Ninety years old and still giving: A Red Cross volunteer’s inspiring story and how he continues to make an impact

By, Acacia Cameron RN

Link to article HERE

At 90 years old, William Bill Strader has more stamina and charisma than the average young adult. For the past few years, William has been volunteering with the American Red Cross at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina. He is an SAF volunteer, which stands for Service to the Armed Forces, and he is passionate about helping people. A veteran himself, William served for 20 years in the military medical field doing various jobs. He worked in aviation physiology and spent time at the Aerospace Medical Institute. William also worked in the operating room tissue and bone bank and even delivered babies. He almost retired after his 20-year career, then got an offer from Baton Rouge Memorial Hospital and heeded the call to work in civilian medical care.

“My feeling right now is that… I will probably be around here for a while longer.” William’s grandfather died at 99 years old. William boasts that his grandfather, a farmer his whole life, didn’t use traditional farming equipment but instead relied on horses. His grandfather passed away from a heart attack while working out in the fields. William shares his grandfather’s vigor for life and states that it’s his social interaction and mingling with people that help keep him going. He states that volunteering gives him a sense of purpose, and jokes, “It keeps me out of trouble. Most of the time.” 

On being a volunteer with the American Red Cross and wanting to encourage others to do so, William says simply, “From day one, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.” At the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, William volunteers in the waiting room of the pharmacy. He assists people in using the kiosk to check in and has garnered many repeat customers-turned-friends as he shares stories and gets to know them on a deeper level. He continues to form meaningful connections with people who visit the pharmacy. William has an interesting and rather satisfying perspective on his life of 90 years. “I have helped a lot of people…I’ve done a lot of stuff (in both) military and civilian life.” He adds, “I feel good about everything I have done in my lifetime.” 

The Service to Armed Forces division of the American Red Cross helps military families communicate with their loved ones during times of deployment. There are numerous resources available to members of the military, veterans, and their family members and caregivers as they prepare to manage and respond to the challenges of service. Each year, the American Red Cross assists more than 240,000 active military and veteran families with existing volunteer services. The Hero Care Network connects service members, veterans, and their families to free and confidential assistance any time, 24 hours a day. This includes emergency communication messages, financial assistance, critical community services and more. To access services through the Hero Care Network visit redcross.org/saf, and download the free Hero Care app.