Meet Richard Overton - The 112yrs WWII Veteran Smoking and Drinking To History

---

If you live to be over a hundred years old or perhaps, the ripe age of 112 years old, what would your life possibly be like?

It might seem like an oddity, but life has shown us that living up to the century-old mark isn’t always fun and pleasant for those who get to such an age, and for those who take care of them.

_{Richard Overton Source: CC-BY-SA-3.0}

However, that cannot be said of America’s oldest veteran of the World War II era, Richard Overton. The now famous Richard Overton turned 112 years old on May 11th, 2018.

Richard Overton was born in 1906 in Texas’ Bastrop County, and he joined the military in 1942. Overton fought as a soldier in the segregated Army unit in the South Pacific with the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

In 1945 after he returned from the war, he worked in furniture stores and also had a job in the Texas Treasury department.

Till date he still lives in his 72 year old house on the same street in Austin Texas. The one change since that time is the fact that the street is now named “Richard Overton Avenue”; after him.

At his age of 112 years, he told reporters who gathered around him while he was sitting on his front porch in a lawn chair and smoking a cigar, that he feels very fine, and has no aches or pains.

The WWII veteran says that his habit of puffing on his cigar is part of why he is hale and hearty. He further pointed out that a bit of whiskey and cigar have been key to his living a long life.

Overton smokes around 12 to 18 cigars a day, and always has three sticks at hand, in his shirt pockets.

Richard Overton was featured at the age of 109 years in the Cigar Aficionado where he famously said that adding a little whiskey in your morning coffee is like medicine.

He has also attributed his good health to engaging in living; as he enjoys activities like cleaning his driveway, trimming his trees. Overton also says that his strong bones are due to having had plenty milk throughout the years.

The veteran has outlived all his siblings, his wife and ex-wife. Despite not having any children, he has a strong community. He has said he isn’t worried about death even though he is still in good shape.

Quoting the very adored Richard Overton;

“I didn’t know when I came here, and I don’t know when I’m going,” he said. “That’s God’s work.”

There will be a party to celebrate the 112 years old in his Texas neighbourhood. The party is said to feature two DJ’s, plenty of guests and a lot of food and drinks.

---

^{Ref: r1, r2, r3, r4}