Edna Parker was the oldest living person for the last 15 months according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and the 14th oldest validated supercentenarian in history according to Dr. Stephen Coles' UCLA Gerontology Research Group. She passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the age of 115 years, 220 days. Edna attended Franklin High School and then graduated from Franklin College in 1911. She taught in a two-room schoolhouse in Smithland for two years. She married her childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Earl Parker, on April 12, 1913. Edna traded the schoolhouse for a farmhouse, and traded preparing lesson plans for preparing meals for the dozen or so men who worked on her husband's farm, as teachers could not marry and continue to teach at that time. Edna and her husband were one of the first owners of an automobile in their rural area. They had two children, Clifford, and Earl Jr. who have both died. As of now, there are five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Earl died of a heart attack on February 23, 1939. Edna continued to live in their farmhouse alone until she was 100 years old. She then moved in with a son, and later entered the nursing home where she died. Edna's sisters, Georgia and Opal, lived to be 99 and 88 years old.
*A very heartfelt "Thank You" to Ron for sponsoring Edna's Memorial page. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated!*
*A very heartfelt "Thank You" to Ron for sponsoring Edna's Memorial page. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated!*
Edna Parker was the oldest living person for the last 15 months according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and the 14th oldest validated supercentenarian in history according to Dr. Stephen Coles' UCLA Gerontology Research Group. She passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at the age of 115 years, 220 days. Edna attended Franklin High School and then graduated from Franklin College in 1911. She taught in a two-room schoolhouse in Smithland for two years. She married her childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Earl Parker, on April 12, 1913. Edna traded the schoolhouse for a farmhouse, and traded preparing lesson plans for preparing meals for the dozen or so men who worked on her husband's farm, as teachers could not marry and continue to teach at that time. Edna and her husband were one of the first owners of an automobile in their rural area. They had two children, Clifford, and Earl Jr. who have both died. As of now, there are five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Earl died of a heart attack on February 23, 1939. Edna continued to live in their farmhouse alone until she was 100 years old. She then moved in with a son, and later entered the nursing home where she died. Edna's sisters, Georgia and Opal, lived to be 99 and 88 years old.
*A very heartfelt "Thank You" to Ron for sponsoring Edna's Memorial page. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated!*
*A very heartfelt "Thank You" to Ron for sponsoring Edna's Memorial page. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated!*
