Richard Overton | |
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Birth: | 11 May 1906 Bastrop, Texas, USA |
Death: | 27 December 2018 Austin, Texas, USA |
Age: | 112 years, 230 days |
Country: | ![]() |
Validated |
Richard Arvin Overton (11 May 1906 – 27 December 2018) was an American supercentenarian whose age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group. At the time of his death, he was the oldest known living man in the United States and the oldest American World War II veteran. He is the oldest validated man ever from the U.S. state of Texas.
Biography
Early Life
Richard Arvin Overton was born on 11 May 1906 in Bastrop, Texas, USA as the son of Jim Gentry and Elizabeth Franklin Overton. He married twice but never had any children. He enlisted in the military on 3 September 1942 and served in the South Pacific until 1945, having advanced to the rank of Sergeant. After leaving the military, Overton worked at furniture stores in the Austin, TX area before working for the Texas Department of the Treasury in Austin.
Later Life
Overton, who lived in Austin, Texas, received nationwide attention following the 2013 Memorial Day weekend. In May 2017, just over a week after his 111th birthday, he was hospitalised with pneumonia. In June 2018, Overton's family discovered he had been the victim of identity theft, after thieves had used his bank account to purchase savings bonds with Treasury Direct.
Overton died in Austin, Texas, USA, on 27 December 2018 at the age of 112 years, 230 days. He had been hospitalised with pneumonia earlier that month.
Longevity
Overton became the oldest known veteran in the United States following the death of Frank Levingston on 3 May 2016, and the oldest living person in Texas following the death of Ellen Boenig on 16 April 2017. He became the oldest known living man in the United States following the death of Clarence Matthews on 22 July 2017. Following his death, 111 year-old Henry Tseng became the oldest man in the United States.
Gallery
References
- America's oldest veteran to spend quiet Memorial Day at Texas home Fox News, 26 May 2013
- America’s oldest vet is turning 109. He celebrated with cigars and burgers. Washington Post, 4 May 2015
- Austin native, America's oldest veteran turning 110 Kxan.com, 6 May 2016
- UPDATE: Richard Overton, oldest vet and Austin resident, diagnosed with pneumonia, family says Statesman, 19 May 2017
- Thieves drain Richard Overton's personal bank account KXAN, 29 June 2018
- Richard Overton in need of rehab after battling pneumonia KXAN, 22 December 2018 (23 Dec 2018)
- Nation's oldest living veteran Richard Overton dies in Austin at age 112 Fox 7, 27 December 2018
United States' Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
Charlie Nelson • Charlie Phillips • Mathew Beard • Joe Thomas • Alphaeus Philemon Cole • Alton Gilbert • Oscar Dubois • James Wiggins • Frederick Frazier • Christian Mortensen • Johnson Parks • Walter Richardson • John Painter • John McMorran • Fred Hale • Earl Brush • Moses Hardy • Thomas Nelson • Antonio Pierro • George Francis • Walter Breuning • Shelby Harris • Salustiano Sanchez • Alexander Imich • Conrad Johnson • Wash Wesley • Felix Simoneaux • Frank Levingston • Clarence Matthews • Richard Overton • Henry Tseng • CP Crawford • Irving Piken • Lawrence Brooks • Ezra Hill |