Beloved 84-year-old Gibsonia McDonald's employee retiring after 45 years

GIBSONIA, Pa. (KDKA) -- An 84-year-old woman who has been working at the McDonald's in Gibsonia before Happy Meals were even invented is retiring. 

After 45 years, beloved drive-thru cashier Dot Sharp served her last order Friday. She just celebrated her 84th birthday on Dec. 2. 

While she's seen a lot during her time, she says there's one thing she's going to miss the most. 

"It's not so much the food, it's the people. The people that I work with, they were great. They treated me great all these years, and we have the best customers in the world here. Our customers are just fantastic who come here." 

The McDonald's on Walmart Drive says Sharp has been working there since 1978. Sharp has worked through the invention of Happy Meals, Chicken McNuggets and McFlurries. She also witnessed the ill-fated McPizza in 1986 and saw an entire line of McCafe coffee drinks in 2001. 

The restaurant says Sharp has welcomed each and every customer with a cheerful smile and friendly greeting. 

"Dot has been an amazing contributor to McDonald's of Gibsonia," said McDonald's owner and operator Meghan Sweeney in a news release. "Our customers love her and so have generations of her fellow co-workers. We're so lucky to have had her on our team!"

Sharp has also been at the restaurant through several ownership changes. She began her career working under another franchisee at the Gibsonia location. She was retained when the restaurant was sold to McDonald's Corporation, again when it was transferred to Meghan's father Paul Sweeney and once more when Meghan acquired it. 

"We truly appreciate all that Dot did for our organization," said Meghan Sweeney. "She brought a sunny disposition to every shift and always made the customer her top priority. I'm hoping Dot enjoys a well-deserved break in her retirement."

When asked about any big plans for retirement, Sharp replied, "just enjoy life."