Friends and family of Larry McBride gathered on the weekend for a special occasion.
A birthday party to celebrate McBride’s 100th birthday was held Saturday afternoon at the Columbus Community Hall in Amherstburg. McBride actually turned 100 this past Tuesday (Sept. 3) but his loved ones celebrated a little early with him.
“It’s very nice,” he said of the birthday party. “I can’t believe all of these people are here.”
Longevity is part of his family’s history, but McBride has surpassed them all. He pointed out his mother and father each lived into their late 80’s. McBride added he doesn’t know why he has managed to make it to the century mark.
“I haven’t got a reason why I’ve lived this long,” said McBride. “I have no reason.”
Some of his fondest memories revolve around his days as a youth with his mother or father.
McBride recalls hearing cars when he was six-years-old and running to the road with siblings to see them since they were few and far between in that era.
“It was a big deal to see a car on the road,” he said.
McBride said he has seen a lot of changes over the years, many of which he doesn’t like, noting there are “too many cars” today.
“It’s very, very much of a change,” he said.
The lifelong Amherstburg resident was born at his parents farm on Pike Road in 1924. He was the youngest of 14 children, and is now the sole survivor.
McBride’s schooling only went to Grade 8, when he started working on the farm until he was 18-years-old.
McBride worked at what was originally known as Brunner Mond and through the numerous name changes for 40 years, retiring at age 62.
In his youth, he used to swim to Boblo Island. He met his wife Kate when he was 15 and they would marry in 1946. They were married for 74 years before she passed away in 2020.
McBride has four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Birthday celebration marked for local 100-year-old resident
By Ron Giofu
Comments