Marvin Garlock, 86-years old, stands outside the Lincoln's Women Center after voting. He votes there because partly because it's in walking distance and partly out of tradition.
The only talking that’s going on at polling place at the Lincoln Women’s Center is the instruction of poll workers, nervous whispering and the good-natured quips of an 86-year-old man in a fedora and a sky blue blazer.
“It’s nice to have a legal opportunity to put in your two cents,” Marvin Garlock says to the person in front, as he smiles and waits near the back of a 30-minute line.
While other voters stand nervously, he chats with anyone in earshot. He’s voted here for years and recognizes many of his fellow voters. But, despite his outward composure, this year is different for Garlock. He came alone.
His wife of 65 years, Velma, passed away recently. And when asked about his wife the man – who nearly starved while putting himself through college, served in France as a World War II pilot and saw friends die, took four 10 percent pay cuts at the age of 63 to prevent layoffs, survived heart surgery in 2000 and has gone nearly broke out of charity – choked back tears.
This is the first year that he voted alone. While talking, he plays with a thin gold wedding band on his finger.
“I miss my wife like you wouldn’t believe.”
