Age 113, Marguerite Gladys Swetland was one of the oldest people in the world. At the time of death, her age was 113 years and 240 days. Gladys was born in Mills, PA to Chester Allen and Kate Doud Swetland. At age three, Gladys took her first train ride alone with doll and satchel to visit her grandparents in Harrison Valley. Music plays a vital role in her life; she has played the piano since age four. She was an accomplished musician trained in reading music and played the organ, mandolin and guitar. She began her life's work as a teacher in 1910, the year she graduated from the Harrison Valley School. She attended Eastern Michigan Teachers College and then spends 16 years teaching fifth and sixth grades in Detroit, MI. She retired from teaching at the age of 78 but continued to substitute-teach until she was 80. Gladys described herself as a "tomboy," when she grew up around the millworkers who were employed in her father's four sawmills. She never married and cherished her independence. She always possessed a sound mind, remarkable agility and drove her automobile well past her 100th birthday. She did not move to a nursing home until she was 110. Gladys was organist and pianist at the Mills Union Church, playing well into the 21st century, and also was a director of both the senior and junior choirs over the years. She was able to play the piano even at the age 113. Gladys died at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport. She was recognized as the ninth-oldest person in the world and fourth-oldest American citizen at the time of her death. Ref: smethporthistory.org, seniorjournal.com
Age 113, Marguerite Gladys Swetland was one of the oldest people in the world. At the time of death, her age was 113 years and 240 days. Gladys was born in Mills, PA to Chester Allen and Kate Doud Swetland. At age three, Gladys took her first train ride alone with doll and satchel to visit her grandparents in Harrison Valley. Music plays a vital role in her life; she has played the piano since age four. She was an accomplished musician trained in reading music and played the organ, mandolin and guitar. She began her life's work as a teacher in 1910, the year she graduated from the Harrison Valley School. She attended Eastern Michigan Teachers College and then spends 16 years teaching fifth and sixth grades in Detroit, MI. She retired from teaching at the age of 78 but continued to substitute-teach until she was 80. Gladys described herself as a "tomboy," when she grew up around the millworkers who were employed in her father's four sawmills. She never married and cherished her independence. She always possessed a sound mind, remarkable agility and drove her automobile well past her 100th birthday. She did not move to a nursing home until she was 110. Gladys was organist and pianist at the Mills Union Church, playing well into the 21st century, and also was a director of both the senior and junior choirs over the years. She was able to play the piano even at the age 113. Gladys died at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport. She was recognized as the ninth-oldest person in the world and fourth-oldest American citizen at the time of her death. Ref: smethporthistory.org, seniorjournal.com
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