Latest news with #BonitaGibson
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
114-Year-Old Woman Reveals the 1 Food She Credits to Living a Long Life — and Shares Her Other Secrets to Longevity
Bonita Gibson turned 114 years old on July 4, making her one step closer to securing the title of world's oldest living person Ethel Caterham, 115, earned the Guinness World Records title in April after Inah Canabarro Lucas died at age 116 The oldest person ever, Jeanne Louise Calment, lived for 122 years before she died, per Guinness World RecordsBonita Gibson, who turned 114 on July 4, has revealed her secrets to longevity. The Michigan woman's family told PEOPLE that one particular food — the potato — is a main contributing factor to her living a long life. Potatoes have been a constant for Gibson for more than a century, especially after she married Kenneth Richard, who worked in the potato industry for decades in Idaho after they wed in 1930. Richard retired in 1977 and died in 2003, but Gibson's family said she continues eating potatoes to this day. Gibson, a resident of the Waltonwood Carriage Park senior living facility in Canton, also shared that not drinking, not smoking and eating healthy are some of her other secrets for living past 100 years old. Remaining positive and constantly smiling were some others. Gibson, who was born July 4, 1911, is among the oldest people in the world, having survived mumps, measles and whooping cough as a child as well as COVID when she was 109, her family told PEOPLE. Her relatives also said that she drove until she was 99, flew on an airplane for the first time at 100 and visited a casino for the first time at 102. Nowadays, Gibson enjoys reading, playing cards and speaking with her son Richard, 88, every night. She also has three grandchildren, six great grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Gibson is also nearing the Guinness World Records' title for world's oldest living person. Ethel Caterham, 115, claimed the record in April, following the death of 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas. Caterham, who lives in a nursing home in Surrey in South East England, also revealed what it takes to live a long life. "Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,' she said, per the Associated Press. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sharing more secrets to longevity, Caterham once said, per Guinness World Records: 'Say yes to every opportunity because you never know what it will lead to. Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation.' According to the record-keeping organization, the oldest person ever, Jeanne Louise Calment of France, lived for 122 years and 164 days before she died in 1997. Read the original article on People
USA Today
02-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Potatoes and a smile are the secret to a long life, woman says before 114th birthday
What's older than a blender, penicillin, and the U.S. moon landing? A Michigan woman celebrating her 114th birthday on July 4. Bonita Gibson, a resident at Waltonwood Carriage Park just outside of Detroit, is believed to be the oldest living person in Michigan, according to a Waltonwood representative. Gibson is part of a small population of supercentenarians in the United States, or someone who is at least 110 years old. Other supercentenarians across the country include 114-year-old Naomi Whitehead of Pennsylvania, 114-year-old Mary Harris of Tennessee, and 113-year-old Winnie Felps of Texas, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Gibson became the oldest known living person in Michigan after the death of 114-year-old Irene Dunham on May 1, 2022. The Gerontology Research Group validated her age the following year on May 4, 2023, two months shy of her 112th birthday. Michigan woman flew for the first time at 100 years old Gibson drove until she was 99 years old, and took her first plane ride at the age of 100, flying to San Diego, a lifelong dream of hers, Waltonwood said. Gibson told USA TODAY some of the keys to her living such a long life include: Michigan woman survived multiple historical events, spent great deal of her life in Idaho Gibson was born on July 4, 1911 in a northwestern Kansas city called Hoxie, according to the Gerontology Research Group. She grew up in rural Missouri, and lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic. As a child, she survived the mumps, measles, and whooping cough, said a representative for Waltonwood Carriage Park. Most recently, she survived COVID-19 in 2020, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease, according to the research group. Gibson married Kenneth Gibson, her high school sweetheart, in April 1930 in Oregon, Missouri; the pair married during the Great Depression. The couple lived on a farm at the time. "We had chickens and a huge garden and all kinds of fruit trees,' Gibson told CBS Detroit in July 2023. 'We had plenty to eat. We just didn't have any money to spend.' They eventually moved to Idaho, where her husband's relative had a farm. The move is what introduced them to the potato industry. "He said Kenny can help me in the field and you can be the cook,' Gibson told CBS Detroit. 'I hadn't cooked a thing in my life." After seven years of marriage, the pair had a son, Kenneth Richard, in January 1937. After that, the couple moved to Newdale, Idaho and later, Idaho Falls as her husband worked as a potato farmer. He later worked as a potato broker until he retired in 1977. He died in 2003. After decades in Idaho, a move to Michigan At the age of 102, she began living in a nursing home in Canton, Michigan, where her grandson lives. As her grandson was moving her to Michigan, Gibson had a request for him, Waltonwood Executive Director Angie Hanson told McKnight's Senior Living. 