More than 80 years have passed since Altha Warren Plane was a young woman studying at the University of Evansville (then Evansville College) with dreams of becoming a teacher. Plane now holds the distinction of being UE’s oldest alumna, and today, she celebrates her 105th birthday.
UE representatives joined the celebration by throwing Plane a surprise birthday party this morning at her Evansville home. They presented her with flowers, ice cream, and two dozen cards with birthday greetings from students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and other members of the UE community.
On Monday, NBC’s Today Show also featured Plane in Willard Scott’s birthday segment. Watch the clip here.
After receiving her teaching certificate in 1928, Altha taught until her marriage to Allen Plane. He died in 1970, but Altha stayed active and busy, traveling to Europe and in the United States. She swam and participated in water aerobics until she was 94. She taught Sunday school from the age of 14 until she was 95.
In 2006, Plane’s children (UE alumni Robert Plane ’48 and Marylu Plane Sonntag ’50) established the Altha Warren Plane Scholarship in her honor and in celebration of her 100th birthday. Through that scholarship, which is based on financial need and scholastic ability, the family’s UE tradition lives on.
