At Age 93, Bowler Keeps Rolling

The Tuesday Afternoon Ladies League (TALL) at Severna Park Lanes is a mix of mostly retired women from all walks of life, but don’t be fooled. Some of these ladies are high rollers.

Every few weeks, someone hits a 200-plus game, and many women carry high averages. There are always cheers when someone picks up a split or a tough spare. Some women bowl in multiple leagues, and some have bowled for decades. Lynn Webber began bowling in 1959 when The Platters were singing “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.” She turned 93 last November, and she keeps on going.

Lynn began bowling when she and her husband, Richard “Dick” Webber (ironically not the famous bowler of the same name), lived in Michigan, and Dick was employed at Bendix while working on his graduate degree at the University of Michigan.

A group of wives from Bendix invited Lynn to join a bowling league.

“I told them, ‘I can’t do that; I have five small children.’ They said, ‘We have a free babysitter who is wonderful.’ It didn’t take me long to say yes,” Lynn said with a laugh.

“In those days, we bowled for $2 and got free coffee, and I took my five children with me to bowl,” she continued. “The lanes were on the second floor of a store, so I was carrying a port-a-crib and a diaper bag and getting five kids up a steep set of stairs. Fortunately, the next year, they built a new bowling alley on the ground floor.”

Dick and Lynn moved to Maryland in 1971, and she began bowling at Severna Park Lanes in a “newcomers” league. Lynn was fully invested in the sport. She served a term as vice president of Maryland’s bowling association and represented the state in national competitions.

“We used to go to a national tournament once a year,” she said. “They were looking for a delegate to go, and the meeting was in Denver. I had graduated from high school in Denver, so it was a chance to go back. I said I’d go.”

From there, Lynn traveled to various places throughout the United States — Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Reno.

She has bowled in multiple leagues. Just a few years ago, she bowled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Friday nights at Severna Park Lanes. Her highest score was 246, and her highest average was 171, but she said she mostly stayed in the 160 range.

When asked about bowling highlights over the years, Lynn immediately said, “Friendships. It has been the friendships.” She also enjoyed the travel.

Regarding TALL, Lynn said it’s like a family, and it’s unique. The ladies celebrate birthdays each month, have carry-in lunches for holidays, and, of course, hold an awards banquet. They support one another in times of sickness or a family death. And they even sing together. When oldies music plays, the ladies sometimes dance or sing. Several of them love singing together for “Downtown” by Petula Clark.

Lynn is loved and respected by the league's bowlers.

“Lynn is like the Energizer Bunny,” said league secretary Mary Kay Heath. “She keeps going and going. She is an amazing woman!”

TALL President Dani Johnson said, “Lynn has changed her delivery to accommodate her age change, but what hasn’t changed is her ability to make some fantastic shots. We’re always amazed at the curve her ball takes, yet she gets it right where it needs to be.”

Johnson said she and her mother joined the league in 2008 and found Lynn to be welcoming and kind. Johnson’s mom was a bit younger than Lynn and enjoyed trying to keep pace with her. “Lynn always spent time with her each week, giving Mom much pleasure,” Johnson said.

Lynn continues to buoy those around her. “Lynn is always ready with a caring or encouraging word for all of us, and she’s here every week!” Johnson said. “How inspirational is that?”

The league starts for the new season on August 27. Call Severna Park Lanes at 410-647-0811 for more information.