MARKING A MILESTONE — As part of a ceremony at the Penco Road, Weirton, Post Office Tuesday morning, Sales, Service and Distribution Associate Sandy Gajtka was recognized for her 50 years of employment with the U.S. Postal Service. Taking part in the recognition are, from left, Kentucky-West Virginia District Manager Randy Stines; Acting Manager, Postal Operations Beth Jungels; Gajtka; Weirton Postmaster Pete Melnyk; and USPS Central Area Vice President Eric Henry. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — It is not often someone dedicates five decades of their life to a particular job, but that’s exactly what has happened with Weirton resident Sandra Gajtka.

On April 25, Gajtka celebrated her 50th anniversary with the United States Postal Service, and Tuesday morning, surrounded by family, friends and USPS officials, she celebrated the milestone with a reception held at the Penco Road post office.

“I was here before automation,” Gajtka, who works as the sales, service and distribution associate, said. “Everything was done by hand.”

Gajtka noted she initially was encouraged to seek a job with the USPS by an aunt, and recalled advice from her father not to do anything to get fired, especially after getting involved with the American Postal Workers Union.

Much of her professional and personal lives have been a result of her employment with the Postal Service. She was a union steward from 1974 to 2000, and served as president from 2000 to 2013.

She met her husband there, with family explaining their first and second dates were attending post office Christmas parties together.

Many of their vacations, including trips to Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Disneyland, and even attending the 1984 Olympics, revolved around a union convention or seminar, she said.

There are a lot of memories over those 50 years, but she said one which continues to stick out was when the pension checks for Weirton Steel arrived at the post office with insufficient postage.

“I paid the postage to make sure everyone got their checks,” she said, noting, otherwise, each check would have been returned and the steelmaker’s retirees would have gone without their pension payments.

According to Postmaster Pete Melnyk, even after 50 years, Gajtka is among the first at the post office each morning, getting things organized for the work day.

“She gets the ball rolling,” Melnyk said. “It all starts with Sandy in the mornings.”

Gajtka knows and understands all of the operations at the post office, Melnyk said, adding she has always made the service a priority.

“She’s definitely our team captain,” he said.

Gajtka, in turn, offered praise to Melnyk, whom she said has helped her through a lot during their 20 years working together.

Among those attending Tuesday’s festivities were Acting Manager, Postal Operations Beth Jungels, USPS Central Area Vice President Eric Henry, and Kentucky-West Virginia District Manager Randy Stines, who each offered their appreciation to Gajtka.

“She’s definitely a rock in this organization and this office,” Stines said.