Edna Parker
Edna Parker | |
|---|---|
 Edna Parker in 2007 at age 114 | |
| Born | April 20, 1893 (age 131 years, 72 days) |
| Education | Franklin College |
| Occupation | Former teacher |
| Known for | Oldest recognized person in the world (August 13, 2007 – present) |
| Spouse(s) | Earl Parker (lived: ?-1939, married: 1913-1939) |
Edna Scott Parker[1] (born April 20, 1893) is an American supercentenarian and currently recognized as the oldest person in the world following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan on August 13, 2007.[2] She assumed the title at age 114 years, 115 days. Parker became Indiana's present day oldest living person on April 7, 2005 (age 111 years, 352 days) (following the death of then almost-112-year-old Minnie Kearby, who was just six days older at the time) and the state's all-time recordholder on January 19, 2007 (age 113 years, 274 days), surpassing Mary Parr. She became the oldest living American on February 14, 2007 (age 113 years, 300 days), following the death of then fellow 113-year-old Corinne Dixon Taylor of Washington, D.C.[3] Parker entered the top 15 verified oldest people ever in September 2008, at age 115.
Biography
Parker was born on a farm in Morgan County, Indiana, and raised eating a typical farm diet of meat and starch. She attended Franklin High School, then took classes at Franklin College to obtain a teaching certificate. Parker taught at a two-room schoolhouse in Smithland for several years, until she married her next door neighbor, Earl Parker, on April 12, 1913.[4] Earl died on February 23, 1939. They had two sons, Clifford and Earl Jr.[5], both of whom she has outlived.[6] As of April 2008, she has five grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and thirteen great-great-grandchildren. Her two sisters also are deceased; Georgia lived to be 99, while her sister Opal was 88 when she died.
Later years
Edna Parker lived alone on a farm on Blueridge Road after her husband had died when she was 45. She remained there until age 100, when, still in very strong health, she moved in with one of her sons. One winter night, she was left alone while her son and his wife went to a basketball game. When they returned, she was in the back yard, unconscious, in the snow, and visible in the poor light only because she was wearing her favorite red sweater. Her family feared her death, but medics arrived and she made a full recovery except for only mild injuries. Afterwards it was decided that she needed to move to a nursing home.[7]
Current life
Parker currently lives at Heritage House Convalescent Center, a retirement community in Shelbyville, Indiana. She is still in good health and able to walk.[6] In April 2007, at the age of 114, she met with the second-oldest Indiana inhabitant and then fifth-oldest living person in the world, Bertha Fry. Fry, who lived in Muncie, was 113 at the time, which set the highest combined age for a meeting of two supercentenarians, at 227 years and 142 days. Parker lived in the same retirement center as Sandy Allen, the tallest living woman verified by Guinness World Records, until Allen's death on August 13, 2008.[8] She enjoys reading and reciting poetry, especially the works of James Whitcomb Riley, and according to family likes to quote his poetry to visitors.[7] She reads the newspaper every day, enjoys cards from well-wishers, and often sends autographs to people asking for them. She received a letter from President George W. Bush on her 114th birthday.[7]
The Heritage House Convalescent Center planned two separate birthday parties to celebrate her 115th birthday. At each one they released one hundred fifteen multicolored balloons, because she enjoys watching balloons float into the sky. The public celebration was on April 18, 2008, while the private family one was on April 20, 2008, her actual birthday. She is one of only twenty-one people validated to have reached 115 years of age.[citation needed]
On May 20, 2008, one of four peregrine falcon chicks nesting atop of a downtown Indianapolis high rise was named after Edna. A live nest cam of this bird and family is available on the Indy Star Falcon Blog.[9] A video clip of the naming announcement during banding day is available on YouTube.[10]
Parker has received recognition internationally for her incredible longevity, and even has a letter of congratulations from American President George W. Bush, thanking her for “sharing her wisdom and experiences” with younger generations. Last year, in honor of her 114th birthday, she was given the key to the city of Shelbyville from the Mayor, and has been visited by the state Governor and Senator.
See also
- List of living supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest people
- Oldest people
- Supercentenarian
- List of oldest people by U.S. state
References
- ^ Governor meets with country's two oldest, both Hoosiers
- ^ World's oldest person, Yone Minagawa, dies at 114 - Japan News Review.
- ^ Validated Living Supercentenarians
- ^ Source Citation: Title: Shelby County, Indiana, Index To Marriage Record 1856 - 1920 Inclusive Vol, W. P. A. Original Record Located: County Clerk's O; Book: 21;Page: 243
- ^ 1920 US Census; Place: Needham, Johnson, Indiana; Roll: T625_442; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 138; Image: 133.
- ^ a b "Indiana Woman Now World's Oldest Person". 2007-08-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Denied:1up! Software
- ^ Governor pays weekend visit to honor Edna's 114th birthday
- ^ "Peregrine Falcon Named in Honor of Edna Parker". 2007-08-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Banding Day on YouTube". 2007-08-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- "Living history: Edna Parker shares memories as she approaches 113". The Shelbyville News. 2006-04-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|work= - "Edna ready for No. 115". The Shelbyville News. 2008-04-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)