George Newman is (almost) a century old

Deer Creek has some wonderful residents, and they love to have a good time. Just because one ages does not stop a people from celebrating major events in a person’s life, such as a birthday. With major precautions, the whole town was represented in a parade in honor of George Newman’s birthday.

“His 100 birthday is Friday,” someone called in to the paper. This was a good news tip and it was intriguing, wondering how his birthday would be celebrated. It’s rare to meet someone who lives up to the Italian blessing “CentAnni” or “may you live 100 years.” But in the current health situation how could he have a celebration fit for a centenarian.

Getting his son Jay’s contact information from Deer Creek, the plan was set in motion for an interview on Friday May 29, with facemasks and of course social distancing in high gear. Getting background information and other answers to questions in emails with Jay, who assured me his dad was still pretty sharp.

Soon though word spread throughout the community. George was named Veteran of the Week by local radio station KWVH, and then posts started on the Wimberley Message Board on Facebook and planned to honor him on his birthday.

Character is the only way to describe George, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I grew up having fun,” George said from safe social distancing space. “I lived on a ranch but was close to town… I remember it was pretty normal and I enjoyed my family. I remember the house we lived in and it’s still standing,”

He enlisted and his service came right after Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was sent to Iceland to help with locating German submarines that were wreaking havoc on Allied shipping in the North Atlantic.

“With convoys to England, our group flew over the Atlantic to spot the subs then wait there,” while other forces could intercept the sub. Sometimes they would try to bomb them.

“It was scary, but when you are twenty you don’t stay scared too long. Another thing comes up and you just had to roll with it. We didn’t know too much about the rest of the war, so we were pretty isolated. Except for a few times our planes got shot down and crashed.” He attained the rank of technical sergeant during his war years..

Coming home after the war, he remembers, “My older sister totally wrecked my convertible while I was off in the war, but I was just happy getting home and thought it wasn’t something I needed too much after all.”

Then the character side of George really came out. After the war, he got a Master’s in Psychology, but after a while he got tired of it. “I didn’t like people whining all the time.”

He sold washing machines for Westinghouse. He was a drugstore representative for McKesson. Then he sold kitchen cabinets. “Every apartment built in Tulsa has my cabinets… and my son helped deliver and install them until he decided school was an easier thing to do.”

Then there were the other things he had done. “I was a driver and dispatcher for the Tulsa Red Cross for I think 25 years after I retired. Earlier I had raced a Corvette around the Colorado circuit and did some ski patrol work in the winter up at Winter Park… I moved down in August 2018 from Tulsa, had spent 52 years there and lived in my house for 50 of them. (Being closer to family) I’m healthier and happier here.”

Getting a wife and settling down were also not the norm. Why did he wait until he was 41 until he got married? “I was having too good a time,” he said with a genuine twinkle and a laugh.

An aside from son Jay said that dad had been a playboy before he got married, loved the ladies, but he was a faithful husband. His only child Jay was on hand with two of the grandkids, Harrison and Audrey.

But his love and a good time came out when he danced in his wheelchair with one of the nurses before the parade. It was party time with him as honoree! First the Constable Deputies led the way with decorated cars, trucks, vintage vehicles, and some even bearing gifts for the veteran.

Finally the Sheriff’s Deputies passed by and the parade was ended. The enthusiastic almost centenarian thanked everybody.

And then came the big reveal.

“I have no regrets. I’ve enjoyed my life, and I still hope to make it to 100 years, next year.”

He is only 99 years old, but what is a one-year in Wimberley? We needed it as well as George did. We can celebrate once again on his next birthday.