The world’s longest-serving grave digger has finally hung up his shovel after more than 73 years.
Dedicated Allen McCloskey (USA) first entered the record books in 2021 when he’d earned the title for longest career as a grave digger with a total of 68 years 191 days.
Now at the age of 92, he’s finally putting his feet up for a well-earned rest after extending his record to 73 years and 75 days.
The dedicated digger talked of making graves for people he went to school with and worked with, but said the toughest job of them all was digging a grave for his beloved wife, Barbara.
When asked how he got through it, he said: “Well, I figured she’d want me to do it.”
He created the final resting places for thousands of people during his career, which he started sort of by accident after a grave digger asked him to cover for them for a week.
Allen’s son Dean said: “[He] never set out to achieve an official GWR title for the longest career as a grave digger."
And while Allen may not want any fuss when it comes to the momentous ending of his record-breaking career, his children made sure he knows just how proud they are of him.