Emma Carroll
Encyclopedia
Emma Vironia Carroll was, at age 112, Iowa
's oldest person since the death of 111-year-old Hazel Blecha on October 29, 2006. She was the 10th oldest validated American living in the United States, and the 22nd oldest validated worldwide at the time of her death. Also, she was the Guinness
recordholder for the oldest person to ride in a hot-air balloon at 109 years and 70 days old in 2004.
during the 1910s. Emma's first ballot was for Franklin D. Roosevelt
in 1920. They had lived on a farm in Van Buren County, Iowa during the 1930s. The Carroll's moved to Ottumwa, Iowa
in the 1940s during World War II
and settled there. While in Ottumwa in the 40s, Clair became an employee for the Deere & Company
, and Emma became a nurse for about a dozen years, and had taught Sunday school. In 1999/2000, she moved into Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa, Iowa
after living independently until she was 105 years old.
In 2004, Emma became the Guinness world recordholder for the oldest person ever to fly in a hot air balloon. When she was asked how it worked out, she said, "It was just something I had always wanted to do. Julie [Meldren] lined it up, and a man and his wife took me (with pilot Brian Bennett). We went gliding along and I didn’t even know we were so high up. Beats anything I was ever in. I’d do it again if I could!"
Carroll enjoyed going on group trips away from the nursing home. One time she had lunch with the Salvation Army
. "I like that, they're friendly," Carroll said.
She helped the Care Center by folding laundry twice a week. During an interview in early 2007 with the Ottumwa Courier she had stated that "I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said while flexing her fingers, "I think work doesn't hurt anybody." Emma studied the Bible with her weekly study group. She said that she took naps often while sitting in her favorite chair.
Carroll died in her nursing home in 2007 at Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa. She is survived by her 2 two sons- Noble and Lowell (originally four kids). According to the nursing home's social director Julie Meldren, Emma had 7 grandchildren, and about 12 great-grandchildren at the time of her death.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
's oldest person since the death of 111-year-old Hazel Blecha on October 29, 2006. She was the 10th oldest validated American living in the United States, and the 22nd oldest validated worldwide at the time of her death. Also, she was the Guinness
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
recordholder for the oldest person to ride in a hot-air balloon at 109 years and 70 days old in 2004.
Biography
Carroll was born in Iowa in 1895. In 1914, she met her longtime husband Clair C. Carroll (October 8, 1893 - March 7, 1994) of 80 years. The two first met where Clair's older sister was teaching. The couple had resided in Davis County, IowaDavis County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,753 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,600 housing units, of which 3,201 were occupied.-2000 census:...
during the 1910s. Emma's first ballot was for Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
in 1920. They had lived on a farm in Van Buren County, Iowa during the 1930s. The Carroll's moved to Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
in the 1940s during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and settled there. While in Ottumwa in the 40s, Clair became an employee for the Deere & Company
Deere & Company
Deere & Company, usually known by its brand name John Deere , is an American corporation based in Moline, Illinois, and the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world. In 2010, it was listed as 107th in the Fortune 500 ranking...
, and Emma became a nurse for about a dozen years, and had taught Sunday school. In 1999/2000, she moved into Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....
after living independently until she was 105 years old.
In 2004, Emma became the Guinness world recordholder for the oldest person ever to fly in a hot air balloon. When she was asked how it worked out, she said, "It was just something I had always wanted to do. Julie [Meldren] lined it up, and a man and his wife took me (with pilot Brian Bennett). We went gliding along and I didn’t even know we were so high up. Beats anything I was ever in. I’d do it again if I could!"
Carroll enjoyed going on group trips away from the nursing home. One time she had lunch with the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. "I like that, they're friendly," Carroll said.
She helped the Care Center by folding laundry twice a week. During an interview in early 2007 with the Ottumwa Courier she had stated that "I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said while flexing her fingers, "I think work doesn't hurt anybody." Emma studied the Bible with her weekly study group. She said that she took naps often while sitting in her favorite chair.
Carroll died in her nursing home in 2007 at Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa. She is survived by her 2 two sons- Noble and Lowell (originally four kids). According to the nursing home's social director Julie Meldren, Emma had 7 grandchildren, and about 12 great-grandchildren at the time of her death.
See also
- List of people with the longest marriages
- List of verified supercentenarians who died in 2007
- LongevityLongevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20393314