I couldn’t pass this up. A man, who I have interviewed a number of times –Donald Booker– will be marking his 103rd birthday on Oct. 14.
His daughter, Debby Sodders, posted a message on Facebook for family and friends: “He’s not up to a big party, but if you have the time, please send him a card or stop by and see him at Trustwell Living at Oakley Place. His address now is 1275 Northview Drive, Oakley Place, Room 115, Greenville, OH 45331.”
I, myself, have been to his Greenville home a couple of times to interview him in past years and even made it to his 100th birthday celebration to help him celebrate.
He has been one busy man over the years and was always a great interviewee.
He was born to Omer and Elsie (Sharp) Booker on Oct. 14, 1921, and he, like me, attended and graduated from Ansonia Local Schools way before myself, and is now the only living member in the class of 1940.
Prior information on him noted that when World War II began, Donald became an Army Corps of Engineers member, serving on the Pacific front and providing petroleum for airplanes and working on building runways.
During his tenure, he was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, Kiriwina Island, the Philippines and Japan from 1942–45.
A lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he is proud of his service and his country.
He is also proud of his family.
It was stated that during that military time, he corresponded with June Hiatt, who would become his wife.
His wife was a graduate of Palestine High School and had worked with Norma Knick in payroll at the Darke County Courthouse. He met her while he was working for Garrison Well Drilling and went to a job site at her family’s residence.
They were married on Sept. 14, 1946, and she passed on Nov. 17, 2011, at the age of 90.
In addition to Debby, they are parents of a son Craig. Their children both graduated from Greenville High School and Bowling Green State University. Debby became an elementary teacher and Craig a banker.
After he got out of the service, Donald worked for Union City Body Company until work there started to slow down, and then he became a member of the Greenville Police Department. He was assistant chief from September 1978 until he retired.
He worked under the supervision of Police Chiefs Ora McCellan, Ernie Hufnagle, Tom Kellye and Dwight Williamson.
Booker underwent police training in London, Ohio, for two weeks, and, in 1948, joined the Greenville Police Department serving for 30 years.
A broken hip is what put him into Trustwell Living a few years ago. Before that, he was living alone and doing his own yard work as well as others’ and cleaning his gutters.
Yes, he is one man who has lived a successful life, despite having been through three colon cancer operations and is blind in his left eye due to glaucoma in both eyes.
I am sure he will appreciate hearing from his family and friends on his special day.
Here’s to hoping he has another memorable birthday. He is so deserving of that recognition.
*****
Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Virgie Armstrong, Michael Logan and Brianne Otley.
*****
Seeking prayers for these people: Jody Christman, Robert Christman, Mike Hopkins, Bruce Knick, Beth Royer-DeLong, Debbie Francis, Melikka Riffell, Roan Brubaker, Dan Garber, George Kenworthy, Mike Doyle, GraceLynn Harter, Chester Bryant, Linda Johnston, Terri Hunt, Amy Brewer, Jené Riffell, Patricia Maier, Ken Wombold, Delores Beisner, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Ron Moody, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kent Snyder, (cousin) Carol Byrd, Gladys Neff, Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Craig “Cheese” Thompson, Bridget Brown, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Chris Clark, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Judy Collins, Linda Gasper, Carol Hemmerich, Stephanie Klingshirn, Brenda Schlechty, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Steve Waymire, Nikole Baldridge, Lester Beisner, Mark Lovejoy.
Also, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.
******
Happy birthday:
Oct. 8 to Breanne Bucholtz, Karen Stubbs, Tammy Stock and Tony Liette.
Oct. 9 to Linda Wood, Zach Ward, Austin Ward, Gayle Rismiller and Kim Peters.
Oct. 10 to David Michael Bowers, Greg Cox, Chris Widener, Barbara Swabb, Doyel Daniels and Dick Brown.
Oct. 11 to Cheryl Clouse, Carol Ginn, Kelly Spahr and Vanessa Cruze.
Oct. 12 to Teresa Fleckenstein, Dick Shumaker, Norman Warner, Lori Wertz and Jeni Douglass.
Oct. 13 to Randy Fosnough, Cody Burnfield, Rayvin Thompson, Gerald Sleppy and Shane Coby.
Oct. 14 to Steve Hall, Lisa Doyle, Donald Booker, Josh Stachler, Heather Bergman and Rocksand Hollinger.
Happy anniversary to: Greg and Leanna Whittington on Oct. 8; Travis and Julie Thwaits on Oct. 11; Andrew and Krista Waymire on Oct. 11. and Ed and Amy Erisman on Oct. 12.
******
Think about it: “I love being a writer. What I don’t like is the paperwork.”–Author Unknown
