toledoblade.com --

Dale Moyer celebrated his birthday and Father's Day yesterday with quiet visits from family and the usual birthday cake and ice cream.

The message on his strawberry cake was more atypical. It said simply: Happy Birthday 109.

Mr. Moyer, who was born on June 20, 1895, has marked another year at his Williams County home, where he still lives alone in a small dwelling right next to his daughter, Lela Gene Smeltzer, 75.

"I'm amazed he was able to live this long," said his oldest daughter, Marvel Anderson, 82, of Deshler. "But he just lived a good clean life. He loves the Lord and the Lord saw fit to have him live this long."

The Alvordton, Ohio native, who was a farmer and a carpenter, still enjoys working crossword puzzles daily and playing cards and board games.

His mind is good, his daughters said, but he has a difficult time hearing. In recent years, Mr. Moyer hasn't left his home much other to than to see a doctor.

Mr. Moyer often talks about the fact that he's outlived all of his peers.

"He said that all of his colleagues, all of the people his age are all gone. He said he's ready to go be with his loved ones," Mrs. Smeltzer said yesterday. "He's ready to go whenever God calls."

But he continues to follow the family history: living a long time. His identical twin brother, Glen, passed away in April, 2001, at the age of 105. At the time, the brothers were listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living twins.

Of Mr. Moyer's six siblings, the youngest to die was 86. His sister is still living at age 102.

And his wife, Mary, lived to be 98 years old, dying just short of what would have been their 76th wedding anniversary.

Mrs. Smeltzer said her father started feeling weak late last week - more so than she's ever seen him - and they went to the doctor. He was given medication to fight bronchitis and a urinary tract infection.

As a result, the festivities for yesterday's two major events were kept quiet, with visitors at a minimum.

But they made sure to recognize the man of an impressive age, who has four children, 17 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren. He made sure to spend individual time with each of children as they grew, Mrs. Anderson recalled.

"He's really been a wonderful father to us, a great example to us," Mrs. Anderson said. "We appreciate that so much."

Contact Kim Bates at: kimbates@theblade.com or 419-337-7780.

Permanent Link