Cabot man forms bond with Jeep
After serving more than two years in the U.S. Navy, Butch Walmsley, 69, of Cabot decided to move with his wife and his first son to the countryside, but he needed a dependable vehicle to suit their lifestyle.
He said picking a Jeep was an easy choice, and his time in the military might have influenced the decision.
“I always liked Jeeps,” Walmsley said. “We moved out here to the country, and I said, 'We better get a 4-wheel drive (vehicle.)'”
Walmsley said the first Jeep made it a long time before quitting, then in 2006, he decided to upgrade. He bought a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport.
As of May 31, that Jeep with its original green paint clocked in at 277,526 miles, accrued more than 10 years of driving, and is still taking him everywhere he needs to go.
“Most times, I go down to the Legion, right down the road there, to do my duties,” he said.
Walmsley said he uses the Jeep every day. He has remained active with American Legion Post 683 of Cabot.
He joined the military at age 17 just after finishing high school. He followed the same path that his father and his father's six brothers chose in serving their country.
Walmsley enjoyed his time in the military, but the ships he served on never saw much action.
He said the most action he saw was when he was at the port waiting for his ship to dock. He said he and his comrades watched as the ship came and went — it crashed into shore.
Despite his declining health, Walmsley helps with various jobs at the St. Luke's Lutheran churches in Cabot and Saxonburg.
“The big man upstairs is keeping me around for some reason,” he said.
Walmsley said he treats his Jeep a little more tenderly now. He said it still runs well, despite multiple repairs, but he wants to prevent from having to fix it again.
“Driving is a little shakey because she's so old,” he said.
Walmsley said maintenance is key.He has checked the fluids frequently, replaced the tires when they need it and washed and waxed it regularly. He said he has driven the Jeep for so long that he can feel when it has a problem.“I can hear when things are going wrong,” he said.Walmsley said his goal is to pass inspection each year so he can drive it down to the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.He said he doesn't enter the competitions because his Jeep couldn't handle the strain.“I wasn't gonna beat this old girl up,” he said. “I only say she because when you're in the Navy, everything is a she.”He does like to participate in the parts of the festival where he can show off his Jeep, typically with a Navy sign on the rear window. He drove the vehicle in last year's parade.“I did it last year,” Walmsley said. “She made it through, but she blew a couple fittings.”Walmsley said he plans to bring his Jeep again this year.Walmsley said his Jeep has a story. It's been there for family trips. It's been there when he used to enjoy going deep into the countryside to hunt and fish.“I had a deer or two in the back at one time,” he said.And it was there when he suffered two strokes and underwent triple bypass surgery, taking away the two hobbies he enjoyed.But he said the Jeep hasn't quit on him, and he doesn't plan on quitting on it until there's no other possible way to keep it going.“I like her looks, and she's still running,” Walmsley said. “(I won't get rid of her) until she really breaks down or blows up.”“I'll just keep getting her patched up,” he said. “See you at the parade.”
