021 Keep Smiling: Life Stories, Family Jokes & 94 Years of Wisdom with Stanley Lear

What do you learn after nearly a century of living, loving, and laughing? Stanley Lear, our oldest guest yet on The Grandpa Channel, has the answer: keep smiling. Born in 1930, Stanley grew up during the Great Depression as the eldest of 10 children in a 20x12 tar-paper home. From delivering newspapers at age seven to serving in France during the Korean War, his stories trace a life built on resilience, family, and love. But Stanley’s legacy isn’t just about hard work. It’s about love — 73 years of marriage to his sweetheart, raising a family rooted in gratitude, and sharing joy through handmade gifts, gardens, and jokes that span generations. In this heartfelt (and often hilarious) episode, Stanley reflects on: Growing up poor — but never feeling it. Meeting his wife and the secret to 73 years of marriage. Building a life through farming, welding, and hard work. Why he makes jewelry and shovel-bird sculptures… and gives them away. How his garden and humor keep him young. His best family jokes (yes, the Dolly Parton one makes an appearance). The simple life lesson he hopes the Lear Family, 100+ grandkids and great-grandkids remember: always be honest, and never stop smiling. This is an episode about humility, humor, and the kind of wisdom that can only be earned through nearly a century of living. 💡 Whether you’re here for the life stories, the family connection, or just a good laugh, Stanley’s message is one we all need right now: gratitude makes life rich, and a smile makes it better.