight years. In the third year of the tradition, Spangler’s 98th birthday happened to fall on her bingo night. Her grandson took her to lunch instead. With the tradition still being new, they did not realize that DaRold was waiting for Spangler at Racer’s.

When Spangler showed up to the restaurant with her family on her 99th birthday, the assistant manager, Venice Dominick, called DaRold and told him to come.

He gave Spangler a big hug and she laughed and said, “I’ll bet you thought I kicked the bucket.”

Since then, DaRold has become a member of the family, and what was once him showing up to these birthdays as a guest of Spangler’s, soon turned into a celebration for both of them. Ginette Simpson, Spangler’s former daughter-in-law, said that Spangler often says that she doesn’t care what they do for her birthday, just as long as Lou is there.

“They’re just great people,” DaRold said. “Even during (covid) lockdown they kept me involved in the birthdays because they know I like seeing her and want to talk to her.”

Spangler’s 100th birthday fell during the covid lockdown. DaRold was in recovery from cancer. Despite the obstacles, the two friends stood together and watched as most of Latrobe, including the police department and fire brigade, celebrated them with a birthday drive-by. Dominick brought them a birthday dinner from Racer’s.

“I don’t invite people (to celebrate),” Spangler said. “They just seem to come. I’m just happy that people think enough of me to stay with me and not throw me out.”

Spangler said that she wants to keep DaRold around for as long as possible, and hopes she will be around to spend another birthday with him. She isn’t too worried about it not happening. In her 103 years, one mantra has never failed her.

“I always ask ‘Why worry?’” Spangler said. “Nine times out of 10, the things we’re worried about don’t happen, and if they do, there’s not a darn thing we can do about it.”