Emma V. Carroll, 112, formerly of 123 Fairview, went to be with her Lord at 4:50 a.m. July 10, 2007, at Vista Woods Care Center.
She was born May 18, 1895 in Davis County to Elias Sylvester and Margaret Lynch Lanman. She married Clair Carroll January 1, 1914. He preceded her in death March 1994. She and her husband were married 80 years and were honored as the longest married couple in the world at that time.
A resident of Ottumwa since 1944, she had worked as a licensed practical nurse at Ottumwa Hospital, retiring in 1960. She enjoyed gardening and helped plant flowers and water them at Vista Woods Care Center up to the age of 110. She attended the Free Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School.
Surviving are two sons, Lowell F. (Evelyn) Carroll of Bloomfield and Noble D. Carroll of Ottumwa; seven grandchildren, Rev. Kenneth Gene Carroll of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sharon Hardy of Drakesville, Linda Yahnke of Bloomfield, Randy Carroll of Granger, Kay Boyd of Blakesburg, Carolyn Hannam of Cape Fair, Mo. and Larry Carroll of Robins, Iowa; 13 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Helen Carroll of Blakesburg.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Max E. Carroll and Charles M. Carroll; a daughter-in-law, Esther Carroll; two great-grandsons; and two great-great-granddaughters; four sisters, Effie Deborn, Cordie McClure, Lillie Fite and Helen Gideon; and a brother, Marvin Lanman.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Gene Carroll officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Cemetery.
-------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Emma
At 112, Ottumwa woman was the state's oldest
By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer
OTTUMWA — Ottumwa has lost a treasure.
Emma Carroll died early Tuesday morning at 112 years of age. According to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, she was the oldest person in Iowa. She had been a resident of Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa since she was 105.
Carroll, born on May 18, 1895, was also listed as the 10th oldest "validated" person in the United States by the Gerontology Research Group's Web site, and, at the time of her passing Tuesday, was listed as the world's 22nd oldest validated human being.
She has been a frequent subject of media coverage, and a grandson in Pennsylvania — with grandchildren of his own — has a site on the Internet dedicated to her.
But if someone wanted to know about Carroll family history, they wouldn't go to the Internet.
"She had a keen memory, and if we wanted to know anything, we'd get ahold of Aunt Emma," said her nephew, Dick Carroll, 85, Ottumwa. "It's amazing she had a memory like she had."
She could recall dates, names and places, he said, especially about relatives.
"She loved her family, loved her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews; she was very special to all of us," Dick Carroll said. "She had a great life — she was just a neat lady."
"To everyone here, to everyone she met, really, she touched their hearts," said Vista Woods Activity Director Julie Meldrum. "We were blessed to have her here."
Meldrum said she's proud she was able to help Carroll with one of her few unfulfilled goals.
"The one thing she mentioned she really wanted to do was a hot air balloon ride," she said.
Carroll entered the record books in 2004 when she became the oldest person to take a hot air balloon flight. There's a framed certificate from the Guiness Book of World Records at the care center.
Staff at Vista Woods said she even received out-of-state requests for autographs on two occasions.
Carroll was still keeping busy when interviewed by the Ottumwa Courier less than six months ago, helping out twice a week by folding laundry at the care center.
"I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said, flexing her fingers. "I think work doesn't hurt anybody."
She was born May 18, 1895 in Davis County to Elias Sylvester and Margaret Lynch Lanman. She married Clair Carroll January 1, 1914. He preceded her in death March 1994. She and her husband were married 80 years and were honored as the longest married couple in the world at that time.
A resident of Ottumwa since 1944, she had worked as a licensed practical nurse at Ottumwa Hospital, retiring in 1960. She enjoyed gardening and helped plant flowers and water them at Vista Woods Care Center up to the age of 110. She attended the Free Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School.
Surviving are two sons, Lowell F. (Evelyn) Carroll of Bloomfield and Noble D. Carroll of Ottumwa; seven grandchildren, Rev. Kenneth Gene Carroll of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sharon Hardy of Drakesville, Linda Yahnke of Bloomfield, Randy Carroll of Granger, Kay Boyd of Blakesburg, Carolyn Hannam of Cape Fair, Mo. and Larry Carroll of Robins, Iowa; 13 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Helen Carroll of Blakesburg.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Max E. Carroll and Charles M. Carroll; a daughter-in-law, Esther Carroll; two great-grandsons; and two great-great-granddaughters; four sisters, Effie Deborn, Cordie McClure, Lillie Fite and Helen Gideon; and a brother, Marvin Lanman.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Gene Carroll officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Cemetery.
