Mason Health Care Resident Celebrates 104th Birthday
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warren Thomas celebrated his 104th birthday Saturday surrounded by family, friends and Atwood Lions Club members.
Thomas’s birthday was celebrated with cupcakes at Mason Health Care, where Thomas has been a resident since 2008.
Thomas is a charter member of the Atwood Lions Club that was founded in 1954. He led prayers for the group, and is one of four living charter members of the club. The others include Jack Anglin, Maurice McDaniel and Virgil Wise.
Thomas was born Jan. 7, 1908, in Scott Township to Amos and Emily Thomas.
He had two brothers, Warden and Max Thomas, who are both deceased.
He is a 1929 Atwood High School graduate, and the oldest living graduate of the school.
He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, repairing railroad ties, and retired in 1965.
When asked what led him to a prosperous life, he said he takes one day at a time and joked he stayed away from women.
Thomas said he never married and did not have children. He never had a driver’s license, and never smoke or drank alcohol.
He was a volunteer fireman with the Atwood Fire Department, and is a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church, Atwood.
He wears glasses and is in a wheelchair.
He enjoys watching the cars go by on U.S. 30 to keep busy.
His living relatives are his nephew, Larry (and spouse June) Thomas, Warsaw; two nieces, Jennine (and spouse Wade) Bentz, California, and Darlene (and spouse Jim) Maurer, New Paris; and a sister-in-law, Frances Thomas Albrecht, who lives at Mason’s.
Larry said he was was glad to celebrate his uncle’s birthday.
“Warren said he never chased wild women and never married and that is what he contributes to his long life, and that he never took orders from a woman,” Larry said.
