World War II veteran turns 100 in McCandless, says moderation is key to longevity

World War II veteran Raymond W. Bukauskas of McCandless celebrated his 100th birthday on April 14.

To mark the milestone, his family surprised him with a party the day before.

“I think he was surprised,” said his daughter, Clare Kalmbach of West View. Kalmbach’s daughter, Alli, stealthily set up a tent and decorations in the backyard of his home while he was inside.

“He was in the house and he didn’t even know it was happening. I think he was really surpnajrised and overwhelmed with the generosity,” Kalmbach said.

Bukauskas was born in 1925 in Homestead before moving to West View in 1933. He graduated from West View High School in 1942 and joined the Air Corps a year later when he was 18, according to Kalmbach.

“He flew 30 missions over Japan as a radar navigator (with the) 498th Bombardment, 73rd Wing, 20th AirForce — received the Distinguished Flying Cross,” she said.

When he returned from World War II in November 1945, Bukauskas enrolled at Carnegie Tech that January. After getting a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1949, he got a job at Richardson Gordon Associates in Pittsburgh. He worked there until his retirement in 1987.

Bukauskas built his home in McCandless in 1957 and has lived there ever since. He and his wife, Jeanne, raised four children in the home.

Three children came in from out of state for the event.

One important person was missing, however. Bukauskas’ wife passed away in February 2024 at the age of 101.

While raising their family, Jeanne Bukauskas worked as a substitute teacher in the North Allegheny School District.

“He wished my mother were there. They were together 68 years,” Kalmbach said.

The centenarian’s tips for living is to do everything in moderation.

Bukauskas took care of his wife while she was sick for seven years, Kalmbach said. But he said Jeanne was part of the reason for his longevity.

“My wife kept me alive with good nutritious meals, and she was forever the optimist to my pessimism,” Bukauskas said.

Bukauskas has three grandchildren, two of whom were unable to attend the party. But his four great-grandchildren were on hand to celebrate the big day.

“It was nice. Everyone is walking by and waving. I think he had fun with that,” Kalmbach said.

She said her father was a runner for a time and played clarinet in high school and later as well.

“He’s a character. Because every day he thinks is his last day. But the next day it’s great again,” Kalmbach said.