Edwin Deppner Davenport, Wash.

Edwin Deppner is 102 years old today.

He was born Sept. 21, 1895, in Volynia, Russia, and emigrated with his family when he was 8 years old. His father homesteaded in Rocklyn, Wash., near Davenport.

As a young man, Mr. Deppner worked for area farmers and in local warehouses. After serving in World War I, he returned to the farm, where he still lives.

Before finally retiring eight years ago, he was also a school bus driver and a substitute mail carrier.

He married his wife, Emily, in 1923. She died in 1978.

They had four children: Sugar Kirk, Edwina Mielke and Art Deppner, all of Davenport, and the late Don Deppner, who lived in Entiat, Wash.

He has 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Deppner attributes his long life to “living a clean life, being a hard worker and a devoted Bible reader.”