Elbert Blades | |
Elbert Blades on his 109th birthday | |
Birth: | 7 April 1902 Belmont, Trinidad and Tobago |
Death: | 16 November 2012 Cumuto Road, Wallerfield, Trinidad and Tobago |
Age: | 110 years, 223 days |
Country: | TRI |
Unvalidated |
Elbert Redvers Blades (7 April 1902 – 16 November 2012) was a Trinidadian supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). If his age is true, he could be one of the oldest people ever who was born and died in Trinidad and Tobago.
Biography
Elbert Blades claimed to be born in Belmont (Port of Spain), Trinidad and Tobago on 7 April 1902.
During World War II, he left the union to work at the American base at Wallerfield. Two years before World War II ended, Elbert married Muriel Taylor, whom he married when he was 41 and she 21. They remained married for almost 60 years until she died at age 82 in 2003. The couple had six children, three sons and three daughters (including Margaret Springer). All of his children outlived him. He returned to his old job after the war, and later settled in Wallerfield and started a farm, where he lived until his death. He was the first general-secretary of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), which was formally established in 1937.
On his claimed 109th birthday, he had 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
He died from pneumonia in Cumuto Road, Wallerfield, Trinidad and Tobago on 16 Novevmber 2012 at claimed age of 110 years, 223 days.