World War II veteran reflects on century of life
Milltown – It has been over 36,525 days – Sept. 8, 1925, to be exact – since Doyle Ruben Brock entered the world.
Born to Rueben and Maggie Jenkins Brock on Hazel Creek, he was the youngest of three children. His family moved from Proctor in 1928, when his father took a job with Bemis Lumber Company.
Brock was the grandson of Dr. George F. Brock (1848-1933), who was born in Buncombe County and moved to Graham County in 1887. He and his wife Alice settled in the Sawyers Creek community, where he practiced medicine. He rode a white horse around the area, practicing medicine and serving the needs of the community while his wife took care of the store they shared.
Dr. Brock also served as a county commissioner in 1924 and represented Graham County in Raleigh in 1929.
Doyle has memories of attending school in 1931 in the old two-story rock building. Marion Morphew was his teacher. He can remember his mother would always crochet doilies for him to take to his teachers. Morphew married Ed Ingram, Sr., and spent many years teaching first grade. He played football and basketball in high school. His favorite subject in school was history and he still has a passion to study. He loves to spend time visiting with family and friends, and sharing his experiences and his thoughts about the world today.
A true patriot, Doyle volunteered for the Navy when he was 17 years old. He had just finished his 10th-grade year. He remembered seven men joining him on a trip to Asheville to sign up. He wasn’t at his high school graduation in 1943, but he took courses while he was in the Navy to complete his high school education and received a diploma from Raleigh.
He served in the Navy from 1943-46. He went to boot camp in Maryland, then traveled to Norfolk where he was a member of Gro Pack 11. He underwent advanced training, then shipped out of San Francisco to Iwo Jima. He was there for 13 months.
After he was discharged and returned home to Robbinsville, he was walking up Milltown Road when he "saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen" sitting on the front porch. She became the love of his life, and he married Helen Cole in October 1947.
Doyle attended Blanton’s Business College and returned to Graham County to work at Bemis Harwood as an accountant. He and Helen were blessed with three children: Tim, Kim and Karen. Tim and his wife Sally have two sons and two grandchildren; his daughter Kim and husband Rusty have two children and four grandchildren, while his daughter Karen has one child.
Helen passed away in 2016, after 69 years of marriage.
Doyle worked at Bemis for 43 years, retiring as the plant manager in 1990. After retirement, he worked for 17 years with Havo Wood Products. Following his last retirement, he had spent 60 years in the lumber business.
He “officially retired” at 90 years of age and drove a car until he was 99.
“The blessings have been many. Certainly, my family first,” Doyle shared.
He was raised in Robbinsville First Baptist Church, where he and Helen raised their family. He recalled his salvation experience, when he was saved in a revival at the Old New Hope Baptist Church where Ralph Holland was running the revival. He was 16 at the time.
Brock has seen many changes in his 100-year span of life.
He said that transportation is much different than in his youth. He remembers going to see the first plane in the county. It was a lot smaller and uncomplicated.
He also talked about the changes in communication that have taken place.
“When I was growing up, we had a battery radio," Doyle recalled. "Through the week, we couldn’t listen to it because they didn’t want us to run the battery down – but on the weekends, we listened to Grandpa Jones and the Grand Ole Opry."
He remembers hearing Dolly Parton sing as a young girl on a Knoxville radio station, as well.
For his 100th birthday celebration, his family took him to Pigeon Forge for the weekend, where he enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoys every second of life.
“I am most thankful today for a good mind, Helen, Tim, Kimberly, Karen and being allowed to be their parents," Doyle said.
His children are already planning his birthday party next year, where they hope to gather at the same place in Tennessee.
“If the Lord lets me live, I’ll keep that appointment," Doyle said.