Bob Hively, 72, of South Williamsport, is accustomed to waking up early and putting in a day's hard work.
A 1956 graduate of Montgomery Area High School, he started working on his family farm as a young boy.
He said he remembers milking the cows and doing other farm chores before walking a mile and a half to the bus stop every morning for school.
To this day, Hively still awakes at 5 a.m. and holds a part-time job at Lowe's in the Lawn and Garden Center. He has been employed there for more than 10 years and his duties include stocking the shelves and assisting customers.
He said growing up, his parents instilled two very important values in him - to be a hard worker and have faith in the Lord. Throughout his life, Hively embraced both.
The active senior said he absolutely loves his job and that Lowe's, by far, has been his favorite employer.
"They take care of me and I take care of them," he said.
He said while his wife was ill and needed care, Lowe's was more than accommodating.
"It's like a family here," he said. "I truly love my job."
Once Hively arrives at work, don't expect him to be standing around. You will likely find him helping a customer. He said the interaction with the people at Lowe's is his favorite part of his job.
"People always tell me to take break," he said. "My motto always has been the customer comes first."
Hively's department manager, Chrissie VanPelt said he goes out of his way to greet the customers and make sure they have everything they need.
"You know the job will get done," she said. "He's outstanding and fun to work with."
If Hively isn't at work, he spends a lot of his free time volunteering, doing church work and taking care of others. He is the building coordinator for both New Covenant United Church of Christ and The Journey House, where he is responsible for a variety of duties, including maintenence of the heating and air-conditioning systems, changing locks and cooking.
Hively also is one of only two food handlers certified by the state Department of Agriculture. He said he will take another course next month for recertification.
"The church carries restaurant status so one of us has to be there," he said.
According to Hively, the work he does at church and the Journey House is perhaps the most satisfying.
The Journey House, which is a culmination of hard work by New Covenant United Church of Christ and 13 different organizations throughout the community, helps to curb family homelessness. Hively said a touching moment comes when the foundation holds its graduating ceremony.
"There's not a dry eye in the place," he said. "It's very emotional."
Hively also belongs to two Granges. He is a member of The Bottle Run 1301 and is an affiliate member of Eagle Grange No. 1 in Montgomery, which he joined as a 5-year-old boy. He attends monthly meetings of each.
There was a point in Hively's life in which he had to slow down and lighten his church duties in order to care for his wife, Jean, who became ill. After sharing 54 years together, he said goodbye in January of this year.
"I wanted to keep my wife close and care for her on my own," he said.
The first thing shown to a Sun-Gazette reporter was the couple's 50th wedding anniversary picture.
During their marriage, the couple celebrated a daughter, Barbara Huggins, of DuBoistown; two grandchildren, Kara Drunkenmiller of Pine Grove and Kyle Huggins of Bethlehem, and one great-grandson, Landon Drunkenmiller.
Hively said he is so busy his daughter likes to say to him, "thank God you have a cell phone so I can track you down."
All joking aside, the active senior said he doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon.
"My doctor tells me to keep going if I'm able to," he said. "So, that's what I plan to do!"
Hively said people often ask him how he keeps such a hectic schedule. His response is you have to love what you do.
"It's where I feel most comfortable, helping others," he said.
