(Photo: Adam Ophus)

By Adam Ophus and Troy Gillard

A century well-lived

Rocky Mountain House celebrates WWII Veteran’s 100th birthday

Jun 23, 2020 | 2:21 PM

It was a milestone most worthy of special recognition.

Members of the Rocky Mountain House community, including Legion members, RCMP and Town officials, came together last Thursday to honour Lee Painter on his 100^th birthday.

A special parade was held for Painter, who watched on excitedly from outside his residence at the Westview Lodge seniors’ facility.

Painter enlisted in the Calgary Highlanders in April 1940 and spent time serving in Canada, England and other parts of Europe during the Second World War.

He joined the Royal Canadian Legion in Rocky Mountain House in 1947 and was granted a lifetime membership in 1982.

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“I might,” Painter joked when asked if looking back he’d still have joined the army. “It wasn’t all patriotism when I joined up. It was a time in the 30s when there was no work, no nothing. There was three of us… we were sitting there talking when someone says ‘let’s join up.’ So we hopped on the train and joined up.”

Painter is the last surviving Veteran living in Rocky Mountain House who saw active service during WWII.