Ohio woman celebrates 73 years of working with same company

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Doris Harakay has worked at the same company for 73 years. Every year on Feb. 21, her company celebrates her work anniversary, which they call “Doris Day.”

Doris Harakay started working at Leland Electro Company at 18 years old, which is now known as GE Aerospace in Vandalia, Ohio.

“I’m not like I was when I was younger, but I’m still very good at what I do,” Harakay said.

Although ownership, buildings and the name of the company have changed in her seven decades, Plant Leader Jesse Baker said Doris has stayed the same.

“Doris really isn’t a whole lot different than she was back then,” Baker said. “You know, we all keep aging, but Doris doesn’t.”

Coworker Tyler Fairburn described Harakay as fun, mischievous, and everyone’s Grandma.

“She’s ornery, in a good way,” Fairburn said, laughing. “She calls herself the Grandma of GE, and she has earned that title.”

But it’s not just GE employees that know Doris. Fairburn said she’s quite well-known in Vandalia and in the military.

“Quite a few people know, Doris, I mean, some of the top brass in the Navy,” Fairburn said. “Doris might be more well known than some of the admirals.”

For her years of work, the City of Vandalia proclaimed Feb. 21, Harakay’s work anniversary, to be “Doris Day.”

“I get to do anything I want to do like I could speed or something, and they’re not going to arrest me,” Harakay said. “But, I wouldn’t rob a bank; I might speed and go through Vandalia a little fast for me.” 

It’s not just in Vandalia, where her hard work has been recognized.

“I got a letter from President Obama, and I have misplaced the letter,” Harakay said. “But over here, I have a copy of it.”

She doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“I’m not ready to go yet,” Harakay said. “And I’m not going to retire.”