Mark Pugh, who recently turned 100, pauses for a photo at his home in the Piney Creek community.

Pugh is Alleghany's newest centenarian

Alleghany County's newest centenarian - the county's only known male with a three-digit age - recalled a life of hard work and helping others during a recent interview.

Born Jan. 30, 1903, Mark C. Pugh has seen many changes during his lifetime. "In my younger days, automobiles were just coming into existence," he said.

Pugh's wife Ada said, "His mother had a stick washing machine, the kind you had to use manually."

Of turning 100, Mark Pugh said, "I feel pretty good about it." The couple celebrated the occasion without a lot of fanfare. Mostly, they enjoyed visits from relatives to their Piney Creek home. Those included the couple's daughters and Pugh's nephew Gary L. Westfall of Ohio.

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