Loving life and staying busy keep Carp's Robert W. Moore young

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Theresa Fritz

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EMC Lifestyle - If you want to catch up with Robert Moore, you better be prepared to move.

The lifelong Carp resident drives himself to bridge games in the area five days a week, takes his fellow residents at The West Carleton retirement residence shopping, loves to cook himself a good meal and watch his favourite soap opera - The Young and The Restless. And then there is the pure joy of enjoying time with his family and the simple pleasure of gardening at the family cottage.

While this hectic schedule might seem daunting to many, consider the fact that Moore has got a few years under his belt. In fact, this incredible senior citizen will be turning 95 Feb. 28.

"I'm lucky," he says, when asked what the secret to his longevity is. "I am enjoying life and living it to the fullest."

Robert W. Moore was born in Carp in 1917, the son of George W. Moore and Louise (nee Tripp). He was one of nine children born to the couple. His father was an educator, trapper, fisherman and businessman in the community. George W. Moore was the first principal of three-room Carp school that opened in 1905.

"I have lived in Carp all my life. I was born here," Robert Moore says.

And he has contributed to the community in so many ways. In 1941, he took over ownership of the general store in the village which became the IGA and had that store until the 1970s.

"When they (military) turned me down for the Forces, then the business came up," he recalls. "I opened up the IGA that is now Faith's Foodliner...I loved talking to the people."

And evidently, people loved talking to him. It's been said that individuals would come into the store even if they didn't need to buy anything. They came in to say him to Moore.

Moore's son Bill recalls how there was a tunnel that linked the family home next door to the grocery story. This made it easy for the elder Moore to get to work.

"He was always in there working. He really loved making the produce look nice," Bill Moore states.

Along with being a mainstay of Carp's business community for many years, Robert Moore was also very active in the village in other ways. He is a 60-year past president of the local Masonic Lodge and is a past president of the Carp Agricultural Society, having been Agriculture president in 1962.

He also loved to sing although he says he can't do much of it these days.

"My voice is gone," he says, adding he enjoyed the singing for a long time. "And my hearing isn't that good."

LOVING LIFE

As someone who quickly admits that "everything I tackle, I love," one senses a real zest for not only life but for living one's life.

And the love of his life was his wife Gwen, to whom he was married to for 49 years until her death in 1993. The couple had two daughters and two sons.

"I have seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren," Moore says proudly.

While playing bridge in Kanata and Stittsville, as well as euchre in Kinburn are his winter passions, his summer love is gardening. And he indulges in his earthly passion at the family cottage on Big Rideau Lake.

"That's where we do our gardening," Bill Moore notes. "He's (his father) the boss."

But for all the hats Moore has worn over his lifetime, the one of 'survivor' is particularly poignant.

Two years ago, while at one of his beloved bridge games in Kanata, Moore fell head first into a steel bench at the Mlacak Centre.

"I broke my teeth, my nose," recalls Moore. "I was in intensive care for 10 days."

His son adds he was in hospital for five weeks and there were several trips in an out of intensive care during that time.

"We didn't think he's make it," Bill Moore says. "But, he's a survivor."

He is only one of many people in awe of his father's energy level.

"He's got this get up and go about him. He never stops," Bill Moore notes, adding sometimes it is to the dismay of family members.

Take for instance this past Christmas day. The elder Moore took it upon himself to try and visit as many of his children in the area as possible. It didn't matter to him the weather was not great and road conditions less than ideal.

"That was a long day. I was sick as was everyone (with worry)," Bill Moore says. "He didn't get to Perth until 4 p.m. That was a long day."

Ask Robert Moore what the secret is to a long life, and he smiles, offering that "going to bed early and getting up early" keeps him spry.

Moore's family is planning a birthday celebration for him March 4 at the Carp Agricultural Hall. While he acknowledges many of his friends are "gone," he seems ready to make new ones any change he gets.

"I like to make people laugh. We don't get enough laughs," he says with a smile.

Maybe, in the end, that smile is Robert W. Moore's secret fountain of youth.

theresa.fritz@metroland.com




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