WEEK Weather

47 °F

RAIN

WIND : NNE

12 mph

HUMIDITY : 89 %

March 13, 2010

More Weather

96 year-old McDonald's retiree

Friendly style made Litta Ballow customer favorite

Tools

96 year-old Litta Barrow enjoy a piece of cake during her retirement party. Barrow has been working at one of the McDonald's restaurants in Bloomington since 1994.

By Marc Strauss

Story Published: Nov 25, 2009 at 3:42 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 25, 2009 at 10:59 PM CST

Most people visit McDonald's for a burger and fries. But Wednesday, at the McDonald's on South Main Street in Bloomington, they came to say goodbye to Litta Ballow.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Litta is one of the world's oldest McDonald's employees. She's 96. Wednesday was her last day. Litta's retiring after 15 years at McDonald's.

Yes, she started at the age of 81.

Her friends say her friendly style turned them into regular customers.
But it wasn't easy for her to hang up her spatula.

"It took at little thinking before I did it, but I figured it was about time," said the woman co-workers refer to as Miss Litta. "I thought I'd worked long enough."

But customers like Betty Shannon of Heyworth will miss Litta's smiling face.

"She's so friendly with her smile," said Shannon. "A smile goes a long way today. You couldn't help but feel close to her. You feel like she's always your friend."

Litta has served thousands of customers. Iin 2002, at the age of 88, she represented McDonald's as a member of the Olympic Torch run team.

Next article Illinois Department of Corrections Has Dismissed Three Top Officials

View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, Nov 26 at 11:31 AM Dan wrote ...

There's nothing to celebrate. You are looking at the future.

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Nov 26 at 9:43 AM If wrote ...

If McDonalds were union she could have retired 31 years ago

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Thursday, Nov 26 at 7:00 AM Anony Mouse wrote ...

Good for her!

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 10:28 PM Joker 2 wrote ...

Hardees would have killed her off long ago ..... Congrads ms Ballow

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 7:28 PM "Joker" wrote ...

For her to work there that long and at her age she must of not eaten any of that stuff they call food at McDonald's and if she worked at the McDonald's in Metamora IL. we would of gone to her funeral years ago

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 7:21 PM Heather wrote ...

Double wow!

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wednesday, Nov 25 at 7:16 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Wow

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

More Good Stuff

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.