Lifelong Coeur d'Alene resident, former banker, generous philanthropist and North Idaho College booster, Ace Walden celebrates his 102nd birthday today on May 17. I visited with Ace this week and was reminded of what a great outlook on life and the world he has. A conversation with this centenarian is guaranteed to include laughter and no small amount of irreverence. Last year Ace flew to Seattle for a concert to mark his 101st but this year he plans to stay closer to home. His body might be feeling the effects of 102 birthdays but his mind is as sharp as ever. Although he's outlived his peers by a decade or two, Ace's circle of friends is impressive. He isn't just living, he continues to embrace life with a curiosity for what's around the next corner ... a lesson for his friends of all ages.
*the photo is from 2007, the occasion of Ace's 100th birthday and the announcement of him being named Grand Marshal of Coeur d'Alene's 4th of July parade. Driving Ace in that parade was one of the high points of a lifetime of loving parades for me. My co-pilot, Ruth Pratt is also pictured.
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