-------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Emma
At 112, Ottumwa woman was the state's oldest
By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer
OTTUMWA — Ottumwa has lost a treasure.
Emma Carroll died early Tuesday morning at 112 years of age. According to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, she was the oldest person in Iowa. She had been a resident of Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa since she was 105.
Carroll, born on May 18, 1895, was also listed as the 10th oldest "validated" person in the United States by the Gerontology Research Group's Web site, and, at the time of her passing Tuesday, was listed as the world's 22nd oldest validated human being.
She has been a frequent subject of media coverage, and a grandson in Pennsylvania — with grandchildren of his own — has a site on the Internet dedicated to her.
But if someone wanted to know about Carroll family history, they wouldn't go to the Internet.
"She had a keen memory, and if we wanted to know anything, we'd get ahold of Aunt Emma," said her nephew, Dick Carroll, 85, Ottumwa. "It's amazing she had a memory like she had."
She could recall dates, names and places, he said, especially about relatives.
"She loved her family, loved her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews; she was very special to all of us," Dick Carroll said. "She had a great life — she was just a neat lady."
"To everyone here, to everyone she met, really, she touched their hearts," said Vista Woods Activity Director Julie Meldrum. "We were blessed to have her here."
Meldrum said she's proud she was able to help Carroll with one of her few unfulfilled goals.
"The one thing she mentioned she really wanted to do was a hot air balloon ride," she said.
Carroll entered the record books in 2004 when she became the oldest person to take a hot air balloon flight. There's a framed certificate from the Guiness Book of World Records at the care center.
Staff at Vista Woods said she even received out-of-state requests for autographs on two occasions.
Carroll was still keeping busy when interviewed by the Ottumwa Courier less than six months ago, helping out twice a week by folding laundry at the care center.
"I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said, flexing her fingers. "I think work doesn't hurt anybody."
Emma V. Carroll, 112, formerly of 123 Fairview, went to be with her Lord at 4:50 a.m. July 10, 2007, at Vista Woods Care Center.
She was born May 18, 1895 in Davis County to Elias Sylvester and Margaret Lynch Lanman. She married Clair Carroll January 1, 1914. He preceded her in death March 1994. She and her husband were married 80 years and were honored as the longest married couple in the world at that time.
A resident of Ottumwa since 1944, she had worked as a licensed practical nurse at Ottumwa Hospital, retiring in 1960. She enjoyed gardening and helped plant flowers and water them at Vista Woods Care Center up to the age of 110. She attended the Free Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School.
Surviving are two sons, Lowell F. (Evelyn) Carroll of Bloomfield and Noble D. Carroll of Ottumwa; seven grandchildren, Rev. Kenneth Gene Carroll of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sharon Hardy of Drakesville, Linda Yahnke of Bloomfield, Randy Carroll of Granger, Kay Boyd of Blakesburg, Carolyn Hannam of Cape Fair, Mo. and Larry Carroll of Robins, Iowa; 13 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Helen Carroll of Blakesburg.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Max E. Carroll and Charles M. Carroll; a daughter-in-law, Esther Carroll; two great-grandsons; and two great-great-granddaughters; four sisters, Effie Deborn, Cordie McClure, Lillie Fite and Helen Gideon; and a brother, Marvin Lanman.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Gene Carroll officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Cemetery.
-------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Emma
At 112, Ottumwa woman was the state's oldest
By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer
OTTUMWA — Ottumwa has lost a treasure.
Emma Carroll died early Tuesday morning at 112 years of age. According to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, she was the oldest person in Iowa. She had been a resident of Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa since she was 105.
Carroll, born on May 18, 1895, was also listed as the 10th oldest "validated" person in the United States by the Gerontology Research Group's Web site, and, at the time of her passing Tuesday, was listed as the world's 22nd oldest validated human being.
She has been a frequent subject of media coverage, and a grandson in Pennsylvania — with grandchildren of his own — has a site on the Internet dedicated to her.
But if someone wanted to know about Carroll family history, they wouldn't go to the Internet.
