Who Was Richard Overton? Facts About Oldest WWII Veteran Who Died Thursday

Richard Overton, America’s oldest World War II veteran, was believed to be the oldest man alive in the United States and the third oldest man in the world, before he died on Dec. 27. The supercentenarian, aged 112, had been hospitalized with pneumonia in a rehab in Texas where he took his last breath.

Volma Overton Jr., Richard’s cousin, confirmed the news to the Austin American-Statesman.

Richard had left a wonderful legacy behind, where he not only served the country with dedication but also lived his life to the fullest. Age could never mire his very positive approach toward life.

Here's a look at his life:

1. Richard was born May 11, 1906, outside Austin when television was still a dream. According to History.com, he joined the U.S. Army on Sep. 3, 1942, at Fort Sam Houstan, Texas, nine months after the U.S. entered the World War II.

2. Richard achieved a technician fifth grade rank by the end of his military service. On being asked by a reporter about his memories related to the WWII, he recounted the unpleasant scenes he had to witness.

“Oh sure, but the war wasn’t no fun. You never know what’s coming and you never know what’s going,” Overton said. “I think about war every day. It runs across my mind every day.”

3. After being released from military service, he settled down in Austin and bought a home for $4,000. On his 111th birthday, his community renamed the street he lived on after him.

He told in an interview to CNBC, “I paid $4,000 for this house in 1945, I ain’t trying to move. This is where I sit and rest.” He refused to shift to an assisted-living facility even after his health deteriorated.

4. Richard credited God for his longevity and also two of his best companions of all time ­­­­­– cigar and whisky.

“I been smoking cigars from when I was 18 years old, I’m still a smoking ‘em 12 a day,” he told a local Fox station in an interview.

5. Richard was very social and loved the company of his neighbors, and would chat with them on his porch. Volma said, while sharing the memory of Richard’s 111th birthday, that watching everyone queuing up just to get a picture of Richard and sharing gifts with him, felt like Christmas.

“It looks like everybody’s getting ready to take a picture with Santa Claus — and he never turns anyone down,” she said. “He’s an open person to everybody, and he wanted everyone who was in town who wanted to come by to come by.”

6. He got many plaudits and accolades. He met the former President Barack Obama at the White House in 2013 and got felicitated on Veteran’s Day by Obama.

"His service on the battlefield was not always matched by the respect that he deserved at home. But this veteran held his head high," Obama said at the time.

That meeting caught the attention of national media and Richard almost became a celebrity. Many bigwigs started visiting him, which included the Texas governor. The city of Austin declared his birthday Richard A. Overton Day to commemorate his dedication while serving the nation, the Statesman reported.

In 2015, National Geographic released a short documentary titled "Mr. Overton" telling his life story.

7. Toward the later years of his life, Richard's health began to deteriorate and he needed 24/7 home care. His relatives launched a GoFundMe campaign on Dec. 27, 2016, to meet the expenses and the page raised $454,843 of the $500,000 goal at the time of publishing the article.

"Most people that I've talked to, they have no imagination how expensive it is. But I've talked to a lot of folks who needed care and so many said we just could not afford it. And we as a family could not have afforded it," Volma said. "Just the sad thought of moving him out of his home would be, you know, devastating."

Richard has bid his adieu to this world but his zeal and attitude toward life would keep inspiring generations to come.

“I’ve got my good health and as long as I have my good health I’ll keep dancing,” Richard once said while expressing his attitude toward life.