TL Photo/Gage Vota Switzerland of Ohio School District bus driver Paul Dietrich celebrates his 90th birthday.

WOODSFIELD – Paul Dietrich is keeping his wheels in motion.

On Wednesday evening, the 90-year-old Switzerland of Ohio school bus driver was surprised by friends, family, and co-workers with a birthday party.

The party at Monroe Central High School was made possible by his three children David Dietrich, Tim Dietrich, and Pam Christy and Monroe Central High School principal Casey Tolzda.

Paul Dietrich has been a part-time school bus driver for 48 years. Despite turning 90, his children say that he moves around like he’s 60.

“We’re not worried about him driving the bus even the least bit. We see him every day, he still works on an 80 acre farm, and won’t even let us do much with the farm. As long as he’s able to, he won’t ask anybody for help, not that he needs it,” David Dietrich said. “He is active enough, he’s like a 60-year-old 90-year-old.”

Christy added that the only health concerns her father has had is two hip replacements.

Dietrich doesn’t have a regular daily bus route but does field trips, away games for school teams, and any other special trip for all Switzerland of Ohio District schools.

To get him to his surprise party, Dietrich was scheduled to take the school’s Future Farmers of America to an event in Shenandoah High School. It actually was a sham made up by Tolzda.

Once Dietrich pulled up to the school with his bus, Tolzda told him that there was a banquet happening in the high school’s cafeteria and told him to come grab dinner, which Dietrich declined.

Tolzda said that he had to think fast to get Dietrich inside the school since he said that he “wasn’t dressed nice enough for a banquet.”

Tolzda then told Dietrich that one of the teachers needed to talk to him about an upcoming trip, which worked.

When he entered the school, Dietrich was greeted by throngs of friends and family.

“When I walked in I saw everyone, I knew I’ve been had,” Dietrich said. “I just feel blessed that I can do this every day, but 90 years old, I feel good and just take it a day at a time. I’ve taken a lot of good trips and seen a lot of stuff, and could tell you a lot of stories about it.”

Tolzda added that he’s honored to have played a part in making the party happen.

“Paul Dietrich is a staple to the entire community. The students and the staff love Paul. I remember him ever since I was a child, driving the bus for Beallsville,” Tolzda said. “And now, all these years later, I’m the principal at Monroe Central. And it’s not just one community. It’s the Beallsville, Monroe Central, River communities, as well as the entire Switzerland of Ohio School District. He loves all of the kids, and all of the kids love him.”

Tolzda and all three of the Dietrich children agreed that he doesn’t drive the bus because of the money but because he enjoys the students and the students enjoy him.

“He just has a great demeanor. He’s great to be around, is patient, takes an interest in them, and really supports them,” Tolzda said. “He’s a model of someone who gives back to the community.”

Tim Dietrich added that his father still has uncashed trip tickets which are basically paychecks for the school’s bus drivers.

“I’d have been far more surprised if the turnout wasn’t exceptional,” David said.

Christy said that virtually everyone 65 years and younger who went to school in the Switzerland of Ohio School District have has been a passenger on his bus.

She added that her father began driving school buses in 1978 because when Christy went to Clarington Elementary School, the school needed bus drivers.

“They talked me into getting a license and 48 years later, I’m still driving,” Dietrich said.