Winnie Felps

BIOGRAPHY

Winnie Lee Felps was born in Tama, Coryell County, Texas, on 10 October 1911, to parents Bunyan Polk Powell (1868–1968) and Fannie Belle Newman (1878–1971). Felps grew up on a farm in Texas and was one of nine children. Her mother lived to the age of 92, and her father reached 100 before passing away in 1968. Her youngest sister lived to 95. Felps lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 without ever contracting the disease.

She married Ralph Adolph Felps Sr. (1912–1982) on 24 December 1935. In her 70s, she took up oil painting and continued the hobby until she began traveling with a nephew and three of her sisters. A devoted gardener, she maintained large vegetable gardens throughout her adult life. She also enjoyed fishing, board games, puzzles, and traveling, and she lived independently until the age of 101.

Felps contracted COVID-19 twice—once at age 109 and again at 112—both times experiencing only mild symptoms. Even in her centenarian years, she continued to enjoy singing and music.

At age 114, six of her eight children were still living, ranging in age from 73 to 88. Her family also included 19 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 28 great-great-grandchildren.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, Felps credited her strong faith in God, good genes, hard work, an active lifestyle, and drinking milk and Dr Pepper every day.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 22 June 2023.

On 22 October 2024, following the passing of 115-year-old Elizabeth Francis, she became the Oldest Living Person in Texas.

As of her 114th birthday in October 2025, she was the third-oldest living person in the United States, after Naomi Whitehead and Bonita Gibson.

ATTRIBUTION

All biographical information was gathered through interviews conducted by Gabriel Ainsworth with members of Mrs. Felps’s family.

* Bunyan Polk Powell – Find A Grave

GALLERY

[crp limit=’4′ ]