When Jack Lindsley of Lambertville roams the halls of Doylestown Hospital delivering mail, most people have no idea that he's 98 years old, or that he's volunteered almost 9,000 hours here since 1991.
"I love it because I'm with people all the time and I feel like I'm helping," Linsdley says.
"He has a lot of energy and he's always friendly when he comes in," Colleen Onisick, a hospital employee, told Action News. "He likes to volunteer here and he has a real good time here."
"I hope I'm able to do it when I'm 98. I hope I make it to 98!" added hospital employee Dennis Rudloff.
But the place where Jack Lindsley has really racked up volunteer time is with the Columbia Fire Department in Lambertville, where he's been an active member for 75 years!
"I wanted to be a fireman when I was a little boy," Linsley says, " I joined as soon as I could."
Jack joined Columbia in 1934, back when gas was 10¢ a gallon and a new home cost $6,000.
A World War II Army veteran, he drove an amphibious vehicle onto Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion and later rose through the ranks at the firehouse to become chief and the fire marshal in Hunterdon County.
"Well the only thing I can do now is when the whistle blows is make coffee and sandwiches," says Lindsley.
"He's just an inspiration to the company," says former chief Ron Tillett Sr. He adds that Jack's colleagues love him.
"The history that he has, the knowledge he presents to this company is just unbelievable," says Capt. Cindy Strauss of the Columbia Fire Company. "I tear up whenever I think about it because he is like a great grandfather to me."
Jack says the secret to a long life is staying active.
"You have to keep doing something all the time. When I was able to work I used to work 3 jobs sometimes.
At 98 Jack Lindsley may not ride the truck to fight fires anymore, but says his heart still skips a beat when the siren sounds. And this life-long community volunteer says he'll keep doing what he can to help others as long as he is able.
