‘He needs everybody’s prayers’: Oldest living veteran Richard Overton, 112, is suffering from pneumonia in hospital
- Richard Overton, 112, celebrated his birthday this past May
- The Austin, Texas native has been in hospital for nearly a week due to pneumonia
- His cousin, Volma Overton Jr, said there’s a good chance he’ll return home Wednesday
- Richard Overton is the oldest living veteran in the United States
- Earlier this year, he was the victim of an identity theft
The oldest living veteran in the United States has been admitted to the hospital because of a bout with pneumonia, his family said.
Richard Overton, who celebrated his 112th birthday in May, has been in the hospital since last Wednesday, his cousin, Volma Overton Jr, told KXAN-TV.
Doctors say that Richard has been feeling better of late and could be released from St. David’s Medical Center in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
‘He needs everybody’s prayers,’ Volma Overton Jr. said.
The last time Richard was in the hospital was in August. Volma Overton Jr said that prayers for him worked in getting him healthy again.
Richard Overton, who celebrated his 112th birthday in May, has been in the hospital since last Wednesday, his cousin, Volma Overton Jr
During World War II, Overton served in the all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, helping build airfields in the Pacific theater
Overton was born on May 11, 1906 in Texas, where his grandfather moved after being freed from slavery in Tennessee.
He was married twice but didn’t have any kids. He divorced his first wife in the 1920s and his second wife died in the 1980s.
During World War II, Overton served in the all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, helping build airfields in the Pacific theater.
For decades, Overton worked as a courier for a furniture store, retiring at the age of 85.
Overton is seen bottom right during a 2013 meeting at the White House with then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
For decades, Overton worked as a courier for a furniture store, retiring at the age of 85
These days he holds court at his Austin home where he receives a constant stream of visitors, many of them strangers who have read about him in news stories.
Unfortunately, his family has been struggling to foot the bills to keep him in the home, since he now requires round-the-clock care.
His cousin Volma Overton, who oversees his care, says his veteran’s benefits would cover the costs to move him to an assisted living facility, but says such a loss of independence would ‘kill him’.
The family started a Go Fund Me to help raise money for his care, and it has raised more than $452,000 so far.
Last July, Overton was the victim of an identity theft at the hands of unknown fraudsters who drained his bank account.
The 112-year-old’s Social Security and banking account numbers had been used to make seven withdrawals over several months.
The family declined to say how much was stolen but said it was a ‘significant amount of money,’ which had been used to purchase savings bonds.
Bank of America stepped in and restore his lost funds.