Thursday, May 2, 2024
Indian Harbor resident and veteran Charles “Pops” Hornberger officially turned 96 years old Jan. 2 — but his family and friends are determined to make this birthday extra special.
Kendra Hofeldt, one of Pops’ neighbors, made a post on social media and asked the Hood County community to send him birthday cards in the mail as a surprise gift.
“I was just sitting here yesterday and wanted to do something to make him smile,” Hofeldt told the HCN via Facebook Messenger Jan. 3. “I thought surprising him with as many birthday cards as possible would do the trick. I’m a little extra.”
The post blew up on the Hood County Breaking News! Facebook page, with 229 reactions, 140 comments and 15 shares, as many residents wished Pops a happy birthday and requested his address so they could mail him a card.
“A wonderful stranger messaged me and asked what Pops’ favorite snacks were. Then she brought him all the snacks over to the house. He was so pleased,” Hofeldt said. “We have a new friend now! What a blessing!”
Hornberger is a Navy veteran and served five years in the Korean War — a topic that he doesn’t like to discuss often, according to his stepdaughter Karen Russell.
“I like to watch war movies. But Pops doesn't like to talk too much about when he was in Korea,” she said. “He was only there five years, but it was during the bad part.”
Hornberger is originally from Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He moved to Granbury in 1990, with his late wife, Lorena, who passed away in 2019.
“Her (Lorena) and I both liked to fish,” Hornberger told the HCN. “When we lived in Greenville, we used to go down to the lake at least once a week. We enjoyed it. I like to catch fish and look at the lake out here. It's a good place to fish. I love it down here. It's a nice town.”
Hornberger also served as a pharmacist for a total of 63 years, with 17 of those at Granbury Drug.
“I'd be working somewhere, and I'd have a bad habit where if they didn't treat me right, I'd get upset and move,” he said. “I'm sure I moved about 10 times in those 63 years. I'm a hardheaded German, I guess. I got set in my ways."
Russell describes Hornberger as someone who doesn’t complain and loves talking to people — even though he can’t hear them most of the time.
“He dropped his hearing aids in the toilet or something,” she said, chuckling. “I'm just glad I got to stay with him because my mother had dementia. I'm the only one that isn't married and has a house, so I was lucky to come and stay with him. He's been a blessing.”
She commented that sometimes the pair would get in a small argument, but Pops would tell her, “You know what? I would have had to be in a rest home if it hadn’t been for you.”
“He’s my hero in life,” Russell said. "I'm so proud of him. He loved my mother, and I'm glad I'm here to take care of him.”
When asked how it feels to be 96, Hornberger replied that it feels great, adding that he’s glad he’s made it this long — and hopes to make it 10 more years.
Anyone interested in mailing a birthday card to Hornberger or “Pops” can text Hofeldt at 817-690-8641 and request the address.
“He doesn’t know about this, but I expect some cards to be arriving (as soon as possible). He will know then,” Hofeldt added. “What a grand surprise for Pops!”
