Warren Thomas celebrated his 102nd birthday Thursday afternoon with family and friends.
Although Thomas has never been married or had children, the Atwood Lions Club has been like family to him over the past 55 years.
Thomas is one of five of the club's surviving charter members. The club was founded in October 1954. He also is the oldest surviving Atwood School graduate.The other surviving charter members are Maurice McDaniel and John Fredrick, both of Atwood, Jack England, Clunette, and Virgil Wise, Warsaw.
The club currently has 30 members, ages 50-102, and meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Atwood Community Building.
The club is a service organization that has contributed a lot to the Atwood community.
The club pays for the electric bill for the town's 13 street lights, raising more than $6,000 in 2009 to cover the streetlights and pay for renovations to the Atwood Community Building.
The club also gave $500 each to Madison and Mentone elementary schools last fall for new teachers to purchase supplies for their classrooms.
Thomas was visited Thursday at Mason Health & Rehab, Warsaw, by club members; his nephew Larry, 71, and nephew's wife, June Thomas, both of Atwood. His former pastor, Jerry, and Jerry's wife, JoAnne Thomas, both of Atwood, also visited.
Thomas has been a resident there for the past 2-1/2 years.
Thomas's two nieces, Jennine Bentz, California, and Darlene Maurer, New Paris, were unable to attend.
Besides celebrating Thomas's 102nd birthday, the occasion also was to honor Thomas for his 55 years of service with the Lions Club.
Carol Huffer, Lions president, presented a letter from Lions Club International thanking him for his service. He also received a pin for his service.
Huffer said Thomas has contributed dedication to the club over the years. He has been unable to attend meetings since he moved to Mason Health & Rehab.
"It's unusual to have a member that is 102 years old, and we thought with his birthday it was a good time to also honor him for his service," Huffer said.
Huffer said Thomas was known for starting the club's dinners with a prayer.
The Lions members sang "Happy Birthday" to Thomas Thursday afternoon and brought him a cake.
Thomas was born Jan. 7, 1908, in Scott Township, to Amos and Emily Thomas.
He had two brothers, Max and Ward Thomas, who are both deceased.
He moved to Atwood as a youth. After graduating high school in 1929, he worked for the Penn-Central Railroad making repairs to the rails on a construction crew. He retired when he was 65.
He never got a driver's license and never drove. He was a volunteer firefighter for the Atwood Volunteer Fire Department.
When Thomas was asked what has contributed to his prosperous life, he joked, "I have stayed away from women," he said.
Thomas said participating in the Lions Club and attending church have been important to him. He is a former member of Atwood Otterbein United Methodist Church, where a birthday party was held for him when he attended 100.
Glen Robinson, Atwood, a 40-year Lions Club member, who is 40 years younger than Thomas, also grew up in Atwood.
"It's nice to honor him for his service because the Lions Club has always been important to him," Robinson said.
Thomas's nurse, Amy Miller, said Thomas has a good sense of humor and does well for his age.
