Ginnie’s father is Paul Harvey, no fooling, the Rev (Ret) Paul Harvey, that is. He’s gotten a lot of mileage out of that name association. And he does have “the rest of the story.” Paul Harvey turned 99, June 15, 2026, which is amazing since he’s diabetic, had cancer twice (prostate and bone), had triple bypass surgery and has been over weight most of his life. He attributes his longevity to faith, excellent medical care and listening to his doctors. People don’t believe he’s approaching 100. They usually start guessing his age in the 70s. Paul shakes his head “no,” points his thumb up, and tells them he has kids who are in their 70s. The next guess is in 80s. Another thumbs up. It progresses to the low 90s. They are in shock when he reveals his true age. Paul’s hair isn’t even white!

Ginnie and I went to his birthday party in Ashland, MO, where he is in assisted living. He doesn’t even qualify for a nursing home yet because he can still perform all the activities of daily living. His six living children attended the birthday party, including various grandchildren.

Paul’s wife, Ruth, died in 2017, but Paul doesn’t let himself grow despondent or “blue” as he calls it, even though he lives alone in his assisted living apartment. With his undergraduate degree in English and Master’s of Divinity, he’s an avid reader, both spiritual and secular.

All six of his living children have college degrees. And on a pastor’s wages, that wasn’t easy. He wouldn’t let them accept government assistance either, because he believes in the separation of church and state.

Up until about a year ago, he taught Bible Study at his assisted living home. He loves to color pictures, using fine point colored pencils and, until his hearing grew so poor, even with hearing aids, he was playing the mountain dulcimer.

He used to be an avid model railroad buff, building his own elaborate sets and platforms. With an Exacto knife, balsa wood and airplane glue, he could build to scale depots, water stations, mountains with tunnels and whole villages.

And photography! Paul had his own darkroom, and turned out all kinds of professional quality black & white prints for church brochures, bulletins and his own art. His collection of 35 mm cameras rivaled his collection of trains.

As a member of the Southern Baptist Church Organization, Paul Harvey’s crowning achievement perhaps was becoming the Director of Baptist Men’s Work for the State of Missouri, which included the Royal Ambassadors boys’ group, and Disaster Relief. He would take a group of boys into the wilderness at Windermere, MO and teach them how to build a shelter, start a fire with no matches and cook over an open fire.

Ginnie and her siblings still talk about the time Paul wanted to take Ruth to the Glorieta Baptist Assembly in Glorieta, New Mexico. But on a pastor’s wages, there wasn’t enough money to go. Being ever resourceful and creative, Paul built a kind of covered wagon camper out of an old trailer. Off Ruth and Paul went to Glorieta, camping along the way, and having the time of their lives.

Paul Harvey has been the pastor of Baptist churches in Valley Station, KY; California, MO; Higginsville, MO; and Kansas City, MO. Ginnie and I were honored to be able to attend church with her dad in a little country church outside of Ashland, Missouri, close to his assisted living home.

And now for the rest of the story: Paul Harvey was born in St. Louis. He first attended church at the Fee Fee Baptist Church in St. Louis. This church is the oldest Protestant Church west of the Mississippi, and celebrated its 200th Anniversary in 2007. The church Paul now attends, the New Salem Baptist Church north of Ashland, MO is the second oldest Protestant Church west of the Mississippi, and will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2028. So the Rev (Ret) Paul Harvey started going to church in the oldest Protestant Church west of the Mississippi, and will finish in the second oldest. He feels good about that.

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Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.