World's Oldest Fred Dies
This man--almost 114 years old--was my present age when I was born. If I thought my life was only half over at 57, would I be delighted? Or terrified? How about you?
Fred Hale, one of two children, was born on a farm in New Sharon, Maine, on December 1, 1890, before cars and airplanes and in the same year Sioux Indians were massacred at Wounded Knee, South Dakota."He was 17 or 18 before he saw his first car," his grandson told Reuters. His dad and him heard one was coming to town and went down by the fence and waited for the car to come by. He was basically too old to serve in World War One. He already had two kids by then."
Hale worked as a railroad postal carrier, retiring 51 years ago. After his wife, Flora, died in 1979, he continued to live independently in South Portland, Maine, until he was about 109, when he moved closer to his son Fred Hale Jr., now 82.
He was listed with Guinness as the world's oldest driver when he renewed his license at age 104. He gave up driving four years ago.
Comments
If I knew I was going to be able bodied and keen minded, able to drive at 104, I'd be delighted to live that long. If I didn't have that quality of life, I'd be terrified.
Posted by: NJ | November 21, 2004 3:58 PM
Goodness. I raise my glass to seeing you live to be as old as Fred and I hope I live at least as half as long so that I can continue to read your blog. Cheers to Fred and Fred!
Posted by: Marie | November 21, 2004 8:20 PM