At an early age, Toivo "Whitey" Puro learned the value of a good education.
The Richmond resident graduated from high school in 1929, college in 1933 and has continued taking classes throughout his life.
Now, at 98 years old, Puro is once again back in the classroom, enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University in a basic Microsoft Excel class.
"Education has always been important to me," Puro said. "I sometimes feel my memory is slipping and I forget names. I took this class to try to retain my memory."
EKU makes it easier for older students to enroll. The school offers the O'Donnell Scholarship, which allows students 65 and older to take Community Education classes for $5.
Puro, who has taken several classes at EKU, is the son of Finnish immigrants.
His parents emigrated to Michigan, moved to Wisconsin, then Minnesota and finally settled in Maryland.
Puro was the valedictorian of his high school class of 19 students.
"I was the only one that went to college," he said. "We were dirt poor. I couldn't have gone without a scholarship."
The full scholarship amounted to $500, Puro said.
Puro began his freshman year at Western Maryland College in the fall of 1929, just in time for the Great Depression.
He studied mathematics, graduating in 1933.
With few job prospects available, Puro took a job in a tomato canning factory for seven cents an hour.
From 1929 to 1939, Puro worked a variety of jobs, including personal chauffeur, before the threat of our country's involvement in World War II opened up job prospects for him in his field.
Puro took a position with the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co., working with airplanes in the engineering department.
With the new job came a huge pay increase to $85 per month.
Two years later, Puro moved to Elkton, Md., and found a job working at Triumph Explosives, Inc.
The plant built fire bombs for the war, including the M-50, which was dropped on Germany, and the M-69, which was dropped on Japan, Puro said. When the war ended, the plant closed. Puro landed at the Edgewood Arsenal in Edgewood, Md. Eventually, he headed the nerve gas department. He worked there for 32 years until he retired in 1977. Since retirement, Puro has lived in Indiana and Arkansas, before moving to Richmond 12 years ago. From his work, Puro has developed strong opinions about many of the weapons stored in places such at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond. "I'm a great supporter of the U.S. Army, but if I see something I don't like and know it's not right, I'll call the Army and talk to them about it," Puro said. "There are all these weapons that are supposed to be destroyed and they haven't done a thing to them. Nothing." In 2005, Puro published a novel, "Nerve Gas -- The Quiet Peacekeeper." The book details his life and his thoughts and opinions on things such as nerve gas. Puro also published a 27-page booklet entitled "One More Look." The booklet follows him, his wife and their friend Kevin on a trip in 2007 to visit national parks. He said the point of the booklet is to let people know that they can accomplish anything at any age. For now, Puro continues taking computer classes at EKU. "I started working in an engineering department and drafting room long before they have ever heard of computers," he said. "I got hooked on computers." He said he wrote several dozen copyrights, all of which are now obsolete. Cheryl Juhasz teaches the Microsoft Excel class and has had Puro in others classes. She said she first met him about 10 years ago when he contacted her about being in a computer assistant design class. "He told me he takes these classes to exercise his mind," she said. "He's my inspiration. I think he's quite an amazing guy." Puro stresses the importance of education for retirees. "Older people should take courses to educate their minds and keep sharp," he said. "EKU has very experienced teachers. We're lucky to have them here." // var ranNum = Math.round(Math.random()*1000000); document.write('http://content.yellowbrix.com/images/content/cimage.nsp?ctype=full_story&story_id=147836405&id=thirdage&ip_id=McClatchy-Tribune+Business+News&source_id=Richmond+Register&category=Computers&random=' + (ranNum));// ]]>//
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