BEAVER DAM – Randall Lytle estimates he has made more than 100,000 wooden toys and tools since the 1960s.

While the Beaver Dam man said he’s saving some of his creations for his grandchildren and family, he has given many away to children in Ohio County.

An Owensboro native, Lytle, 84, spent about 35 years as a lock operator and retired at 55. While he and his wife were attending the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana, Lytle said he met some men who were making toys.

Lytle, who has always been talented at woodworking and craftsmanship, decided he would start experimenting.

“It was so much fun, so I decided to make as many as I could,” Lytle said. “I have enjoyed every bit of everything I’ve ever made.”

At first, Lytle had nothing but hand tools. But after he sold some of his toys at craft shows, he bought more advanced equipment to make the toy-making process easier and more efficient.

Lytle’s wife died in 2017, and it was then that he decided he would no longer sell the toys. Instead, he felt that he should give them away.

Lytle spends three to four hours each day in the shop behind his home making wooden toys. From spinning tops to noise makers, Lytle has experimented with hundreds of designs.

While many of his ideas come from antique toy books, Lytle also invents his own designs if he has a unique idea for a toy he hasn’t seen made before.

Nearly every day since 2017, Lytle has traveled to Walmart in Beaver Dam to bring candy and toys to the cashiers.

“They love it, and I love doing it because you can just see their face light up when I come around,” Lytle said.

Lytle also brings toys for children, and he said the majority of them immediately drop to the floor and begin playing with them.

However, some of the children aren’t quite sure how to react to the non-electronic entertainment.

“Some of the kids don’t hardly know how to play with the toy,” Lytle said. “It doesn’t have batteries, it doesn’t light up, it doesn’t talk back to you and it doesn’t play movies.”

Lytle said he loves spending time in his shop, and he will continue to make toys for as long as he can.

“I’ve had a wonderful life,” Lytle said. “Now, I just play. As long as I’m able, I’m going to play.”