"She had a keen memory, and if we wanted to know anything, we'd get ahold of Aunt Emma," said her nephew, Dick Carroll, 85, Ottumwa. "It's amazing she had a memory like she had."
She could recall dates, names and places, he said, especially about relatives.
"She loved her family, loved her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews; she was very special to all of us," Dick Carroll said. "She had a great life — she was just a neat lady."
"To everyone here, to everyone she met, really, she touched their hearts," said Vista Woods Activity Director Julie Meldrum. "We were blessed to have her here."
Meldrum said she's proud she was able to help Carroll with one of her few unfulfilled goals.
"The one thing she mentioned she really wanted to do was a hot air balloon ride," she said.
Carroll entered the record books in 2004 when she became the oldest person to take a hot air balloon flight. There's a framed certificate from the Guiness Book of World Records at the care center.
Staff at Vista Woods said she even received out-of-state requests for autographs on two occasions.
Carroll was still keeping busy when interviewed by the Ottumwa Courier less than six months ago, helping out twice a week by folding laundry at the care center.
"I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said, flexing her fingers. "I think work doesn't hurt anybody."
She was born May 18, 1895 in Davis County to Elias Sylvester and Margaret Lynch Lanman. She married Clair Carroll January 1, 1914. He preceded her in death March 1994. She and her husband were married 80 years and were honored as the longest married couple in the world at that time.
A resident of Ottumwa since 1944, she had worked as a licensed practical nurse at Ottumwa Hospital, retiring in 1960. She enjoyed gardening and helped plant flowers and water them at Vista Woods Care Center up to the age of 110. She attended the Free Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School.
Surviving are two sons, Lowell F. (Evelyn) Carroll of Bloomfield and Noble D. Carroll of Ottumwa; seven grandchildren, Rev. Kenneth Gene Carroll of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sharon Hardy of Drakesville, Linda Yahnke of Bloomfield, Randy Carroll of Granger, Kay Boyd of Blakesburg, Carolyn Hannam of Cape Fair, Mo. and Larry Carroll of Robins, Iowa; 13 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Helen Carroll of Blakesburg.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Max E. Carroll and Charles M. Carroll; a daughter-in-law, Esther Carroll; two great-grandsons; and two great-great-granddaughters; four sisters, Effie Deborn, Cordie McClure, Lillie Fite and Helen Gideon; and a brother, Marvin Lanman.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Gene Carroll officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Cemetery.
-------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Emma
At 112, Ottumwa woman was the state's oldest
By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer
OTTUMWA — Ottumwa has lost a treasure.
Emma Carroll died early Tuesday morning at 112 years of age. According to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, she was the oldest person in Iowa. She had been a resident of Vista Woods Care Center in Ottumwa since she was 105.
Carroll, born on May 18, 1895, was also listed as the 10th oldest "validated" person in the United States by the Gerontology Research Group's Web site, and, at the time of her passing Tuesday, was listed as the world's 22nd oldest validated human being.
She has been a frequent subject of media coverage, and a grandson in Pennsylvania — with grandchildren of his own — has a site on the Internet dedicated to her.
But if someone wanted to know about Carroll family history, they wouldn't go to the Internet.
"She had a keen memory, and if we wanted to know anything, we'd get ahold of Aunt Emma," said her nephew, Dick Carroll, 85, Ottumwa. "It's amazing she had a memory like she had."
She could recall dates, names and places, he said, especially about relatives.
"She loved her family, loved her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews; she was very special to all of us," Dick Carroll said. "She had a great life — she was just a neat lady."
"To everyone here, to everyone she met, really, she touched their hearts," said Vista Woods Activity Director Julie Meldrum. "We were blessed to have her here."
Meldrum said she's proud she was able to help Carroll with one of her few unfulfilled goals.
"The one thing she mentioned she really wanted to do was a hot air balloon ride," she said.
Carroll entered the record books in 2004 when she became the oldest person to take a hot air balloon flight. There's a framed certificate from the Guiness Book of World Records at the care center.
Staff at Vista Woods said she even received out-of-state requests for autographs on two occasions.
Carroll was still keeping busy when interviewed by the Ottumwa Courier less than six months ago, helping out twice a week by folding laundry at the care center.
"I like to work and work with my hands. It keeps [them] so I can use them, keeps them limber," she said, flexing her fingers. "I think work doesn't hurt anybody."
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