Bill Wharton, a resident of The Village at St. Barnabas, enjoys a free fall from 14,000 feet while skydiving July 7 in Minnesota to celebrate his 90th birthday. “It was thrilling and an experience I'll never forget,” he said. His daughter-in-law and two grandchildren also jumped.

GIBSONIA, Allegheny County — Bill Wharton last week celebrated his 90th birthday a bit differently than many others. He tandem jumped out of a plane flying at 14,000 feet.

Wharton, who lives at St. Barnabas, went skydiving with his daughter-in-law Kathy and two of his grandchildren, who all also jumped, in Minnesota, where his son lives. His son Bob watched from the plane.

“It's been on my bucket list for a long time. I figured 90 years was about the time I was going to do it if I was going to do it at all,” Wharton said.

The retired Erie-area emergency physician turned 90 on June 24.

“It was a free fall for about a minute, and we went from 14,000 feet to 6,000 feet,” he said of his July 7 adventure.

“There was no apprehension at all. It was thrilling and an experience I'll never forget. Some of my friends are telling me I'm crazy. I told them that senility takes on different forms.”

His daughter, Kathy Patrignani of Gibsonia, and his granddaughters, Camille and Victoria, met him when he landed.

“It was a family affair,” Wharton says.

It's something he'd like to do again — if he's able.

“I would do it mentally, but physically, I don't know if I could do it at 91,” Wharton said. “It was a little demanding, but I would do it again.”

Bill Wharton