Redding WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday!

REDDING, Calif. — Saturday brings triple-digits to Redding, but not in the form of temperatures. Instead, it's a big birthday!

Robert Mitchell, a World War II Navy veteran who lives at Shasta Estates, will turn 100 on Saturday. A native of Nebraska, Mitchell served on the U.S.S. Lawrence from 1943-1945 after graduating college in Iowa. After his service, he returned to school at Colorado State University and majored in engineering. It was there that he met his wife of 65 years. He went on to work as a real estate appraiser specializing in farms and ranches in Colorado for sixty years. He has now called Redding home for the past year and a half, and with such an incredible life journey, we had to ask for his advice.

“Do you have any advice for folks, with your experience and your life?” KRCR's Preston Donion asked Mitchell at the party on Friday.

“No, I can’t tell anybody else what to do,” Mitchell answered.

“What’s your secret to looking young and still being spry?” Donion asked Mitchell.

“Oh, I don’t know, just stayed alive!” Mitchell answered.

The party on Friday saw residents of the community gather to celebrate "Bob" ahead of his big day, complete with snacks, drinks and of course, cupcakes with "100" candles. He denied reports that he is a popular member of the community, but it was easy to see that the man celebrating his centennial was just being humble.