World War II veteran celebrates 105th birthday

Batesville, Arkansas – A Batesville native and World War II veteran, Lloyd Gathright is celebrating his 105th birthday Tuesday.

He began his career in the military when he signed up for the U.S. Army through the Arkansas National Guard.

Gathright trained at Camp Robinson and then was deployed.

During his time of active service, he has been deployed all over the country, but when he wasn’t on the frontline doing his duty as Sargent, he enjoyed playing in the U.S. Army band.

Gathright also kept up with Batesville, and Arkansas history while he was away. He retired in 1965, after twenty-two years in service.

He just stopped driving in 2021 and drove a motorcycle until he was 93 years old.

Gathright currently spends his days with his nose in a good book, preferably something about local or state history, or a John Grisham novel.

For a man of 105, he is very healthy and has only a few issues with his hearing, and balance.

According to his niece, Paula Stewart, he can read a book faster than she can and says he’s still sharp as a tack.

When asking him the secret to life, he says there isn’t one, just “get along with people, and yourself”.