DIXON, CA (MPG) - Not to discount any 100th birthday but being born and raised here and living here for 90 years is a very big deal. There may be a dozen or less Dixonites who are still here that were born in the then-small town of about 1,000, no stoplights, and dirt roads.

Past Citizen of the Year and long-time Soroptimist, Barbara Bulkley, celebrated her 90th Birthday at the Olde Vet’s Hall across from the Public Library on Saturday, July 20. The hall was filled with many friends and lots of loving family thanks to Barbara’s first cousin, Stephanie Haase-Cavolt.

“Barbara and I are really close and we just love her so much. My father was her uncle. Turning 90 is a big deal and she needed to be honored,” Cavolt, who has been an event coordinator, said about why she wanted to coordinate the event for Barbara. “Our family has been here over 100 years. Barbara is so kind and generous to everybody and she had a really good time. I couldn’t have been happier to do this.”

Cavolt is one of three Haase cousins that includes brother Steve Haase and sister Suzi Haase who were present along with other relatives including Barbara’s daughter Katharine Collins. Kaleb Collins is Kathy’s son married to Michelle and their two children, Paige and Bruce, are Barbara’s great grandchildren. Others were Lindy Obelleiro and her husband Aaron and their grown children Maddie Critelli and Jill Obelleiro. Mike and Rick Croly who are Barbara's cousins as well. Stephanie's husband, Dennis Jackson, also attended.

Special guests included Barbara’s long time best friend, Kathy Holdener who came from Montana, and Ron Paul. 

There were two large picture boards of Barbara’s life on display that included childhood pictures, teen years, and many years as an adult. There were also separate poster boards telling of their family experience, her childhood experiences in Dixon, years as a wife, and the couple’s travels.

Barbara Foth, an only child, grew up on B Street at a time when Dixon’s population was about 1,000 and in a home she still owns and attended Dixon schools. She met a boy, Bob Bulkley, at her 8th grade graduation dance who became her best friend and after graduating in 1952, he became her husband. 

The couple bought their first home on West D Street for $14,500 and Barbara started as a homemaker but later took on secretarial jobs while Bob tended the farm. Although they travelled around the world, Dixon has always been their home and where they raised their only child, Katharine born 1956. Bob passed away in 2021. They had been married 68 years.

Long-time friend “Pat” Brady travelled from Santa Rosa with his wife to make the event and told several stories.

“She was always a woman who set her own course,” he said.

Guests were invited to write a memory that was later read aloud to the audience after a delicious chicken or beef kabob lunch catered by Bud’s Pub & Grill. It was fun to hear stories about the couple from friends who came from far and wide to celebrate with Barbara who sat in the front due to a broken ankle. People took turns visiting and reminiscing with her.