BIOGRAPHY

Thompson was born as Elsie Marie Calvert in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on 5 April 1899. She married Ronald “Ron” Thompson in 1921 and had a son, George. Her husband was a veteran of both World Wars.

Thompson and her husband, a former Pennsylvania state senator, moved to Clearwater, Florida, in 1971. She was widowed in 1986.

On Thompson’s 111th birthday, she stated that the secret to her longevity was, “I love people.”

As a supercentenarian, Thompson remained active, living in her own home with the assistance of a caregiver, had her hair and nails done, and hosted a sizeable celebration on her 112th birthday, with family, friends, and local media in attendance.

Thompson died peacefully on 21 March 2013 in Clearwater, Florida, after a period of declining health. She was the fifth-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated. She was survived by her son George, as well as four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Thompson’s age was verified by Filipe Prista Lucas and validated by the GRG on 15 October 2009.

Thompson was believed to have become the oldest resident of the United States following the 2 January 2013 death of Mamie Rearden. However, the subsequent validation of 116-year-old Gertrude Weaver in July 2014 meant that neither Rearden nor Thompson herself held the title.

ATTRIBUTION

• Table B – Verified Supercentenarians by Age Gerontology Research Group

• Clearwater woman is oldest living American Tampa Bay Times, 30 January 2013

• Oldest person in U.S. dies at 113 UPI, 1 April 2013

GALLERY