World's oldest person dies at 115: Her secrets

November 28, 1:27 PMWellness ExaminerJoshua Futterman

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Will you do the things to live as long as Edna?
((AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Edna Parker a woman from Indiana, has died at age 115.  Parker was born April 20, 1893, a year for many firsts:

• The diesel engine was patented

• The first recorded college basketball game

• New Zealand becomes the first country to grant voting rights to women

• Gandhi commits his first act of civil disobedience

Parker had been a widow since her husband, Earl Parker, died in 1939 of a heart attack. She lived alone in their farmhouse until age 100 until she moved into a son's home and later to the Shelbyville nursing home.

Parker did not offer any tips to living that long, but she never drank alcohol or tried tobacco much like the world's oldest man Tomoji Tanabe who is 113.  He believes the key to longevity is not drinking alcohol.  Probably most importantly, she led an active life.  According to grandson Don Parker who is now 60, she walked a lot even during her nursing home stay.  "We used to go up there, and she would be pushing other patients in their wheelchairs."

Unfortunately, activity is typically lacking in most American lifestyles these days.  If some of us are to be privileged with such a long life as Edna Parker, perhaps we had better start.  In honor of her life, today seems like a great day to do that.