Knoxville man celebrates 102nd birthday

KNOXVILLE — Raymond Tomsheck credits one thing to living to see his 102nd birthday: purpose.

“'Why is it me?' That’s the first thing that always comes to my mind. Other people only live 70, 80, 90 years – and here I go at 102 – and why am I here?” Tomsheck said. “Then it dawns on me, these people… they’ve all got something to do yet, in connection with me.”

On March 16, he celebrated the milestone with friends and family. Born in 1922, Tomsheck worked in a factory in Chicago during World War II before he went into the army. However, Japan surrendered before the U.S. invaded.

“You might say [it was] a really fortunate time in the service,” he said. “I never got into any real combat and all that – although I was in the combat zone – but never like invasions or anything like that.”

His lucky streak continued after the war when he married Louise Bumgardner. Together, they adopted two children – Marsha Moore and Ben – and he opened Bob and Ray’s Super Value, a grocery store in Knoxville. According to Moore, who now lives in Arizona, but came out to celebrate her father’s birthday, she’s had plenty of time to learn all she needs to know about living a good life from her parents. It starts with a positive and active mind. 

“I can tell you that even now today, he’s constantly thinking of new things and new ideas and, you know, those kinds of things,” she said. “So you go for it through all of your life. He’s always had a go-for-it attitude and that’s what I adopted and it’s been well.”

For Tomsheck, it’s the difference between surviving and thriving, and he’s still looking to achieve and do more with the people who matter most.

“What’s the point of being here if you’re not doing something or living?” Tomsheck said. “To be alive and to be living are two different things.”