Harrisburg World War II veteran to celebrate 100th birthday

Community asked to send birthday cards to Thomas Taylor

Community asked to send birthday cards to Thomas Taylor

JOURNEY? I NEVER THOUGHT I’D MAKE IT TO 100, YOU KNOW. THOMAS TAYLOR ENJOYING LIFE FOR A CENTURY. I JUST TOOK LIFE AS SIMPLE AS IT WAS AND TRIED IT TO THE BEST I CAN. THOMAS LEFT HIS HOMETOWN OF JOHNSTOWN TO SERVE IN THE COAST GUARD IN WORLD WAR TWO. AS YOU SEE IN THIS BOOK, I HAVE A LOT OF PHOTOS IN THERE. HE SELFLESSLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY. THE GUY STANDING THERE, THAT’S ME READ. SEE, THAT’S JUST PERSONNEL RIGHT THERE. BUT ALSO HAD SOME FUN ABROAD. I WAS STATIONED DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA AND I HAD A LOT OF GIRLFRIENDS DOWN THERE. BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME, HE MET HIS SWEETHEART, DOROTHY. WE JUST WERE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER KNOWING. AND SHE THOUGHT I WAS A SMART GUY. AND SIX MONTHS LATER, HE ASKED HER TO MARRY HIM. TYPICALLY, A HAPPY LIFE WOULD BE HAVING YOUR PARTNER LAST AS LONG AS YOU DID. THE TWO LIVED IN NEW YORK, AND THOMAS BECAME A WELDER AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY SHIPYARD. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN MY LAST 100 YEARS. THE TAYLORS LOST THEIR SON WHEN HE WAS 31 YEARS OLD, AND DOROTHY PASSED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. ALL THESE YEARS LATER, THOMAS CREDITS DOROTHY FOR HIS LONG, HEALTHY LIFE. MY WIFE USED TO SAY TO ME, YOU SAY YOU NEED TO TAKE THESE CERTAIN VITAMINS. AND I USED TO DO THAT BEFORE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN BY THEM. FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES, THOMAS LIVED ON HIS OWN IN PHILLY. I’M DRIVING TO I WAS 98, BUT HIS COUSIN GREG TALKED HIM INTO SETTLING DOWN AND MOVING CLOSE TO HIM IN HARRISBURG. JUST WHENEVER A GOOD LIFE AND LIFE IS CREATED, ALL GOOD. WHAT THOMAS HAS LEARNED IN HIS 100 YEARS. YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE WHAT LIFE BRINGS TO YOU. YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU GO WITH THE WAVE THAT GOES ONE WAY, YOU HAVE TO GO THAT WAY. JOSSLYN HOWARD WGAL, NEW JERSEY. WELL, HE’S AN INSPIRATION. DID DRIVE IN JUST TWO YEARS AGO AND STILL A LOT OF ENERGY, TOO. WELL, THOMAS OFFICIALLY TURNS 100 ON SATURDAY AND THE ARMY IS ENCOURAGING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO SEND HIM BIRTHDAY CARDS. YOU MAY REMEMBER WE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. SO FOR MORE

Harrisburg World War II veteran to celebrate 100th birthday

Community asked to send birthday cards to Thomas Taylor

A Harrisburg man is celebrating his 100th birthday this week, and said he’s feeling better than ever. World War II and Coast Guard veteran Thomas Taylor said he never expected to make it to 100 years old. "I just took life as simple as it was and try to do the best I can,” Taylor said. Thomas left his hometown of Johnstown to serve in the Coast Guard during World War II. When Thomas came home, he met his sweetheart, Dorothy. "We just were attracted to each other, and she thought I was a smart guy," Taylor said. After six months of dating, Taylor asked Dorothy to marry him. "The secret to a happy life would be having your partner last as long as you did," Taylor said. The two moved to New York so Taylor could study art. When the couple learned they were going to have a son, Taylor decided to make a living as a welder at the Brooklyn Navy shipyard. "A lot of things have changed in my last 100 years," Taylor said. The Taylors lost their son when he was 31 years old. Dorothy passed in 2008. All these years later, Taylor credits his wife for his long and healthy life. "My wife used to say to me, 'You need to take these certain vitamins,' and I used to do that before people were taking vitamins,” Taylor said. For the last two decades, Taylor lived on his own in Philadelphia. He said he continued to drive until he was 98 years old, but stopped when he could no longer grip the wheel strongly. Taylor's cousin, Gregory, talked him into settling down and moving close to him in Harrisburg. "He's been living a good life and life has treated him good," Gregory Taylor said. Taylor said in his 100 years, he has learned to "live with what life brings to you" and "go with the waves."Taylor's birthday is April 15. The Army is encouraging as many people as possible to send him birthday cards. Cards can be mailed to: Butler Street Senior Living Activities Department: Thomas 3251 Butler St.Harrisburg, PA 17103

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

A Harrisburg man is celebrating his 100th birthday this week, and said he’s feeling better than ever.

World War II and Coast Guard veteran Thomas Taylor said he never expected to make it to 100 years old.

"I just took life as simple as it was and try to do the best I can,” Taylor said.

Thomas left his hometown of Johnstown to serve in the Coast Guard during World War II.

When Thomas came home, he met his sweetheart, Dorothy.

"We just were attracted to each other, and she thought I was a smart guy," Taylor said.

After six months of dating, Taylor asked Dorothy to marry him.

"The secret to a happy life would be having your partner last as long as you did," Taylor said.

The two moved to New York so Taylor could study art.

When the couple learned they were going to have a son, Taylor decided to make a living as a welder at the Brooklyn Navy shipyard.

"A lot of things have changed in my last 100 years," Taylor said.

The Taylors lost their son when he was 31 years old. Dorothy passed in 2008.

All these years later, Taylor credits his wife for his long and healthy life.

"My wife used to say to me, 'You need to take these certain vitamins,' and I used to do that before people were taking vitamins,” Taylor said.

For the last two decades, Taylor lived on his own in Philadelphia.

He said he continued to drive until he was 98 years old, but stopped when he could no longer grip the wheel strongly.

Taylor's cousin, Gregory, talked him into settling down and moving close to him in Harrisburg.

"He's been living a good life and life has treated him good," Gregory Taylor said.

Taylor said in his 100 years, he has learned to "live with what life brings to you" and "go with the waves."

Taylor's birthday is April 15. The Army is encouraging as many people as possible to send him birthday cards.

Cards can be mailed to:

Butler Street Senior Living

Activities Department: Thomas

3251 Butler St.

Harrisburg, PA 17103

Harrisburg World War II veteran to celebrate 100th birthday

Community asked to send birthday cards to Thomas Taylor

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