Stow Woman Marks 103rd Birthday at StowNut Donut

There are a lot of eateries in Stow, but there's only one place 103-year-old Agnes Bagley wants to visit for her annual birthday celebration: StowNut Donut & Diner.

Owner Karen Bellian was thrilled last Friday to host yet another birthday celebration for Mrs. Bagley complete with balloons, singing and a party crown.

“She said she loves coming in here and enjoys seeing me,” Bellian said. “She’s been coming in to eat for the 10 years that we’ve been open, and every year she comes in for her birthday lunches.”

You’d think a centenarian’s birthday lunch choice would be predictable – especially after being a semi-regular for a decade. But not Mrs. Bagley.

“She usually gets a grilled cheese or a chicken pot pie, but this time she wanted a BLT,” Bellian chuckled.

The celebration for Mrs. Bagley, now a Stow-Glen resident, was arranged by her friend, Penny Robinson of Akron.

When it came time to sing “Happy Birthday,” everyone in the diner joined in.

“Some new customers were there and they were tickled to get to share in her celebration,” Bellian said. “She was talking to everybody, telling stories.

One of the stories brought up by the Scotland native that day relates to an infamous event: Her father helped build the Titanic and, as a toddler, she got to walk around on it.

“Her memory is awesome. If you talked to her you’d think she’s a 70 year old. She definitely has the mindset of a young person.”

She even has the spunk of a much-younger person.

“After everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ she said she was going to get up and do the highland dance because she’s from Scotland. She actually bent her legs and put her arms up like she was going to do it, too,” said Bellian.

Mrs. Bagley was honored for her 100th birthday in 2009 with a big celebration at Akron City Hospital, where she was a longtime volunteer.