Owensboro resident Jim Wimsatt will turn 106 years old next month, and Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation has big plans to celebrate with a parade downtown on September 18. The Hartford native is a veteran and renowned artist, among other things.
On the 18th, Wimsatt will leave the facility in an antique car at 1 p.m. to travel downtown to VFW Post 696. The parade will begin on Second Street just in front of Post 696, where soldiers will salute him. Following the parade, there will be a birthday celebration at Chautauqua at 2 p.m.
Wimsatt attributed his long life to his faith, family, friends, and ice cream. He also said staying active was crucial.
“I do like my chocolate ice cream – they could put that in sideways if they want,” Wimsatt said. “But, you have to move. You have to get up and work in the garden or around the house.”
Wimsatt’s long-time neighbor, Paul Merritt, recounted the numerous occasions when he was there to lend a helping hand. Merritt and Wimsatt shared several afternoon conversations as neighbors, allowing Merritt to document Wimsatt’s long and eventful life. Merritt also regularly visits him at the nursing home.
“He is one of Owensboro’s hidden treasures,” Merritt said. “His attitude towards life and his determination to paint the world he saw had made not only Owensboro better but the whole world a better place.”
Wimsatt was born during the United States’ final offensives during World War I and amid a massive Spanish flu outbreak. His humble upbringing was entrenched in the effects of the Great Depression, but he, his parents, and his 13 brothers and sisters persevered.
His father relocated the family to eastern Kentucky for better work in the oil industry and to launch a family farm. When Wimsatt wasn’t milking cows or planting and harvesting crops with his father, he expressed his creativity through art.
With no money for paintbrushes and art supplies, Wimsatt fueled his passion by carving pictures into wood or sketching them into rocks. He told Merritt his first canvas was the back of a worn-out shirt.
“No matter what materials he used, his talent has always shown through, and with his great work ethic, he has created many masterpieces,” Merritt said. “His friends and family will tell you from an early age that he loved to express himself with paint and brush.”
Wimsatt often explored the great outdoors, primarily in eastern Kentucky’s Natural Bridge area, to find landscapes to paint. His family later returned to the Owensboro area, and he attended Daviess County High School.
After high school, Wimsatt’s artwork took a back seat to a more pressing national issue: World War II. He was a member of the Army Air Corps and spent most of his time in Italy, where he witnessed Mount Vesuvius erupt in 1944. The eruption lasted more than 30 years and is still considered active, but its current activity fails compared to what Wimsatt experienced.
At 96, Merritt witnessed Wimsatt climbing a tree to help a neighbor retrieve something. He said, “He was just like that — always doing something for others.”
“I always try to be kind and nice to people,” Wimsatt said. “I’m thankful. The good Lord has been good to me.”
Merritt said Wimsatt’s late wife of 77 years, Gertrude “Trudy” Wimsatt, was typically there to reel him in or to offer a steady stream of advice and companionship.
“When he would get stuck (with one of his paintings), she was right there to give him advice,” Merritt said. “He would always jokingly say, ‘She does the hard part. She cleans up the mess.’”
Following his tenure in the service, Wimsatt began his career at General Electric in Owensboro. It was there he accidentally rubbed his wedding ring on ceramic tile and discovered a new art form. He worked his way up to production manager, pivotal in helping GE secure multiple patents for assembling parts.
After retirement, he landed a job at Kroger, opened Jack and Jenny’s restaurant on 9th Street, and dedicated more time to his art.
Merritt said Wimsatt’s works are featured in all 50 states. Wimsatt said he takes pride in showcasing Kentucky to the world. Several of his paintings are of gristmills, bridges, and other scenery across the country. Other works of art include portraits of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Cochise, and Mother Theresa. A quick eBay search will show that his art remains a hot commodity across the country.
Chautauqua representatives are asking the public to mail birthday cards to Wimsatt at 1205 Leitchfield Road in Owensboro. Their goal is to have 106 for him to open on September 18. The birthday party will follow the downtown parade at 2 p.m., and yes, there will be plenty of chocolate ice cream.
