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TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — Having been born Sept. 18, 1909, Texarkana resident Ray Carter's life has touched 12 decades, experienced 18 presidential administrations and served in the military during one of seven wars.
Carter celebrated his 105th birthday amid family, friends and admirers at Miller and Lafayette County Senior Adult Center, the Texarkana Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/1B47DVO ).
Born and raised on a row crop farm and livestock ranch near Gurdon, Carter remembers spending World War II stationed as an Army Air Force sergeant at Barksdale Air Force Base. He was a medic.
"I worked state-side for all 37 months of my military service at the base's hospital in the operating room," Carter said. "I guess you could say I was a circulation nurse."
Carter said the military must have made him a medic because they thought the medical profession ran in the family.
"Both my granddads were doctors, and one of my uncles was a doctor," Carter added.
Judy Overton-Roberson, the center's director, said Carter is so far the oldest senior adult for whom the center has ever thrown a birthday party.
As he cut his birthday cake, Carter received a birthday peck on the cheek from Dierksen Hospice community educator Stacy McKee.
"I need a spare," Carter said to McKee after she delivered the first kiss.
McKee happily obliged. "Of course," she said and delivered a second.
McKee said that while Carter is the oldest person she's met, he is also one of the healthiest.
"Mr. Carter is in great shape for his age," she said. "He can walk, he lives on his own, he cooks his own breakfast and dinner meals, and he's been coming out to this center for years."
Betty Hicks, who has known Carter for at least 25 years, has taken him to Hickory Street Baptist Church since they met in 1989.
Jill Carter, Ray Carter's granddaughter, attributed her grandfather's love of flirting to his long life and ability to stay young.
"I love hearing his stories and about the history he has seen, and he still loves to sing and dance, and I'm proud of him for still going to church," she said.
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Information from: Texarkana Gazette, http://www.texarkanagazette.com
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