Owensboro resident Jim Wimsatt is Kentucky’s second-oldest veteran, and he’s turning 106 on Wednesday. Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation is honoring the veteran with a parade downtown, encouraging the community to line the streets along the route to wish Wimsatt a happy birthday as he passes by. Those who want to speak with him can visit Chautauqua Nursing Home following the parade.
The parade will leave Chautauqua Nursing Home at 12:50 p.m., traveling down Leitchfield Road and taking a left on 2nd Street, right on Daviess Street, left on Veterans Boulevard, left on on St. Elizabeth Street, and left on Fourth Street before heading back to the nursing home.
The Harford native is a husband, renowned artist, and the second-oldest veteran in Kentucky.
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 countless occasions when he was there to lend a helping hand. Merritt and Wimsatt shared several afternoon conversations as neighbors, allowing Merritt to document his long and eventful life. He 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 U.S.’s 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 he 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 backseat 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 Wimsatt’s.
At 96, Merritt witnessed him 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.
