Bill McKlveen Has Seen It All

In the past 100 years, the world has probably seen more changes than in the previous 200 to 300 years–some positive and some negative. We’ve had the proliferation of cars, from gasoline-powered to electric; the invention of television, the atomic bomb, the computer and from there to the internet and social media. And centenarian Bill McKlveen has seen it all.

Two weeks ago, the resident of Salishan Gracious Retirement Living Community Facility celebrated his 100th birthday with his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters.

Bill was born August 3, 1924 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh. His father was foreman in the machine shop of Walworth Valve Manufacturing, a company that is still in business today. He had a younger brother and sister–Bert and Peggy.

One of his favorite activities as a young boy was playing Mush Ball in the street. It’s similar to baseball in that the players use a bat to hit the ball, but the ball is more like a softball.

Bill joined the army when he was about eighteen, right after Pearl Harbor. Because of his eyesight, he couldn’t serve in combat so he was in a special service unit. Bill was stationed in France and Germany and, although he wasn’t in combat, he was behind the lines not that far from the fighting. One of Bill’s duties was showing the movies that the soldiers watched in their spare time. He took care of supplies, also.

After the war, Bill went to work at the same factory in the machine shop his dad worked at and ran a lathe. Once the lathe kicked up a piece of metal and it hit him in the back of the leg. Bill was told he would never walk again, but with the same determination that he showed throughout his life, he recovered and was able to walk again.

Bill and his wife name, Geraldine, raised two children. She was a homemaker most of the marriage, at least while their children were young, and they were married for sixty-five years. “It was a good marriage. My wife was excellent,” Bill remarks.

In 1950, the family moved to Florida and Bill worked at a glass factory in St. Petersburg. Later he joined the post office and worked in Miami until he retired in 1983 at age 59. At that time, he and his wife moved to Hernando County.

Bill was always busy with his train collection and other hobbies. He did woodworking–making clocks and other items.

Bill moved into Salishan a few years ago and leads an active life−both within the community and outside. “I enjoy Bingo. I play twice a week. Every night they play movies here. I watch whatever they show, but some of them are kind of silly,” says Bill.

Up until a year ago, he was an usher at Northcliffe Church and even drove. One day he lost his keys and let his car insurance lapse. They wouldn’t renew it and took away his license.

Although Bill was in the military, he was never in an airplane until a few years ago when he flew to Georgia for his granddaughter’s graduation. That must have been quite an experience for him!
Asked about the secret to his longevity, he stated, “I just trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Bill’s mother lived to be 97, so genetics played a part too. Diet is also important, he believes. He doesn’t eat a lot of fried, processed or junk foods. Olive oil, blueberries and walnuts have always been a big part of his diet, even before nutritionists started touting those foods.

Bill’s zest for life is evident in the way he talks about his two granddaughters. “Did you ever see anything more beautiful than these two beautiful girls,” Bill exclaims.

When I asked his son about some of his father’s outstanding qualities, he remarked, “Dad is a man of discipline. His bed is made every morning. He’s a man of conviction and deep faith. He doesn’t talk about doing things right he DOES things right. When I was five years old, I remember him reading his devotionals before he went to work. That was his routine and he stuck with it.”

As I left Bill to enjoy the rest of his birthday celebration, I said to him, “I’ll see you next year when you celebrate your 101st.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that with his healthy habits, positive attitude and his passion for living, he’ll be around for that.