Marcel Meys was born in the commune of Saint-Julien-de-l’Herms in the Isère department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, on 12 July 1909. Even in his later years, he vividly recalled the day his mother brought home the news of World War I’s declaration. He spent his childhood and youth in his birthplace before settling in Vienne and later in Saint-Romain-en-Gal with his wife, Marthe, whom he married in 1930. There, he established a garage-taxi-ambulance business. He provided transportation for the Trenel Clinic and, for many years, was the sole provider of such services in the area, often stepping in for firefighters and funeral directors. He had a daughter, Nicole, born in 1937.
During World War II (1939–1945), Marcel was mobilized and returned to the Vienne region during the Occupation. The Germans requisitioned most of his vehicles, leaving him with only one. Despite the challenges, he contributed to the French Resistance by assisting the French Forces of the Interior. After the war, he reopened his garage and continued his work until 1967, when he sold the business. In the 1950s, he relocated from Vienne to Saint-Romain-en-Gal. During the 1970s, he served as an elected official, overseeing public works for eight years. Near his business, Marcel renovated an old stable where he lived alone in his later years, supported by home aides and his daughter. His wife, Marthe, passed away in December 1998, a loss he described as “the greatest pain of his life.”
When asked about the secret to his longevity, he credited it to maintaining a routine of eating and sleeping at fixed times, avoiding overeating, and keeping his mind sharp by playing Scrabble whenever possible.
At 109, he was still able to navigate stairs and go out, but by the following year, his mobility had declined. At the age of 110, it was reported that he experienced occasional memory lapses and some physical limitations, yet he remained in astonishingly good shape. At the time, besides his daughter, Nicole Boiron, he also had a granddaughter and a great-grandson. Reflecting on his longevity, he remarked: “I’m surprised to have reached 110 years old. I don’t know where I’m going to stop. I feel that the end is near, but when? Fifty or sixty years ago, I don’t even know if we talked about centenarians. It didn’t exist.”
Meys passed away from complications related to COVID-19 on 15 December 2021, at the age of 112 years and 156 days, in a hospital in Vienne, Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Following the passing of Roger Auvin on 13 October 2019, Meys became the oldest man in metropolitan France, as Jules Théobald held the title in the overseas department of Martinique.
Meys became the oldest living person in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region following the death of Marie-Louise Taterode on 3 September 2020.
On 29 May 2021, at the age of 111 years and 321 days, he surpassed Maurice Floquet to become the second-oldest French man in history (only after Jules Théobald) and the oldest man ever from metropolitan France. He held the title until 24 April 2024, when Georges Thomas surpassed his final age.
Following the passing of 112-year-old Jules Theobald on 5 October 2021, Meys became the oldest living man in France, at the age of 112 years, 85 days. He held the title until his own passing in December, when he was succeeded by André Boite.
* “Marcel Meys, habitant de Saint-Romain-en-Gal, est le nouveau doyen des Français” – Le Progrès, 15 October 2019
* “Marcel Meys, 112 ans : « Être le doyen des Français, ça touche »” – Le Dauphiné, 6 October 2021
* “Saint-Romain-en-Gal : avec Marcel Meys, le nouveau doyen des Français” – Le Dauphiné, 6 October 2021
* “Le nouveau doyen des Français, Marcel Meys, est né en Isère il y a 112 ans” – France Bleu, 7 October 2021