Birthdays and funerals mark time's passage

Daily, it seems, I am reminded of the advancement of old age.

I promise to never bore you, dear reader, with descriptions of my own chronic aches and pains.

Rather, I am referring to the nearly constant reminders that our veterans, the bulk of them from World War II, are growing feeble and dying off with ever-increasing frequency.

This hit home on Thursday when I received word that my aunt's father - John Henry Foster Babcock, who always went by "Jack" - had died at age 109. His passing was big news, not only in his adopted home town of Spokane, Wash., where my mother still resides, but throughout his native Canada as well.

Jack Babcock was Canada's last surviving veteran of World War I and one of only three known survivors of that era to wear a uniform in service of country even though, at 15 when he enlisted, he was considered too young to fight in the trenches in France.

He never saw any action, just moved freight.

His funeral will be held Saturday, Feb. 27.

In a statement widely published in Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada "mourns the passing of the generation that asserted our independence on the world stage and established our international reputation as an unwavering champion of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law."

So long, Jack. And God speed.

Back here in Anderson there are plenty of reminders as well of this same phenomenon.

A scheduling conflict prevented me from helping Leonard E. Neutze, 90, of Anderson celebrate the anniversary of his birth on Feb. 9, 1920, with a party at the VFW Post 9640 Hall on Saturday, Feb. 13.

More than 90 guests and family members, including his wife of 64 years, Evelyn, attended the four-hour soire. For many years until they sold the business in 1990, the Neutzes owned and operated Anderson Glass Company.

Evelyn worked 30 years for the State of California and several private firms, but she always kept the books and paid the bills at the Anderson Glass Company.

For more than 50 years, Leonard and Evelyn Neutze have remained faithful members of the VFW Post 9650 in Anderson as well as its auxiliary, where they are Life Members.

The Neutze's children and relatives organized the event and invited friends from far back as they could trace contact information.

Among those in attendance was their son, U.S. Army Major Stan Neutze, now retired.

Entertainment at the event was provided by some of the Women's Auxiliary members who danced "in their gorgeous green dresses and then changed into military uniforms to dance and sing the "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boys from Company B."

Happy birthday, Leonard! And many happy returns.