DANVILLE — The first order of business for Glenn Wright this summer was to renew his driver’s license for another year, passing the behind-the-wheel test with flying colors.

Now he is ready to celebrate his 100th birthday on Aug. 22, surrounded by dozens of friends and family members.

“Our family is so fortunate to have our Dad in good health for all these years,” said his daughter, Kathy Weston of Rossville. “He still has his sense of humor and he’s a bit ornery, which probably keeps him going.”

Wright credits his longevity and good health to “living a good Christian life. I say my prayers every day, and that’s what got me through all these years,” he said.

The centenarian drives his Buick Regal with 150,000 miles on it to chauffeur his niece around to different stores in town. He also regularly takes himself to the 9 a.m. Sunday service at the Second Church of Christ.

“Every week I sit up front in the third row, so I can hear,” he said. “You know, I’m a little hard of hearing.”

Wright was baptized at age 13 and has been a member of the Second Church of Christ for 87 years. He also served the church as a Sunday school teacher and elder for many years.

Wright was the second of five children in his family, and his siblings are all deceased now. He married Rosemary Harkness in 1932, and they celebrated their 70th anniversary the year before she died in 2003.

They had five children together: Dave, Don, Bill, Kathy and Steve. There are also 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Wright likes to eat pancakes at Cahill’s Family Restaurant, and he often picks up a friend to go for coffee of a morning at Schroeder’s. He also tries to attend some of the local events, such as the Georgetown Fair. When asked what his favorite part of the fair is, Wright answered, “The steak burgers. They make up some good ones there.”

Wright has lived in the same home for more than 60 years, thanks to family and neighbors who look in on him. His daughter, Kathy, makes him a hearty meal every weekend, but he also enjoys cooking some meals on his own.

As a boy, Wright made money to help out his family by delivering a “very large” paper route near their home on Bowman Avenue, which took him a couple of hours every day. “All of us boys shoveled snow and cut grass, too, to help pay the bills,” he said. Wright’s father, Walter Wright, was a conductor for the C and EI Railroad.

Wright’s first job was at the A&P grocery store located at 1201 E. Main, where he initially clerked, and then served as the site manager. He then joined Prudential Insurance Co., where he worked for 36 years before retiring.

After he already had four children, Wright decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1943 to 1945 in the sonar and radar division on the destroyer U.S.S. Whipple.

“I wasn’t scared of the enemy, but I was more scared of Mother Nature,” Wright said. “We saw some pretty bad storms, and I promised God that if he would spare us, I would serve him for the rest of my life.”

While he was on the destroyer, Wright sustained a deep leg wound that initially didn’t heal well. “The ship doctor told me I would need my leg amputated, but thankfully I started to mend and I didn’t need the operation,” he said.

For years, Wright was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Lions Club, and the American Legion Post 210. He also belonged to the Shriners and drove sick children to different hospitals for more than 10 years.

Even though Wright is an avid baseball fan and loves to watch the games on television, his team loyalties waiver. Sometimes he’s a Cubs fan, and at other times he roots for the Cardinals. “I like the team that’s having the best season,” he said with a grin.

As an early birthday celebration, Wright rode on a city fire truck in the Oakwood Fourth of July Parade, surrounded by family members.

Wright expects to continue living a full life “until the Lord is ready to take me,” he said. “And I’ll be ready then.”

FYI

The public is invited to an open house in honor of Glenn Wright’s 100th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Second Church of Christ, 3350 E. Voorhees. No gifts, but cards are appreciated.