Some Americans stay on the job into their 90s

The number of older workers is likely to continue to rise as Americans live longer and are unable to make ends meet on Social Security state pensions and savings in company-sponsored retirement plans, said Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

"It's a concern to me they will end up having to," Munnell said.

Irene Olsen, 95, works 20 hours a week at a senior center in Milford, Connecticut, to pay for rising taxes and utilities.

Otherwise, she says, she could not stay in her house.

Olsen, who used to run a hat shop in Milford, now oversees the travel department at the senior center. She spoke out recently against a property revaluation.

"They doubled the value of my house, which doubles my taxes," Olsen said. "That's why I work. I can't live on my Social Security and own a house."

Olsen, whose husband died about 20 years ago, drives to work but worries she will lose her license because of her age if she has an accident. But she doesn't mind working and goes on the trips she coordinates.

"It seems normal to me," she said. "I've worked all my life."

She is not out of place at the senior center. The tap dance instructor is 90, while, at 95, Art White directs the band and runs the bowling league.

"I found him in his office standing on a stool fixing something," said Mary Steinmetz, the center's program director. "He doesn't know why we buy new things when things can be fixed. He always thinks there's a little more life left in everything."

White was not available to talk. He was out of town line dancing.

Steinmetz says the older workers are part of a generation that believes in hard work. They also want to remain independent, especially White, a retired engineer.

"He's just a real Yankee, fiercely independent, hard working," Steinmetz said. "Doesn't know why the weather keeps anyone from doing anything."

Gordon, the assistant sergeant at arms in Nebraska, said she works both because she enjoys it and because it pay the bills.

"I like to meet the public," she said. "My house needs a lot of work. Everything is expensive. Medication is out of sight. I don't want to rely on anyone else."

Perillo, who has worked as a marshal since 1978, has been talking about retiring for the past decade.

"I don't think he ever will," said chief marshal Victor Corley.