Friends and family gathered on Friday night at Liberty Home Baptist Church to celebrate Ovie Wambles 90th birthday.

“It’s truly a blessing,” Wambles said of turning 90. “I’ve enjoyed each and every one of my years.”

Wambles was born in Coffee County, and moved to the Stanley community in 1936.

Shortly after turning 18, Wambles entered the military near the end of World War II.

“I turned 18 on the 10th of February and by the third day in May I was initiated into the military,” Wambles said. “That’s how fast they got me in there. I was just 18 at the time and after going to through basic training I was sent to Germany. I had to grow up in a hurry. That was probably the most fear that I have ever faced.”

Wambles then went on to work for Civil Services at Ft. Rucker, where he retired after more than 27 years.

That is part what Wambles said is one of life’s biggest lessons.

“The most important thing I think that I learned in my life was that it don’t hurt to work,” Wambles said. “What I mean is, working isn’t going to hurt you.”

The birthday celebration was a surprise to Wambles, who thought he was going out to eat with a few friends.

“My neighbor called today and asked me to go eat with him and two of our other friends tonight,” Wambles said. “When we left the house we stopped by the church and he said, ‘There sure are a lot of cars here. I wonder what’s going on,’ I told him I would wait in the truck and he told me to come on in and see if they needed any help. When I opened the door and everyone was here singing happy birthday to me, it was just overwhelming to know I have this many friends. If I’ve got an enemy, I don’t know it.”

Wambles’ daughters-in-law, Sue and Barbara Wambles, along with many other friends hosted the party. Sue is married to Ovie Jr., and Barbara is married to Charles.