CRANBERRY TWP — The secret to longevity is surrounding yourself with good people, according to centenarian William “Bill” Proffitt of Zelienople.

“The three people that contributed to that are my mother, my father and my wife,” Proffitt said. “Because they were what they were.”

Proffitt turned 100 March 27. To celebrate, the staff at the VA Butler Healthcare Outpatient Clinic in Cranberry Township threw an early party for Proffitt at the clinic March 24.

Along with cake and ice cream, Proffitt received two challenge coins: one from his health care provider Lauren Stancik and one from Brig. Gen. Roy Uptegraff.

Challenge coins are given in the military to somebody that does something above and beyond the call of duty, said Dwight Boddorf, outreach coordinator with VA Butler Healthcare. They're also given to mark momentous occasions.

Rex Brown, post quartermaster of the Cranberry VFD; David Cord, VA Butler Healthcare director; and Dr. Rhonda Mough, VA Butler Healthcare chief of staff, were also in attendance.

Off to war and back again

Proffitt was born March 27, 1917, in Beaver, Beaver County, to Howard and Myrtle Proffitt.

He graduated from Beaver High School in 1935 and went to work at J&L Steel in Aliquippa in 1936.

He worked there as a maintenance welder until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941, six months before the United States entered World War II.

Proffitt was a welder in the Army, too, he said, spending two years stateside before being sent to England.

He was attached to the 8th Army Air Force and spent two and a half years in Northampton, welding vehicles that needed repairs and fabricating parts for aircraft.

“The early parts the Germans were still coming over with bombs, but other than that it was like working in the mill,” Proffitt said of his time overseas.

He was discharged in December 1945.

When he returned home to Beaver, Proffitt said he went straight back to work at J&L Steel, where he was a welder for 45 years before retiring. Proffitt said he didn't have too many hobbies, but he did work “a lot of overtime.”

He and his wife, Charlotte, were married in 1951. She died in 2004.

All in the family

Gary Miller, Proffitt's nephew, and his wife, Kathy Miller, of Brighton Township were on hand to celebrate the occasion with him. Gary Miller said he's close to his uncle and helps him run errands and keep his affairs in order.

He remembers his uncle working a lot growing up, Miller said, but he was always very generous.

“I remember one Christmas as a kid, everyone in the family got $1,000,” Miller said. “That was when people were making $5 an hour, so that was huge.”

Proffitt was also a devoted and caring husband, Miller said. When his wife became ill with Alzheimer's, Proffitt took care of her.

Surrounded by good people

Proffitt moved in 2000 to Passavant Community in Zelienople, where he stayed in an independent living cottage for 15 years. He moved to one of its assisted living apartments in the last year.

Proffitt was surprised by the party thrown for him at the clinic, but visibly moved by the gesture.

“It's wonderful,” Proffitt said. “I never thought so many people would be so nice to me.”