A 99-year-old New York man walks six miles a day to visit his beloved wife of 55 years in the hospital.
Luther Younger lives in the city of Rochester, and as a former Marine who fought in the Korean War, he’s known for being strong and independent. He even runs part of the three miles each way from his home to Strong Memorial Hospital, according to CBS.
Younger’s wife Waverlee is paralyzed and has suffered from brain cancer since 2009.
A Great Marriage
Luther Younger loves to talk about his marriage and praises his wife.“She’s the best cup of tea I ever had. She would come in and kiss me and say baby and feed me in the bed and this is what I need right here,” he said.
“She is a beautiful lady and she treats me as a person is supposed to be ... she made a man out of me,” he said. “That’s why I love her, because she’s tough. She’s not weak ... That’s the kind of woman I want.”
Younger and Waverlee met in a laundromat and got married at their house; they had Lutheta together, and Younger’s wife also helped him raise children from a previous relationship of his. He credited her with making it as long as he has.
“She wasn’t easy. She was the type of person, if you didn’t work, you got to go. And I had to work,” he said. “That’s why I’m sticking with her, because if it hadn’t been for my wife, I wouldn’t have made it.”
He Wants to Walk
People often recognize him while driving by and will sometimes offer him a ride but he always declines, according to the broadcaster.“People tell me to act my age—yeah, right. They’re jealous because I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, because it’s no good. I wouldn’t be here [if I did],” he said.
Lutheta said she tries to arrange rides for her father but he is often on his own schedule.
“My dad says it keeps him alive, it keeps him going,” she said.