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NATCHEZ — World War II veteran Wingate “Wink” Marion Collins, born Jan. 29, 1925, turned 100 years old last week.

Wink celebrated with a surprise resolution received from Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson on his birthday Wednesday and then with a birthday party on Saturday with family and friends at Magnolia Village’s assisted living facility.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wink settled in Natchez around 1989 with his second wife Joann Isbell after losing his first, Barbara, to cancer.

Wink became a die-hard LSU fan and fell in love with the city, so much so that he made it a point to learn all he could about the area, according to his son-in-law, Tim Vance.

“His son Randy told me that his father should have been an ambassador for the city because he loved it so much,” he said.

Wink enlisted in the Army Air Corps after high school, where he was a turret gunner on a B-24 and had been stationed in India.

“Their mission was to fly (through) the Himalayan Mountains to bring supplies and support to the Chinese and United States forces in their fight against the Japanese,” Vance said.

Randy Collins, his son, said some of his dad’s war memorabilia is displayed at the WWII museum in New Orleans.

Wink later started a wholesale textile company, Dogwood Fabrics, with his two brothers that was based in Charlotte with other branches in Atlanta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee.

After coming to Natchez, Wink worked in the fitness industry before retiring in the mid-1980s.

As they celebrated Wink’s birthday with cake, sandwiches and a special visit from Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Saturday at Magnolia Village, Wink and his family teased about how they would top that on his 200th birthday.

“You can’t beat this,” he said.

His mother lived to be 105, he said. “I’m just 100, so I’ve got some more. Five more at least.”

Wink said he’s lived so long because he doesn’t take any medication — just a few vitamins.

“Just a few vitamins and beer,” he said jokingly.

Wink said one thing he is known for and wants to be remembered by is his love for working with the public.

“Most everything I’ve ever done has been working with the public and working with people, which I love,” he said.