8 votes

Previously oldest living American Hester Ford dies at 115

4 comments

  1. Eric_the_Cerise
    (edited )
    Link
    I find it weirdly satisfying to know that, after she died, someone else immediately and automatically acquired the title of "oldest living American". ETA: I had a friend/neighbor who was over 100,...

    I find it weirdly satisfying to know that, after she died, someone else immediately and automatically acquired the title of "oldest living American".

    ETA: I had a friend/neighbor who was over 100, still lived on her own, cleaned, cooked, shopped, mowed her own lawn, etc. I used to joke with her, that she only had to hold out for 12, 13 (or whatever it was, at the time) more years, to take the title.

    Unfortunately, dementia started to drag her down, and she finally passed away in an assisted living center at, I think, 104 or 105.

    4 votes
  2. [3]
    Kuromantis
    (edited )
    Link
    Unfortunately all the sources I found are from random local news outlets which may or may not be owned by Sinclair. I went with 115 years old instead of 116 because that's what Wikipedia says.

    Unfortunately all the sources I found are from random local news outlets which may or may not be owned by Sinclair. I went with 115 years old instead of 116 because that's what Wikipedia says.

    2 votes
    1. drannex
      Link Parent
      There's a video in the article that has a few clips from her most recent birthday and in it there's a sign that says "Happy 116th birthday" so I think we can err on the side of caution that it was...

      There's a video in the article that has a few clips from her most recent birthday and in it there's a sign that says "Happy 116th birthday" so I think we can err on the side of caution that it was 116.

      But, pedantic, it doesn't really matter. That's still a long time to live, here's to hoping that's the average in fifty years.

      4 votes
    2. Eric_the_Cerise
      Link Parent
      There seems to be a census discrepancy about the year of her birth, so it's not an issue with bad news reporting now. But, yeah, Wikipedia is crediting her with 115 years (side of caution, I assume).

      There seems to be a census discrepancy about the year of her birth, so it's not an issue with bad news reporting now. But, yeah, Wikipedia is crediting her with 115 years (side of caution, I assume).

      2 votes