'She wanted to ride on the back of his Harley, but he wouldn't let her,' Hanson said. Gibson still speaks to her son, 88-year-old Kenneth Richard, every night. She also has three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Today, she loves reading and cards, watching 'Price is Right' each day, and catching up with her friends at Waltonwood. This year, she plans to celebrate her birthday by participating in the downtown Plymouth Fourth of July Parade. There will be a banner announcing her birthday, Waltonwood said. As Gibson reflected on her life back in 2023, she recalled being married for over 70 years. She and Kenneth made it a point to enjoy themselves, having the most fun in the 1950s and 1960s, she told CBS Detroit. "We would go dancing every Saturday with a group of friends," she told the outlet. When asked what helped to hold their marriage together, she tried to answer from the perspective of her high school sweetheart. 'I would've taken her back home several times, but we didn't have any money, so we had to stay together," she said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Potatoes and a smile are the secret to a long life, woman says before 114th birthday
What's older than a blender, penicillin, and the U.S. moon landing? A Michigan woman celebrating her 114th birthday on July 4. Bonita Gibson, a resident at Waltonwood Carriage Park just outside of Detroit, is believed to be the oldest living person in Michigan, according to a Waltonwood representative. Gibson is part of a small population of supercentenarians in the United States, or someone who is at least 110 years old. Other supercentenarians across the country include 114-year-old Naomi Whitehead of Pennsylvania, 114-year-old Mary Harris of Tennessee, and 113-year-old Winnie Felps of Texas, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Gibson became the oldest known living person in Michigan after the death of 114-year-old Irene Dunham on May 1, 2022. The Gerontology Research Group validated her age the following year on May 4, 2023, two months shy of her 112th birthday. Gibson drove until she was 99 years old, and took her first plane ride at the age of 100, flying to San Diego, a lifelong dream of hers, Waltonwood said. Gibson told USA TODAY some of the keys to her living such a long life include: Eating potatoes (seemingly a nod to her late husband and the business he worked in) Healthy eating Staying positive and always smiling No smoking or drinking Gibson was born on July 4, 1911 in a northwestern Kansas city called Hoxie, according to the Gerontology Research Group. She grew up in rural Missouri, and lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic. As a child, she survived the mumps, measles, and whooping cough, said a representative for Waltonwood Carriage Park. Most recently, she survived COVID-19 in 2020, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease, according to the research group. Gibson married Kenneth Gibson, her high school sweetheart, in April 1930 in Oregon, Missouri; the pair married during the Great Depression. The couple lived on a farm at the time. "We had chickens and a huge garden and all kinds of fruit trees,' Gibson told CBS Detroit in July 2023. 'We had plenty to eat. We just didn't have any money to spend.' They eventually moved to Idaho, where her husband's relative had a farm. The move is what introduced them to the potato industry. "He said Kenny can help me in the field and you can be the cook,' Gibson told CBS Detroit. 'I hadn't cooked a thing in my life." After seven years of marriage, the pair had a son, Kenneth Richard, in January 1937. After that, the couple moved to Newdale, Idaho and later, Idaho Falls as her husband worked as a potato farmer. He later worked as a potato broker until he retired in 1977. He died in 2003. At the age of 102, she began living in a nursing home in Canton, Michigan, where her grandson lives. As her grandson was moving her to Michigan, Gibson had a request for him, Waltonwood Executive Director Angie Hanson told McKnight's Senior Living. 'She wanted to ride on the back of his Harley, but he wouldn't let her,' Hanson said. Gibson still speaks to her son, 88-year-old Kenneth Richard, every night. She also has three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Today, she loves reading and cards, watching 'Price is Right' each day, and catching up with her friends at Waltonwood. This year, she plans to celebrate her birthday by participating in the downtown Plymouth Fourth of July Parade. There will be a banner announcing her birthday, Waltonwood said. As Gibson reflected on her life back in 2023, she recalled being married for over 70 years. She and Kenneth made it a point to enjoy themselves, having the most fun in the 1950s and 1960s, she told CBS Detroit. "We would go dancing every Saturday with a group of friends," she told the outlet. When asked what helped to hold their marriage together, she tried to answer from the perspective of her high school sweetheart. 'I would've taken her back home several times, but we didn't have any money, so we had to stay together," she said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bonita Gibson, 113, says potatoes and smiling are keys to long life
