Karl Beckle, 97, still enjoys the simple things life brings
Gilroy – Nearly a century ago Karl ‘Grampa’ Beckle was born in the poor Appalachian town of Pomeroy, Ohio. Ninety-seven years later, after two World Wars and a lifetime of memories – he has found a home with his son in San Martin.
In Beckles’ youth, airplanes were first starting to be used for mail delivery and Ford Model T’s roamed the streets.
He has witnessed the invention of the talking motion picture, the first cross continental phone call, television, fast food, credit cards, and the Internet. Life today is vastly different from his childhood days, growing up on a dairy farm outside Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“I bet I’m the oldest one in this group,” Beckle said at his birthday party at Live Oak Adult Day Center last Friday, with white hair poking out from underneath his black baseball cap.
Clasping his hands together, he spoke of the days when he worked as a flight engineer for United Airlines flying to Hawaii and the islands of the Pacific. For three years during World War II he flew troop transports bringing fresh recruits from San Francisco to the south Pacific, and bringing the injured home.
He doesn’t like to talk about those days.
“I don’t know what else you can say,” he said. “It was a job to be done … Keep those fans a’blowing – that was my job.”
He doesn’t recall specifically when he met his wife or even when he came to California.
“I don’t remember exactly, it was a long time ago,” he said.
What he does recall is his loathing for milking cows and the enjoyment of his two vices: “Automobile racing and women,” Beckle said smiling. “You got to have some vices in life.”
It’s his wit and energy that keep his son, Karl Beckle Jr., in awe of his father.
Up until about a decade ago the two traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla. to watch the Daytona 500 and follow stock car racing – a sport Beckle has followed for years.
Last year, Beckle Jr. took his father up in a biplane, and just last week took him for a ride on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle.
“He loves that kind of stuff,” he said. “He may be 97 but you’d never know it.”
Until age 89, Beckle was driving his Porsche – a passion he had since racing Midget cars.
Every morning, Beckle runs through the same routine of taking his medications, shaving and drinking a glass of juice before going into town with his son.
And every morning, Beckle is cheery and eager to get out of bed.
“I think a lot of times (the elderly) can get cranky and miserable to get along with,” Beckle Jr. said. “He’s just the opposite. He’s a funny guy. You can’t imagine the stuff he comes up with … He’s had a great life.”
