BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) - A Lima area World War II veteran turned 101 years old today.
Lewis Bassett celebrated his birthday with family and staff at the Willow Ridge nursing home. He served in the United States Navy, doing shakedown cruises for aircraft carriers, and had a long career as a farmer.
His family describes him as a hard-working man and says he's witnessed plenty of technological advancements over his career, like the transition from using horses for agriculture to the heavy machinery of today.
His son says he's grateful to have had his father around for so long and that, with age, he's gotten a different perspective on what's important in life.
"When you're younger, it seems like sometimes you kind of get caught up in a rat race and trying to get ahead and so forth. But as you get older, the time you have to spend with your family and loved ones becomes more important to you. And the things that you accumulate mean less to you," commented David Bassett, son of the 101-year-old veteran.
David also says that he believes the years of hard work on the farm are part of what has kept his dad so healthy for so long.
