Willard Fisher, an Oley Township native, recently celebrated his 102 birthday alongside friends, family and local officials.
Senator Bob Mensch, PA Representative David Maloney and Boyertown Mayor Marianne Deery visited Walnut Woods Independent Senior Living Community on Thursday, Aug. 8, to eat lunch and celebrate Fisher’s birthday.
Back in 2012, in honor of his 100th birthday, The Boyertown Area Times had the opportunity to speak with Fisher about his life.
As one of the founding members of the Oley American Legion Post 878, Fisher took great part in the Legion’s growth and the development of the Oley Legion Diner.
Fisher was called into service at the start of WWII, serving 3 years and 4 months for the U.S. Army. While deployed, Fisher attended the Isaac Delgado trade school in New Orleans.
‘I was all over the place, from Savannah, Ga. to New Orleans, La as well as to the pacific,’ Fisher recalled. ‘I spent most of my time refueling and repairing aircrafts for the U.S. Army Air Corps.’
Prior to serving in the US Army, Fisher worked on his family’s farm, and in the local bakery.
‘We had wonderful days on the farm, even when you had to work.’ The farm provided a very sustainable living for the Fishers. ‘Even during the depression days, we had food on the farm. We grew wheat and corn, and my father did his own butchering.
The taste of sweet corn is one pleasure that has never ceased for Fisher, even after nearly a century.
There was always plenty for Fisher and his siblings to do around the farm. ‘We had hired help on the farm until we [the children] were old even to be the ‘hired’ help.’
He has attended almost every Oley Valley Community Fair that has taken place over the past sixty years.
After his service, Fisher dedicated 30 years to the Pottstown Firestone company, retiring at the age of 75. He is a 1931 graduate of Oley Valley High School.
