Celebrating Vitality, Health & Lifelong Achievement
In 2025, America reaches a remarkable milestone: more people will celebrate their 65th birthday this year than ever before. This is largely driven by the Baby Boomer generation, those born between 1946 and 1964. Familiar names include Cal Ripken, Hugh Grant, Rick Savage of Def Leppard, and Jennifer Grey — “Baby” from the iconic film, “Dirty Dancing.”
To say “today’s 65 isn’t what it used to be” is an understatement. Today’s seniors are healthier, more active and living longer than any generation before. They’re running marathons, still active in their careers or launching second ones, exploring new hobbies and traveling the world. Far from slowing down, they’re stepping into a chapter filled with vitality, purpose and possibilities.
This holds true for folks right here in our community.
David Cook, 78, ran the 500 Festival Mini Marathon for the 38th time this year. A 1965 Greenwood High School graduate, Cook started running in 1982 “just to stay in shape,” and is still running every day.
“Staying active, socializing and making new friends is vital to good health and longevity,” Cook says.
He practices what he preaches by traveling the world with a couple of groups of long-time friends, playing trumpet in the Greater Greenwood Community Band, attending his grandchildren’s activities and maintaining monthly lunches with colleagues from the 1970s.
As if all that is not enough, Cook and his fiancé, Miss Peggy, will make it official in just a few weeks.
Cindy Crafton, featured in the April 2025 issue, celebrated two milestones this year – her 70th birthday and a 50-year career of being a flight attendant. Her career continues to carry her to dozens of countries across the globe, criss-crossing time zones and wildly varying climates as well as passengers, but she remains as enthusiastic today as she was as a 20-year-old in 1975.
“There is so much more I want to do and I’m not slowing down,” Crafton says.
The Indiana State Games at the 2025 National Senior Games had several participants from Johnson County – Ruth Everson (86) and Janet (61) and Leja Simpson from Greenwood, Joe Shumaker (74) from Franklin, and Thomas Marcotte (77) from Nineveh.
Competing against women in her division of 85-89, Everson won Gold in the 5K Run, 10K Run and 5K Power Walk. Janet Simpson placed 7th in Women’s 60-64 in a very competitive Bowling Singles competition. The Indiana State Games is open to any 50-plus Indiana resident. Visit Indianastategames.org for more information.
These folks prove that you’re not just getting older, you’re getting bolder. And the right choices in Medicare will help support that.
Whether you’re newly retired, planning to work a few more years or somewhere in between, understanding your Medicare options is essential to protecting your health—and your wallet.
But with multiple parts, enrollment deadlines and supplemental plans to consider, Medicare can feel overwhelming at first glance. While the system is designed to support you, the options — Parts A, B, C, D, Medigap plans, Advantage plans — can be confusing at first glance.
For help, we’ve turned to the local experts, Easy Street Insurance, to demystify Medicare and empower you to make smart, confident choices. From understanding the basics to avoiding enrollment missteps, they’ll help you navigate the process with clarity and ease, just as they have for hundreds of your friends and family members over the past years.
Senior Success
John Pemberton, a pharmacist, invented Coca Cola at age 65. His creation became one of the most successful and popular products worldwide.
Colonel Harland Sanders faced many failures before success. In his 60s, he perfected a fried chicken recipe now known to the world as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her first book at 65, based on her childhood. Her Little House books became classics, earning her significant wealth and popularity late in life.
Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first Black president at age 76 after 27 years in prison. His leadership changed a nation and influenced the world.
