At 107-years-old, Kentucky’s oldest WWII veteran dies believing few would show up for his funeral

Posted 2014-10-24 19:01 by Grunt Report

The oldest WWII veteran in Kentucky passed away Tuesday at 107 years old.

Roscoe Cassidy’s family said he was one of the last people who served who was still alive in America.

On Tuesday, LEX 18 News sat down with Roscoe’s son and friends at the Blevins Grocery Store in Bath County, a store in the center of Preston where Roscoe spent most of long life.

“Dad, a legend of this area out here. Everyone loved him,” said Mike Cassidy.

“Its not the years that he lived, it’s the life he lived in those years,” added Roscoe’s friend, Danny Belcher.

Roscoe lived 107 years to be exact. His family said the WWII veteran passed away Tuesday morning, but not before passing on a piece of advice.

“He loved his shot of Moonshine everyday and he said that was his secret to life,” said Mike.

Roscoe’s other secrets? His humor, dancing and standing up for a cause, especially for his country.

“Roscoe’s military papers say that he was born in 1907 and that’s the oldest living WWII veteran in Kentucky,” said Belcher, who is the executive director of the Task Force Omega of Kentucky.

Roscoe’s family said he loved serving and told them he would be proud to do it again. In fact, when he turned 103 years old, Roscoe told a local paper that “that old war was a tough thing. I know we had to do it though, and I am glad that I went to serve.”

Roscoe served overseas until the end of the war and came home to Bath County after being honorably discharged.

“Fought for our country, fought evil and then came back to a great America,” said Belcher. “He was legend.”

A legend who loved to whittle, always voted and lived many years with this motto.

“He always said ‘I hope you live forever and I never die’,” his son Mike said.

Now, as friends and family say goodbye, Roscoe will live on forever at the store in Preston that he loved.

“I know we are going to miss you, we already do,” said Helen Blevins who owns the store and was a dear friend of Roscoe.

Roscoe’s family said he always worried that because he had outlived so many of his friends, that no one would come to his funeral.

So Roscoe’s family welcomes the public to be at his funeral Saturday. Services will be held at the Richardson Funeral Home in Owingsville at 11 a.m.