Aylward, Pauline Raulerson – ca. 2001

Pauline Raulerson Aylward’s is the oldest living white native of Boca Raton and one of the first six or so white children born in the city. Her parents were Charles and Eula Purdom Raulerson, whose parents were from two of Boca’s original six white families. Mrs. Aylward’s father was the town’s first police chief and a locksmith and carpenter at the Boca Raton Hotel. Her mother opened what was Boca’s first restaurant. Mrs. Aylward is retired executive hotel housekeeper, which she did in Clearwater, Florida and Whitefield, New Hampshire. From 1942-1976, she spent only about six weeks or less in Boca Raton each year. When she retired in 1976, Mrs. Aylward returned to care for her mother, who died in 1996 at the age of 98.