Duston Country Club in Hopkinton has a local celebrity on the course who, at 102 years old, is two years older than the club itself.Floyd Severance has not let his age keep him off the golf course.”Everyone’s always taking pictures with him or shaking his hand,” said Ryan Hall, owner of Duston Country Club. “It’s an honor to meet him. You don’t see many 102-year-old golfers. You don’t see any 102-year-old golfers, actually, and it’s an honor that he chooses us to golf at every day.”Severance was born in 1924 and has seen 17 presidencies. “I remember the Great Depression,” he said. “I remember that. And Prohibition. I remember those things.”Originally from Pembroke, Severance was a mail carrier with a 16-mile route.”I walked that route in five hours and delivered mail,” he said. Severance also served his country. He was drafted into the Army at 18 years old and fought in all five of the major battles of World War II.”I’d go again,” he said. “Not that I enjoyed it, but because I have so much affection for this country.”After the war, Severance met his wife, Judy, at a bowling alley. She passed away 11 years ago.”My wife was the greatest woman God ever created, and He threw away the mold,” he said.Floyd and Judy Severance had seven children, 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.Severance keeps busy, golfing twice a week and shooting pool three days a week. He also has a girlfriend. Arlene Fleury is about to turn 101. The two went to high school together and found love once more 88 years after they first met.”I feel better now than I did when I was 70,” Fleury said. “But I think maybe that’s because I’m with him.”Severance said the key to a full and happy life is to not stress, and when the going gets tough, keep swinging.”I don’t worry about anything, because worry never solved anything,” he said.
HOPKINTON, N.H. —
Duston Country Club in Hopkinton has a local celebrity on the course who, at 102 years old, is two years older than the club itself.
Floyd Severance has not let his age keep him off the golf course.
“Everyone’s always taking pictures with him or shaking his hand,” said Ryan Hall, owner of Duston Country Club. “It’s an honor to meet him. You don’t see many 102-year-old golfers. You don’t see any 102-year-old golfers, actually, and it’s an honor that he chooses us to golf at every day.”
Severance was born in 1924 and has seen 17 presidencies.
“I remember the Great Depression,” he said. “I remember that. And Prohibition. I remember those things.”
Originally from Pembroke, Severance was a mail carrier with a 16-mile route.
“I walked that route in five hours and delivered mail,” he said.
Severance also served his country. He was drafted into the Army at 18 years old and fought in all five of the major battles of World War II.
“I’d go again,” he said. “Not that I enjoyed it, but because I have so much affection for this country.”
After the war, Severance met his wife, Judy, at a bowling alley. She passed away 11 years ago.
“My wife was the greatest woman God ever created, and He threw away the mold,” he said.
Floyd and Judy Severance had seven children, 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Severance keeps busy, golfing twice a week and shooting pool three days a week.
He also has a girlfriend. Arlene Fleury is about to turn 101. The two went to high school together and found love once more 88 years after they first met.
“I feel better now than I did when I was 70,” Fleury said. “But I think maybe that’s because I’m with him.”
Severance said the key to a full and happy life is to not stress, and when the going gets tough, keep swinging.
“I don’t worry about anything, because worry never solved anything,” he said.