BIOGRAPHY

Agnes Reisenweber was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on 29 October 1906, to parents Robert and Sadie Richardson. She never knew her father, as he had died in a train accident when she was just three months old. Her mother would later remarry to John Nunnally, who worked as a stall keeper.

After graduating from Eastern High School, she married Capt. William Richard Ernest, a pilot from Chesapeake Bay. While raising her two children, Reisenweber became an accomplished painter, creating oil and watercolor paintings of landscapes and portraits. During this time, she became active in several clubs, such as the the Three Arts Club of Homeland and the Opera Guild.

Her husband passed away in 1968, after over 40 years of marriage. Four years later, she married Henry Reisenweber, an artist for the Baltimore Sun. They would remain together for around 20 years until Henry’s death in 1992.

Reisenweber maintained her independence well into old age; even after reaching her 100th birthday, she refused to use a cane, and insisted on walking without any assistance. She continued to walk unaided until moving into a nursing home at the age of 104, when she began using a walker, and continued to walk whenever possible. In 2017, she celebrated her 111th birthday by walking into her party.

Agnes Reisenweber passed away in Catonsville, Maryland on 14 April 2018, at the age of 111 years, 167 days. She was survived by her son and daughter, seven grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 19 great-great grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 30 June 2017, following the passing of 111-year-old A.K. (an anonymous lady), she became the oldest (known) living person in the U.S. state of Maryland. She held the title until her own passing in April 2018, when she was succeeded by Downing Kay.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 30 March 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Agnes Reisenweber celebrates her 105th birthday!” – Catonsville Patch, 30 October 2011

* “Agnes F. Reisenweber, Baltimore native and super-centenarian, dies at age 111” – The Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2018

GALLERY