Age does not stop Paducahan from reaching her goals

Walking across the stage at West Kentucky Community & Technical College to get her General Education Development diploma was just one of the goals Bea Gibson Chester was proud to accomplish July 10.
The other accomplished goal took place in the parking lot at the college not long after she received her GED diploma, when the 88-year-old Paducahan got the ride of her life in an 18-wheeler.
Chester, "Ms. Bea" as she is known, was one of 68 individuals who received their GED diplomas during the spring semester after getting assistance from the adult education program at WKCTC. Ms. Bea recently received a legislative citation in the form of an Esteemed Citizen Academic Achievement Award as one of the oldest individuals to ever earn a GED in Kentucky.
Ms. Bea faced many obstacles to get her GED including her health. She must be on oxygen and needed assistance getting to the adult education classes at WKCTC's Anderson Technical Building. But Ms. Bea said she was determined to get her GED.
"And when I make up my mind to do something, I'm going to do it."
More individuals are seeking to get their GEDs in McCracken County. Last Spring, WKCTC's adult education program had 53 graduates versus 68 now. The program, which provides one-on-one assistance to prepare students to take the GED test, has seen a total of 117 get their GEDs in 2007-2008.
Betty Myrick, director of the adult education program, said some students need a brief review of three or four weeks before they take the test and others need more time. "We have the official practice test, which has half the number of questionson it as the real test but it is a very good indicator of how someone will do on the real test."
The adult education program offers free GED classes at the Workplace Skills Center in Kentucky Oaks Mall and in the Skills Enhancement Center in WKCTC's Anderson Technical Building. READ KY is also at the McCracken County Public Library on Mondays & Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m.
Ms. Bea first sought help at the adult education program in September 2007, and told personnel at that she had four goals in life. First, to get married which she did, though it took her 7 ? years to convince her longtime boyfriend, Fulton Gibson, agraduate of Heath High School. Married on November 26, 1945, her husband died in March 1986.
Six years later, she married Orville Chester. Throughout her life, Ms. Bea worked to accomplish her second goal, which was to visit all 50 states. She started her quest in 1927 when she traveled from Kentucky to Illinois. It ended in 1998 when she visited Alaska.
After her second had to be put in a nursing home, Ms. Bea decided she wanted to accomplish her third goal, which was to get her GED. She grew up during the Great Depression and quit school after the ninth grade to help support her family, which included seven brothers and sisters.
It wasn't an easy journey to complete her goal. At one point while she was preparing to take the test she became ill and the doctors had told her family that she was dying, Ms Bea said. She ended up in a nursing home for 15 months and had to start all over with her GED preparation when she was well.
"I found the loveliest bunch of people and instructors over at the college in the Anderson Building. They are just sweethearts" Ms. Bea said. "They are the friendliest people and bend over backwards. They were very, very good to me."
Ms. Bea worked for the state of California as a bookkeeper, and also was a proofreader and bookkeeper at Paducah Printing Company for 15 years. A 61-year member of the Eastern Star, Ms. Bea was a Deputy Grand Matron in 1966 and 1967 and was Grand Marshal for the state of Kentucky in 1967 and 1968. She has been Worthy Matron six times.
That's what kept me going."
For more information on FREE GED preparation classes or READ KY, call the Workplace Skills Center at 554-6224 or the Skills Enhancement Center at 534-3451.